A division of US Music Corp, SoundTech, just introduced the LightSnake USB cable, dubbed as a soundcard in a cable. The LightSnake effectively eliminates the need for a dedicated external USB audio interface. The USB end of the cable has an embedded digital-to-analog converter and preamplifier, as well as a light that flickers when the device is passing a signal, while the other end terminates in a gold-plated quarter-inch instrument plug. This lets guitarists, bassists, and keyboardists plug one end into their instruments and the other directly into their computers (Mac or PC, with no drivers needed) without going through an amplifier and audio interface.

The 10-foot shielded cable also ships with a quarter-inch to eighth-inch adapter and a quarter-inch male to dual-quarter-inch female splitter. The LightSnake USB will be available at major online musical instrument retailers for about $70.