Line In or Mic?

[Poor Tom]

I use my computer to montior and record my bass playing, but have always used my Line In. Now I am wondering if I should be using the Mic input instead? Would it make any difference? I normally go Bass --> Headphone amp(vox amplug) --> Line In.

[Honk'n_down-low]

Originally Posted by Poor Tom

I use my computer to montior and record my bass playing, but have always used my Line In. Now I am wondering if I should be using the Mic input instead? Would it make any difference? I normally go Bass --> Headphone amp(vox amplug) --> Line In.

Don't think it will make a difference - my line in and MIC are the same on my Laptop.

[DocBop]

A mic input is expecting the typical weak mic or passive pickup level and has a pre-amp to boost the level up. Line in is expect the higher level like output of a CD player or other line level. Some basses with active electronic can (weakly) drive a live level device. So for real recording with good gear you need to know what levels in and out you're dealing with or you could damage good gear. The sound cards that come with most computers is pretty bad, some will sense the level and adjust all depends on the card. So the only real answer is RTFM that came with the computer and know you bass and its output.

[ColdSteelRain]

+1 DocBop.

Stick with the line in. The mic inputs on sound cards are really geared towards speech (i.e. headset mics) and not instruments, and very little money is allocated to building that part of the computer.

You might be better off running the line out or effects loop out from your amp to the computer line in if you have one, or using a DI box.