You’re in luck. Robin from the Brian Moore factory says:

We are currently in the development of an iGuitar USB that will transmit both stereo audio (magnetic and piezo) AND control all software instruments as well. This patented technology is still in R&D stages but will be coming soon. Check out the What’s Happening section of our website or this site
(createdigitalmusic) for future product updates.

Of course, if you don’t want to control some wacky software synthesizer with your guitar or input notes for notation, the current models may still make sense. For about US$500, you have an all-in-one, USB audio guitar solution.

But the mobility of the system is certainly increasing: one guitar, one USB cable, one laptop, and nothing else.

So, why does a USB cable on a guitar make sense? While it’s not for everyone, basically it lets you plug and play your instrument without a need for clunky audio interfaces. High-quality audio, no muss, no fuss: for many people, that’s a very good thing. And, yes, while that eliminates the use of outboard effects pedals, the main draw is for people focusing on their computer for effects and recording.

As many have observed, one advantage here is not long transmission lengths. If that’s what you have in mind, Gibson’s Digital Guitar, due next year, does make some sense. By sending audio over Ethernet, the Gibson Digital Les Paul is able to acheive higher transmission distances than analog cabling or USB, and more reliably so than wireless. The Gibson also gives you the option of controlling the signal from each pickup (one on each string), if that’s what you want. The real problem with the Gibson is that it’s not quite digital. You need a breakout box at the other end, and that gives you analog outputs — meaning to connect to a computer, you need an audio interface, too. Maybe I’ve got something wrong, but if that’s the case, Gibson, get some real digital outs on there before you ship next year, okay?

USB is not going to supplant the 1/4″ jack any time soon. All the Brian Moore guitars have 1/4″ jacks (and additionally, RMC connectors, which also provide individual signal from each string). And computer-centered guitarists also have excellent audio interfaces in the form of Line6′s TonePort (which started shipping today), IK Multimedia’s StompIO hardware for AmpliTube, and Native Instruments’ new hardware in Guitar Rig 2. And while theoretically these are all competing solutions, NI, IK, and Brian Moore have one goal in common: getting guitarists to get over their computer phobia. The fact that you’re reading this site means you probably don’t have that problem, but much of the guitar market still does.

What many of us are waiting for in terms of real simplicity is audio and MIDI traveling over the same connection. My guess is, that’s not far in the future. NI’s Guitar Rig 2 is already carrying audio and MIDI as are many keyboards; guitars may soon, too. The technical problems are more likely in integrating audio-to-MIDI conversion than transferring them over USB — the latter is not a big deal.

While we wait for someone to figure out integrated MIDI (my money is on Brian Moore, since Yamaha and Roland seem to have lost interest), we’ve got some great software and hardware for guitarists. I still maintain that the computer is a superb accessory for many guitarists. Us keyboardists have been enjoying this computer revolution for a long time. Watch for lots more laptop-toting guitarists soon.

Related:

Brian Moore USB-Based Guitar Shipping

iGuitar.USB: More Questions Answered

Gibson’s Digital Les Paul Guitar: Innovation or Reinvention?

@AES: Digital Guitar Stompbox Smackdown (A look at NI’s Guitar Rig 2 and IK’s AmpliTube 2)

More Details on Guitar Rig 2 Computer Guitar System

CDM: What’s the resolution of the USB audio connection? Mono? Stereo?

Robin: It’s 16 bit, 48k sampling rate. [Apple] GarageBand maxes out
at 44.1, so that’s what it runs at there.

The audio stream is mono for a regular guitar, and stereo if the
guitar has the piezo acoustic pickups (guitar pickups on channel 1,
acoustic piezo on channel 2).

CDM: What’s the latency like using class-compliant USB drivers?

Latency is very good. I use a G5 iMac running Tiger and GarageBand, it’s not
noticeable, the spec is 3 ms. I have one tester running a XP/Guitar
Rig setup and got it down to 3ms also. So it’s VERY low latency, although
that number can depend on your system and applications.

If the class compliant drivers aren’t ideal for your system, or needs
more support, we’ve had some great results with the ASIO4ALL 2.0 DRIVERS,
www.ASIO4ALL.com. But they aren’t necessary in most cases, and definitely
not on a Tiger platform.

CDM: What about the USB cable? The cable doesn’t lock in, so does it
slip out?

Robin: The cable does stay in pretty well, there’s no *locking*
mechanism but the jack is snug fitting and certainly wouldn’t just
fall out, you’d have to pull it out.

Keep in mind also, regular 1/4″ guitar cables do not lock either.
The amount of force needed to pull out a 1/4″ cable is about the same
as the USB cable, the USB cable may be just a little bit less snug,
but it’s close. The danger of a regular 1/4″ cable coming out during
a gig a very real, any player who knows this “locks” a cable in place
by twisting it around their strap – not high tech by any means. So,
this question could be asked of any guitar with a regular 1/4″ jack,
which is all of them.

