If you are a guitar player you probably know what an iRig is. It allows you to hook up a electrified musical instrument to a computer or tablet. If you have ever looked into it, you know that an iRig is a somewhat pricey item, about $100 on the Apple store.

There are alternatives. I have stumbled across a working solution for the iPad using the cable from the Rocksmith video game (I am presuming that you of course already own Rocksmith!) and the camera connector for the iPad. You can pick up a connector for $29 from Apple. Just plug the camera connector into the iPad, plug the Rocksmith cable into the camera connector, plug the other end in your guitar, fire up GarageBand. In GarageBand hit the Instruments button and select Guitar Amp. To hear yourself while you play you will have to turn the Monitor setting on in the settings for the Amp. Click the guitar plug in the upper left corner and slide the Monitor setting to On. Now you can select your amp and pedal configuration and shred till the cows come home!