(hating costly mistakes, your input is appreciated)
Is this a good way to go for playing and recording my bass through my Windows XP Dell pentium 4 personel desktop computer, with my passive bass?:hiding: :confused:

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&sku=A0720052&~f=lg

Thank you.

1/4 to 1/8 inch adapter from Radio Shack.
Audacity free recording software.

it seems as though that would be totally fine.

if you wanted to up the money another $100 you could also get this which I like quite a bit and also serves a pretty decent fx box and tuner...

http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-ZOO-B21U.html

1/4 to 1/8 inch adapter from Radio Shack.
Audacity free recording software.

What does this mean?

SBassman,
It worked! well sort of. Got the adapter, got sound going in and could play back. Didn't hear a thing when I recorded.
Admittedly, I've some "learning" to do before I go any further.
Volume wasn't much. But as mentioned, I've learning to do. Sound seemed acceptable for investment. The fact that it worked at all is,,,,,,,,, stimulating(?).
I'll need to play with this some more. admittedly, I tried this last night and believe the program may have been "corrupted(?) because nothing seemed to work no matter what I tried. dumping and reloading , I can get the tutorial better. Lots of investigating is going to be req'd here. especially being an illiterate on this sort of thing.

Joe,
Thanks. I'm probably going to go with it as a starter after playing with Audacity for a bit. Everyone needs to learn to crawl before the marathon. and I've an awful lot to learn because I'm really a nimrod at this computer / programing game. It's a whole new world I'm getting into with this and not too bright at the "learning" thing anymore.

Both pf you;
Thanks a lot,,, really! You gave me the confidence to explore this even more. You've got me started, and the first step is always the most difficult. at least now I know I'll not blow up the PC with experimentations at this point (and that's a really big step!).
Thanks guys, appreciated muchly! :hyper:

Ok, there's one other thing I forgot.

Click on the Windows Volume control - the little speaker icon in the tray. Click Options / Properties / Adjust Volume for Rercording / Ok.

Click the Select box for Microphone or Line In, depending on which line you are sending your cable to. You will now see and hear yourself record.

Once you get this working, you're really going to be smiling. It actually sounds pretty darn good. Then you can experiment with going through a DI or some effects box first. What you hear on playback will make you smile.

Have fun, and don't hesitate to post here or PM me with other questions.

LOL,,, I knew it would bite me!
somehow, when both it and I were new, I somehow made it dissapear!
Been to it before,,,, just got to remember how I did it (ugh!).

Okay, Now I can hear(?) while recording,,, but the lag is a killer!!!!!!!!!!! (LOL).

Okay, Now I can hear(?) while recording,,, but the lag is a killer!!!!!!!!!!! (LOL).
Are you using software play-through in Audacity? The soundcard shouldn't have any lag when you just unmute the microphone/line in.

"Play through",,, Had to find it, but yes it is.
I'm using the rear mic. input jack and I do have about a 1/2 sec. delay.
Playing with the program, found it interesting and entertaining so far.
Seeing that MF has the Fast Track USB on sale for $149.99,,, I thought Dells for $89.10 sounded like a fair deal, so I just ordered one.
See what happens from there.
Anyways, it works! :hyper: and that's a good thing. I've a new toy. :D
Thanks all for the start.:p