CDM: Is this something people might use onstage, or is it really
intended for studio use only?

Robin: Our data so far definitely shows that the iGuitar will most
likely find the most use in studio/home studio settings.

It is certainly useable live, but the most limiting factor for live
use is the fact that the current USB cable length spec (universally,
not our spec) is about 18′ of cable. After 18′, you lose signal, and
after about 20′–25′, it’s no longer useable at all. 18′ is
generally not enough for most stage setups, when I play live, I am
sometimes using upwards of 30′ of cable. And this is in tiny clubs!
Forget about big stages.

But many people are using setups like this on stage with a laptop, most
notable right now is John Maclaughlin. If you’ve seen any pics of him, he
plays on
stage with his PowerBook right next to him. So in that case, 18′
of cable would be plenty. Also, I have many users and artists using
laptop setups for gigs, again, mostly small places, jazz clubs,
coffehouses, small clubs, and they have no problems, since their
laptop setup is generally no more than 5′ away, let alone 20′.

But, if we’re talking a punk band jumping all over the place, point taken, a
USB cable may not do . . .

Thanks, Robin! Readers, if you have more questions, fire away. I can say the pickups on these instruments are great; combined with the RMC jack for converting to MIDI (see our previous story), they’re also terrific for playing MIDI live. -PK

Brian Moore doesn’t yet have a product page for the iGuitar.USB, but there are some details on their What’s Happening page.

First off, it is Mac and Windows-compatible. And you’re not just limited to running audio through USB; via an optional RMC jack as featured on their other iGuitars, you can hookup to a Roland GI-20 or other similar box, you can output MIDI, too. USB isn’t the whole story, either: these are high-quality guitars with excellent hex pickups, which are expensive to add to other instruments. I know many people will keep an RMC-equipped iGuitar in addition to their other instruments so they can, for instance, quickly switch to a MIDI-triggered soft synth.

More specs and pricing from Brian Moore . . .

Plug the iGuitar into the USB port any computer and get direct access any your guitar effects and recording software of choice

Built-in USB digital audio connects your guitar directly to you computer

Record instantly in your favorite application such as Garageband. Logic or Cakewalk

Play directly into the latest software programs such as Guitar Rig by Native Instruments and Amplitube Live by IK Multimedia

Line level signal – No external audio-interface pre-amplification required

Class Compliant – No need to load special software drivers

Bus powered- no 9V battery necessary

Available on all models (most are in stock)

Add $200 to the list price of any Custom Shop, i2000, i1000 or iGuitar model.

Add $300 if you already own a Brian Moore or iGuitar model – Upgrades done at our factory, 3-4 week turnaround

There you have it. Don’t usually like to cut-and-paste from Websites, but in this case the info is otherwise tricky to find, and now you’ve heard it from the horse’s mouth. Or amp. Or something.

Finally: one USB cable, one guitar, one computer — you’re done.

I’ve been watching for this one for a while, and at long last, it’s here and shipping. Brian Moore has taken their excellent iGuitar line of digitally-equipped guitars, and added class-compliant USB, via the new iGuitar.USB model. Plug it into a USB jack, and you have instant access to your sound in recording and effects software, no drivers required. Fully bus-powered, so you don’t even need a power brick. Unlike Gibson’s so-called “digital guitar,” what’s great about the iGuitar.USB is that you can connect a single USB cable between your guitar and your computer for audio: no breakout boxes or multiple cabling required.

We looked at this device earlier with Andy Ihnatko’s custom-built iUke ukelele, which crammed the same tech into a uke. Andy was blissfully happy with it, plugging it into the effects in GarageBand. As for the guitars themselves, they have a sparkling reputation, as a couple of readers here have previously noted.

What about MIDI? Unfortunately, that does still require a breakout box, though again your best way to go is the iGuitar. Since Brian Moore includes an optional 13-pin RMC port (a special connection designed just for the purpose), you can connect it to a box like the Roland GI-20 USB box and control your soft synths via surprisingly accurate MIDI tracking.

Bottom line: this thing is more likely to be useful than Gibson’s digital offering, and, unlike the Digital Les Paul, the Brian Moore guitars are actually shipping. Sorry to beat up on you like this, Gibson, but my money is that this is what most “digital guitarists” will want.

Oh, and before you start hollering that FireWire is a better option, it isn’t, necessarily. USB can have extremely low-latency operation, and works without drivers. That latter point alone is worthwhile — imagine having to carry a CD with drivers in your guitar case. No, thanks. Of course, while there’s lots of feedback on the non-USB Brian Moore guitars, we still have to see how this performs in person; stay tuned.

Previously:

iUke USB Ukulele: More Details, USB Guitar is Coming Soon

Gibson’s Digital Les Paul Guitar: Innovation or Reinvention?

The FireWire Electric Guitar