How to play along to songs on my computer ???

NS2A · #1 01-18-2009, 07:44 PM

So I picked up one of those "plug and play" (yeah right!) 1/4" to USB cords today.

I want to play along to songs on my computer.

I have Best Practice downloaded, I have Audicity donwloaded, I have the 1/4" to USB cord and a 1/4" to 1/8" cord plugged into the mic in on the front.

No matter what, I cannot hear my bass!

I've recorded it on Audacity and Songforge. But I cannot hear as I play along. Nothing on my computer is muted as I've been in the Control Panel. What am I doing wrong?

skidrawk · #2 01-18-2009, 07:48 PM

LOL @ 1/4" to USB cord

skidrawk · #3 01-18-2009, 07:50 PM

As to not risk being the usual troll, it would be wise to place a preamp in the middle of that chain.

Bass->preamp->mic input.

REAPER52 · #4 01-18-2009, 07:57 PM

I think you need some sort of interface between you bass and your puter. like a midi box or comething like that.....- didnt know there was a 1/4 to usb cable -- somehow you puter needs to SEE you pickups or the electronics of your bass.

NS2A · #5 01-18-2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skidrawk

LOL @ 1/4" to USB cord

Hey, thanks for all your help.

So, it can't be done??

Well, I figured out how to hear myself now, BUT, it's a 1/2 second off!

I hate when I try to be cheap.... :-)

dmusic148 · #6 01-18-2009, 07:59 PM

I'm sure he means adapter dongle. I have one, there's a round thing midway down the cable that is the converter.

NS2A · #7 01-18-2009, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmusic148

I'm sure he means adapter dongle. I have one, there's a round thing midway down the cable that is the converter.

Nope, just 1/4" in my bass, 10' of cord then the USB.

I admit I'm a dummy when it comes to computers.

dmusic148 · #8 01-18-2009, 08:01 PM

Yeah, mine's got a delay too. I think the only way to do it is to buy a 'real' interface, meant for instruments/audio.

NS2A · #9 01-18-2009, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmusic148

Yeah, mine's got a delay too. I think the only way to do it is to buy a 'real' interface, meant for instruments/audio.

Ok, thanks guys for the quick responses. The cord is going back and I'm sticking with my previous (yet more expensive) idea...

dmusic148 · #10 01-18-2009, 08:05 PM

There is an adapter in your cable, an A to D converter. Otherwise it wouldn't work, at all. Maybe yours just sucks(like mine). This one looks pretty good:
http://sewelldirect.com/lightsnake-u...ment-cable.asp

Toshiro · #11 01-18-2009, 08:07 PM

What I do is run my bass to a Behringer el-cheapo 4 channel mixer and then run the audio output to the sound card on my computer. It not exactly audiophile quality, but it does the job for practicing and learning stuff.

nella · #12 01-18-2009, 08:09 PM

Before you return it try downloading asio4all I use it so that I can run ampeg-svx and guitar rig 3 and go straight into my computer without any sort of preamp/interface. Unless you can use asio4all the latency will be horrible with a direct-in setup.

REAPER52 · #13 01-18-2009, 08:10 PM

http://www.musiciantutorials.com/e10...hp?content.164

dave_bass5 · #14 01-21-2009, 08:37 AM

Just posted this in another thread but i can recommend one of these M-Audio USB FastTrack interfaces. You can monitor the direct input or the output of an amp sim and you can balance the mix with the knob on the front. It has a standard jack in on the back as well as XLR for mic.

**IvanMike** · #15 01-21-2009, 01:51 PM

if you're not trying to record and just want to play along to the mp3 files on your computer there is a way or two.

1 - jack up the volume on your computer, play along to that.

2 - ok so your computer isn't all that loud? go to radio shack, buy an extension cord for the mini stereo headphone jack out from your computer (it shoudl be male on one end and female on the other) stick the male end in the headphone out of your computer and run the cable to your stereo. buy an adapter at radio shack with a male stereo mini jack on one end and two male rca jacks on the other end. (make sure it's the one that will split the stereo signal). plug the rca jacks to an unused slot on your stereo (tape 2 input is always good for this just NOT phono). now play to the songs coming out of yoru stereo.

3 - ok so your stereo is too far away. at radio shack you can buy an adapter with a male stereo mini jack on one end to plug into the headphone out of your computer, and a mono 1/4" female jack on the other. plug an instrument cord into this and plug it into your bass amp. (the best way to do this is to plug it into the effects return of an amp that has a side chain fx loop with a blend knob so you can adjust the volume ratio of computer to bass) then plug your bass into the amp too and figure out the volumes until you can play with the songs. not perfect but it works.