Can I turn my PC into a mini PA?

[buzzy]

Curious if it's possible to run an instrument amp through the computer so I can play along with my mp3 or midi music while listening to everything through my computer headphones.

I'm currently using a laptop running Linux. Thanks.

[warkus]

Short answer is yes, but do you have an appropriate output from your guitar amp? Such as a recording or headphone output?
I don't understand why you would want to play guitar through computer speakers when you have an amp? Why not just turn your amp down a bit to match the level of the music coming from your computer speakers, or burn them to a disc and play them from a stereo?

[slowpick]

Curious if it's possible to run an instrument amp through the computer so I can play along with my mp3 or midi music while listening to everything through my computer headphones.

I'm currently using a laptop running Linux. Thanks.

You can play mp3 using aqualung, and record both it's output,
and your improvisations to timemachine, making appropriate
connections in qjackctl.

This assumes either a proper guitar interface, or at least a preamp with
line-out ports to reach your soundcard line-in.

screenshots of connection examples:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowTo ... onnections

qjackctl is available in most linux package manager installers.

[buzzy]

Short answer is yes, but do you have an appropriate output from your guitar amp? Such as a recording or headphone output?

Fortunately my newer guitar amp has Aux In (RCA), so I'm able to plug my computer into my amp and listen through my amp's headphone jack. But that got me curious if you can do the reverse if one's amp didn't have Aux In as mine does since my amp before didn't have Aux In and in case I get some cool used amps in the future that doesn't have Aux In.

My current amp has Headphone output, Ext Speaker output, and of course L & R Line Out.

How would it work if my amp just had those outputs?

I don't understand why you would want to play guitar through computer speakers when you have an amp? Why not just turn your amp down a bit to match the level of the music coming from your computer speakers, or burn them to a disc and play them from a stereo?

It's so I can listen to everything through my headphones so others don't have to hear how bad I play. And so I can practice at night when everyone's sleeping.

[slowpick]

You might have an amp where the occupied headphones jack cancels out
the main amp speaker, while not cancelling the line-out, which could then go
to the soundcard line-in. Your headphones can then be used on the line-out
from the computer or soundcard, and any spare jack or cable can fill the amps
headphone jack, letting people sleep while you play.

My Mustang amp has usb out, and a headphone/line combo out, so I fill the headphone jack,
and the usb cable sends the audio signal to the computer, which I listen to on
the soundcard line-out, with headphones, or speakers, as needed.

Guitar sound can go through fx like Guitarix2, Rakarrack, or Calf Plugins, or pass through as is, depending on the qjackctl connections desired

screenshots and qjackctl setup/connection info:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowTo ... onnections

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowTo ... figuration