You can play an electric guitar through the Harniciuk Sonic online amp simulator without opening a DAW. Connect your guitar to an audio interface, select its input in the browser and listen through wired headphones connected to the interface. This guide explains the setup and where to adjust latency while your guitar input is active.
What you need before you start
- An electric guitar and instrument cable.
- A computer with a compatible browser and an audio interface with an instrument input.
- Wired headphones or speakers connected to your audio output.
A guitar amplifier with a USB audio-interface function may also work if the computer and browser expose its input. Check the amplifier manual: a USB socket alone does not guarantee that it carries guitar audio.
Connect your guitar step by step
- Connect the interface to your computer and plug the guitar into its instrument input. Enable Hi-Z if your interface requires it.
- Plug wired headphones into the interface. Start with a low listening level and avoid Bluetooth while testing latency.
- Open the free online guitar amp simulator. Select the interface under Audio input and choose the guitar channel.
- Switch POWER on and allow microphone access when the browser asks. The browser uses this permission to receive the interface signal.
- On a Mac, set the interface as the system sound output so that playback reaches its headphones or speakers.
- Begin with Clean and bypassed pedals. Adjust the interface input gain so that strong notes do not clip, then raise the amp output gradually.
Where to adjust latency in Amp Room
Keep the amplifier on and play your guitar. Scroll down to the Recording Room, open Audio Settings and find Latency / Performance. The latency information becomes available when audio is on.
Try a lower-latency setting and play a short phrase after each change. If the sound develops clicks, crackles or dropouts, choose a more stable setting. Use the lowest setting your computer can sustain cleanly. Browser latency depends on the interface, driver, operating system and workload; no setting guarantees zero delay.
Hear an echo or two guitar signals?
If you hear a dry guitar together with the processed amp sound, check the interface direct-monitoring control. Turn direct monitoring off when you want to hear only the browser amp. Keep loopback off while testing. A doubled signal can sound like an echo even when the actual processing delay is modest.
No guitar sound: a short checklist
- Confirm that the correct interface and guitar channel are selected.
- Check browser input permission and use Refresh inputs after reconnecting a device.
- Watch the input level while playing. No activity usually means the signal is not reaching the selected input.
- If the input moves but you hear nothing, check system output, headphone volume, Master level and the amp POWER switch.
- Close other audio applications while troubleshooting.
On Safari, review the website microphone permission if an input is missing, reconnect the interface and refresh the input list. Desktop Chrome or Edge is another option to test when browser compatibility affects your setup.
Record and keep your take
In Recording Room, press Record, play the phrase, press Stop and listen back. Use Download Track to keep it. Recordings are temporary: download before closing or reloading the page. The built-in metronome click is not included in the recorded guitar track.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a DAW or a plugin?
No. The browser version runs directly on the website. An audio interface provides the practical connection between a standard electric guitar and your computer.
Why does Bluetooth feel delayed?
Bluetooth playback can add delay after the guitar has already been processed. Use wired headphones when checking the amp response.
Does a faster internet connection fix playing latency?
The Amp Room processes your playing on your device. Input and output buffering, the audio driver and browser performance are the main things to troubleshoot for playing response.
Before your next session, tune your guitar using the guitar tool hub. For a focused recording exercise, try our guide to writing better guitar riffs.