Noob, I am

Ziltoid · #1 09-12-2009, 05:42 PM

Ok So being a poor college bum I want to find a cheap way to record myself, What I thought is to use My amp's line out (lm2) and plug that into my comp (mac book pro).

What would I need to do this? Could it be as simple as a cable? or any cheap way out?

I did perform a search, but Not knowing what I'm looking for doesn't helps.

Thanks in advance

Fetusyolk · #2 09-12-2009, 05:47 PM

a quarter inch to eighth inch cable converter should do the job... i've done it.. but plug in headphones.. you don't want to blow your speakers.

and be careful, this is the ghetto way. not necessarily the safe-for-computer way.

Ziltoid · #3 09-12-2009, 05:51 PM

My line out is the 3 hole triangle type of plug, not a 1/4

cat_saltnpepper · #4 09-12-2009, 05:53 PM

I believe there's mic input on your mac book pro? if you have one, you can just get adapter that'll let you connect your instrument cable to your laptop. this way, you can directly hook it up with your instrument and won't have to use amp's out. still, sound quality would be pretty poor so it'll only be enough for monitoring your practice and some guide tracking.

program-wise, you can use garageband, logic and etc.

if you don't have mic input or want better sound quality, you should get small interface which will allow you to use either quarter inch cable or XLR. I use Motu ultalite, some of my friends use the duet(?) from apogee but I believe there're bunch depends on price.

I haven't tried but if you have pandora, you can hook it up with your instrument and your laptop (not sure whether pandora is compatible with Mac), too.

hope it helps.

Ziltoid · #5 09-12-2009, 05:59 PM

My budget is about 20-40 bucks (Canadian that is), so interface are a no-go, I think i've read somewhere that directly plugging the bass in mic-in was near no-sound because of the low signal or something like that.

cat_saltnpepper · #6 09-12-2009, 06:15 PM

as long as you're not planning to record super-duper-ultra-high quality with overwhelming natural overdrive, it should be alright. it's not loud but audible enough to practice at not too loud places, at least for me.

if you have active bass, you might need to adjust some EQ, if you have passive bass, you can boost the volume within your laptop and program that you're using. I think most of the program has separate volume controls that'll let you control each track so I guess you can lower other background tracks while boosting the track for the bass.

if you have any other mean to boost the signal like outboard pre, that'd help, too.

btwy, I agree with Fetusyolk that you should use headphone - my speakers no longer works well.

oh, and if you want to just record a little at home, you can use built-in mic of your macbook pro - it's actually pretty well made and as long as you are adjusting the input/output volume well, it'll do the trick. of course, you should be in quiet place since all the sounds around you will get recorded, too.

so which part of canada do you reside?

Ziltoid · #7 09-12-2009, 06:21 PM

I'm in New-Brunswick, Edmundston to be specific.

Thanks for the info, but better sound is always...well better, so that's why I was thinking about going through my amp.

DocBop · #8 09-12-2009, 10:38 PM

That is called and balanced XLR output on your amp. You would need and XLR cable with an adapter to drop down to the 1/8" mini on your laptop. Doubt you can find that for 20 dollars. Make friends with someone with some soldering skills they might be able to make you a cable but parts alone will chew up your budget, not leaving beer money to thank the person for their soldering skills.

Ziltoid · #9 09-12-2009, 11:03 PM

Arghhh, I feared I was asking too much

nightcityburn · #10 09-12-2009, 11:10 PM

You can plug your bass directly in, adjust the input level in your mic settings in your preferences panel. You should be able to get something that is "meh." I used mine to learn songs, and it did so quite well. Nothing to write home about, but plenty adequate for reference tracks.

Fajah · #11 09-13-2009, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ziltoid

Ok So being a poor college bum I want to find a cheap way to record myself, What I thought is to use My amp's line out (lm2) and plug that into my comp (mac book pro).

What would I need to do this? Could it be as simple as a cable? or any cheap way out?

I did perform a search, but Not knowing what I'm looking for doesn't helps.

Thanks in advance

Here's what you need and it's cheap and simple. First, get a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter for a couple of bucks which looks like this:

Next, go from the "Tuner out" of your LMII into either the "Line In" or "Mic In" of your sound card. Here's what it will sound like :

http://www.box.net/shared/uh985nzs3z

Charling · #12 09-13-2009, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ziltoid

Arghhh, I feared I was asking too much

Don't worry you're not asking too much! check ebay for a 'xlr female > 1/4" ts jack" I'm in the uk but I've bought many cheap less-used cables on there. you might be lucky and get what you need for $10, then you just need one of the 1/4" to 1/8" adapters!

you should go from into the line input on your computer, coming out of the line out of your amp, this is a perfectly valid and correct way of setting things up, and provided the parts are all in working order etc it should all work fine! The amp will certainly add character to your bass but the soundcard won't be good enough to capture it very well. good enough for playing about though!

Ziltoid · #13 09-13-2009, 02:39 PM

Ok, I'll go to radioshack in the upcoming week to get the 1/4 to 1/8 adapter, I'll try that and if I'm happy with it, I'll stick to it until I can afford an audio interface.

Ziltoid · #14 09-14-2009, 01:08 PM

won't work...
I bought the ditto adapter today, and i don't get any sound, tried different cables/bass tried running directly tried through the amp, even tried on the other desktop! and nada.
(my mac book has no mic in 1/8 btw do couldn't try it on it)

But at the same time the adapter must work, as it did make a "bam" sound when i un-plugged/plugged it

Kosko · #15 09-14-2009, 01:50 PM

from the amp to the pc is making a sound?

are you plugging the audio out of the pc to the audio in of the amp?

what component exactly is making the sound?

Ziltoid · #16 09-14-2009, 02:06 PM

Well direct ain't working, bass->jack->adapter->mic in

I also tryed

Quote:

Next, go from the "Tuner out" of your LMII into either the "Line In" or "Mic In" of your sound card. Here's what it will sound like

but that didn't work either

Ziltoid · #17 09-14-2009, 03:43 PM

I guess I'll just buy an audio interface, not this paycheck but the next one, as this paycheck is going into a beer kit and stuff :X

Charling · #18 09-14-2009, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ziltoid

I guess I'll just buy an audio interface, not this paycheck but the next one, as this paycheck is going into a beer kit and stuff :X

wait, before you spend a load of money theres no reason that this setup should not be working! Given all the cables are good and bass is working etc but as you say you have checked!

have you been to system prefs>sound>inputs and made sure your input is set to line in? and in your application (garageband I assume) are you set to input 1? the line in on your macbook is stereo, and as such can work as a pair of inputs. if you plug a mono cable (like a bass cable) into this port you will only get a signal in the left channel (or input 1 in garage band). This is fine to do, however, without causing damage to anything.

I wouldn't buy an interface until you can make this work, or you are likely to run into even more troubles!

Ziltoid · #19 09-15-2009, 05:22 AM

I'm on my pc, the mac doesn't have a "mic" in

Charling · #20 09-15-2009, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ziltoid

I'm on my pc, the mac doesn't have a "mic" in

but you are coming out of your bass, you don't need a mic in! you should be going to line in, certainly from you amp. From your bass it will be a bit quiet going line in but still loud enough to make sure it works etc!

Mic in is just for mics (with a few exceptions), the only difference between the two is how much of a volume boost you can give on those inputs, ie mic - lots, line - not so much.

the amount of variable on a pc are a bit greater so it may be harder to track down the trouble. i assume you have chosen the correct input as your 'in' in controll panel>sounds and audio devices?

what program are you using to receive the sound?