Microphone in jack {laptop}

[fleabee]

Is there a way to play my bass through my laptop with my microphone in jack? My old pc had a line in jack but this one doesnt. Any tips or tricks?

[zac2944]

Yup, but you'll probably need some sort of preamp before you go into the PC's mic jack. The signal straight out of your bass is most likely too low. If you have an amp with a headphone out that should work. Just go from the headphone out and then into the mic jack. Don't for get that many mic inputs have a "boost" in the advanced settings on you PC's sound/volume control. Usually it is just a check box. You'll have to fool around with this and you're preamp's level until you get a singal loud enough to hear but not too loud to clip.

[lemur821]

Probably bring the levels down. Other than that, just unmute the thing.

EDIT: On my laptop I've found that my bass or guitar has plenty of output for the mic input. I've got to turn off the +20 dB boost and bring the level down all the way to avoid clipping.

[fleabee]

Thanks for the info..I will get the adapter to run it from my bass headphone out jack.

[fleabee]

Damn I tried it and didnt get any output at all-Eden Metro combo-headphone out jack-microphone input{Dell xps gen 2 laptop}

[mkrtu9]

I have a dell 6000 and I've used reaper, cool edit pro and cubase just by plugging my bass directly into the mic in. Recorded my bass ok, but guitar was horrible. Zac was correct about the level controller. Click on your speaker symbol in the lower right corner of your screen, click options, properties, recording then click ok and you will see your level adjuster. May have to play with that a bit.

good luck and hope it helps

[fleabee]

I tried recording with audacity and it records well. However I can't monitor in real time what I am playing.Seems like there is no sound until I replay what I recorded.Does this make sense?

[emils]

Just get yourself a cheap USB or Firewire interface with a high impedance input.
Something like this:


http://www.zzounds.com/item--MDOJAMLAB

[fleabee]

good idea

[smellythe2nd]

Originally Posted by emils

Just get yourself a cheap USB or Firewire interface with a high impedance input.
Something like this:


http://www.zzounds.com/item--MDOJAMLAB

That seems quite expensive ($60!). But I guess it's worth it for cheap recording, maybe.

[emils]

$60 - expensive?! Maybe for a 17 year old. You kids these days want everything for nothing.