When you play a stringed electric instrument, you have the option to connect it to your device. We recommend this setup because it helps you get the best possible sound recognition.
If you’re looking to get an audio interface, make sure that it works with the operating system you want to use it on. As an example, if you’re looking for an interface that lets you connect your stringed instrument to your Android device, make sure the audio interface can be used on Android.
If the audio interface (regardless of brand) is recognized by your computer or mobile device as an input device, Yousician should also recognize it and you can use it with the app.
After you connect your instrument and interface to your device, check the Advanced audio settings in the Game tab in-app. Make sure that the Input device highlighted green is your audio interface and not the device microphone.
Setup tips for computers:
- Connect your instrument: Most audio interfaces have at least one of the inputs designated as “Instrument” or “Hi-Z”, accompanied by a switch labeled “Inst/Line” or “Hi-Z on/off”. Different input types are needed to accommodate for the difference in signal and impedance levels of various input sources. Instruments, such as an electric guitar with magnetic pickups or an acoustic guitar with a piezo-electric pickup, require high input impedance, so make sure you connect your instrument to the matching input on your audio interface and set the input mode switch, if present, to the “Hi-Z” or “Inst” position.
- Adjusting the input gain: Turn the gain knob on your interface to zero. Make a loud sound on your instrument and start turning the gain up, observing the “Peak” indicator light. Strum the strings again, if necessary. Stop increasing the gain once you see the “Peak” light coming on, then reduce the gain a little, so that the signal level is high enough for your instrument to be audible and low enough to avoid clipping and distortion. If your interface has a separate “Signal present” light in addition to the “Peak” light, make sure the “Signal present” light is on but the “Peak” one isn’t.
- Selecting the input in Yousician: Launch Yousician and go to Settings → Game. Select Advanced audio settings and you see a list of all the available Input devices. Pick the one you are using and you are ready to rock!
On Windows, Yousician also supports ASIO drivers, which are provided by most audio interface manufacturers. The driver, if installed, can be selected in Yousician, under the advanced audio settings in the Game tab. Note that some audio interfaces may not support certain features of Yousician, when using ASIO drivers. If you are experiencing issues with the ASIO driver, try using the Windows Audio driver instead.
If you want to find out about our guitar gear recommendations, check out this video.