Amp powering guitar to computer help needed

Rendog92 · #1 01-03-2009, 01:43 AM

I am getting fuzzy sound for some reason
This is how I have it all set up
My geddy Lee jazz bass is hooked up to my mb 30 amp, into the input of the bass, then in the back, I have a jack called "line out". I have a 1/4" cable going from that to my computers mic in. I made sure I didnt have too much volume on the program, I do have mic boost on.
So I tested it with the sound recorder, it sounds sorta fuzzy. Sounds like alot of vibration with little tone. Here is a link to the recording I made when I had it set up as I mentioned.
http://rapidshare.com/files/17927274...hirds.wav.html
Right now I have some spare cash (about $200), I wouldnt mind investing into something that I can hook up to make my bass sound good on the computer. Im free to all non extreme ideas. I can get any recording program, a friend of mine DJs professionally, he has a load of programs.

Please help me out guys, no matter how much I research, I just cant figure out what stuff to buy, I hear of direct boxes, I hear of the PODs (very expensive), and I hear of people talking about mixers. Anything around $200 I can think about buying.

Ampeg SVT · #2 01-03-2009, 01:46 AM

I would get a recording interface like a Presonus Audiobox.

Do you have firewire on your computer?

Rendog92 · #3 01-03-2009, 01:51 AM

hmm, its a custom built machine, I have the gigabyte p35 board, let me check reallly quickly lol
*bends down
No I do not, darmit

Rendog92 · #4 01-03-2009, 01:55 AM

Oh also, I have the program Acoustica Mixcraft

Ampeg SVT · #5 01-03-2009, 01:55 AM

What are your computer specs?

Rendog92 · #6 01-03-2009, 01:57 AM

Oh, its a good machine, Core 2 duo 3.0ghrtz, 2 gbs of Gskill ram, 320gb 7200rpm hard drive, p35 motherboard, 8800gt, everything has custom installed coolers

Ampeg SVT · #7 01-03-2009, 02:01 AM

Sounds good, only weak spot being the 2gigs of RAM but that depends on whether you have a 32 bit or 64 bit system.

I would just say get an audio interface like the Presonus AudioBox USB and use that to hook your amp up to. Its about $150.

Rendog92 · #8 01-03-2009, 02:03 AM

Ok, so I would need to get the presonus (im assuming its the best in its price range, I dont plan on buying anything for another year), then I would plug the presonus into the guitar, or into the amp? As in, what goes in, and what goes out? Btw, thx for your help, and I only have Windows Xp Sp3 32bit :P
I dont want to go into issues with my games on 64 bit

Nick Kay · #9 01-03-2009, 02:56 AM

The line-out on an amp is designed to feed a line-in or a poweramp, not a microphone input. Plug it into the line input of your soundcard, if you have one (on most Soundblaster types, it's the black or blue one). If you don't have a line input, turn the mic boost off at the very least. You want as hot of a signal going into the machine, whilst not distorting. By the sounds of that recording, it's distorting pretty heavily - tweak the levels going into the soundcard as well as the levels in the Windows Volume Control and see what you can come up with before splurging on an interface. All the expensive gear in the world won't do you any good if you don't know how to use it.

Rendog92 · #10 01-03-2009, 01:29 PM

Thx alot, I have a realtek hd card, I did test the signal of the line in also btw, it sounded really low, almost no noise. I will mess with my settings, I think I can get a good recording with the line in. But im ordering the presonus today.

madmachinist · #11 01-03-2009, 07:34 PM

"Sounds good, only weak spot being the 2gigs of RAM but that depends on whether you have a 32 bit or 64 bit system."

are you running windoze vista ? how is 2gb weak for recording
audio?

my lowly win 2000 machine runs cakewalk sonar , audition 1.5,
moog modular , fruityloops , arp 2600 , prophet 52 , etc
fed by firewire , usb , and keystation 66 with no latency .
w/ a 2gb processor ,512mb ram and 32bit .

my win-xp machine runs audition 3.0 , all the other stuff,
w/ a 2.4gb , 768mb ,32 bit machine. no problems at all.

both machines have onboard soundcards.
---------------------------------------------------

i use an ART Project Tube MP - USB preamp for direct in to
my computer . i put in a NOS General Electric usa 12ax7a
to replace the stock chinese tube and i LOVE the sound !

i paid $80 for mine to phantom power an AKG condenser mic,
but i use it as a usb DI box for guitar,bass , ARP solus synth.
into adobe audition and cakewalk.

i've read mediocre reviews of this preamp , but once i changed to a proper tube , it sounds GREAT .

if i want more headroom/ less gain/noise, i can pop in a NOS 12au7 for less gain .

DocBop · #12 01-03-2009, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rendog92

I have a jack called "line out". I have a 1/4" cable going from that to my computers mic in. I made sure I didnt have too much volume on the program

A line out to a mic in the levels are way off. A line out is way too hot for a mic pre-amp. Do your interface have a line in, that would be what to use.

Rendog92 · #13 01-04-2009, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocBop

A line out to a mic in the levels are way off. A line out is way too hot for a mic pre-amp. Do your interface have a line in, that would be what to use.

Hi man, Ive figured it out, I just had to plug my bass into the LINE IN, and I use mixcraft with it. However, I have ordered a usb audio interface, so im gonna get even better recording. I got spectacular recording using the line in with the good software.