Recording questions.

[Ziddy]

My head (Ampeg B4R) has a line-out on the back - would it work to run line-out -> mic-in on my sound card? I'm not looking for the best of quality here, just an audible recording. I've heard that heads shouldn't be turned on without a load; is it okay just to plug in the line-out, or does the cab need to be connected as well?

Would I be better off just mic'ing the cab?

[sonicvi]

Yes, that will work. You don't need a cab connected since it's a solid state head.

[Rick Brienzo]

Originally Posted by sonicvi

Yes, that will work. You don't need a cab connected since it's a solid state head.

+1

If your soundcard has a mic and a line input like a lot of them do, you could run a line out, and a mic to different tracks for the best of bolth worlds.

[Ziddy]

I connected line-out to the mic-in (there's no line-in, cheap soundcard), and it isn't really working. Some signal is getting through, since waveforms in Audacity show up when I pluck the strings on the bass, but although they're not clipping, I just get a really muddy, indistinct sound. I can upload a recording if necessary.

I've been able to record in the past, though that was some time ago, with a different amp. I had the same problem with that same amp when I tried to record a few weeks ago, and gave it up. As far as I know I'm not doing anything any differently than before, but it just doesn't work now.

To more accurately describe the sound I get, lower notes sound like they're underwater, though higher notes aren't much better. The whole thing is overwhelmed by "popping" like you'd get off an old vinyl LP, but only when I'm actually playing. Very strange (again, I stress that there is no clipping!)

[Rick Brienzo]

Originally Posted by Ziddy

I connected line-out to the mic-in (there's no line-in, cheap soundcard), and it isn't really working. Some signal is getting through, since waveforms in Audacity show up when I pluck the strings on the bass, but although they're not clipping, I just get a really muddy, indistinct sound. I can upload a recording if necessary.

I've been able to record in the past, though that was some time ago, with a different amp. I had the same problem with that same amp when I tried to record a few weeks ago, and gave it up. As far as I know I'm not doing anything any differently than before, but it just doesn't work now.

To more accurately describe the sound I get, lower notes sound like they're underwater, though higher notes aren't much better. The whole thing is overwhelmed by "popping" like you'd get off an old vinyl LP, but only when I'm actually playing. Very strange (again, I stress that there is no clipping!)

Some things to look at are.

Make sure it’s not a bad cable

Pull up your computers volume controls for recording and select the mic in and set the level.

Adjust the line out level on your amp.

Make sure the software you are using has the right input selected.



Is the waveform you have recorded really high or really low????

[Ziddy]

The waveform varies from high to low depending on how I set my levels. The cable isn't bad, as I use it everyday whilst playing. Regardless of how I set my levels, though, I get this same useless noise. Also, the bass sound comes through my computer speakers without this problem - it's just that the actual recording sounds horrible.

Update: The level setting in Audacity is equivalent to the "Capture" slider in my general volume control settings. The higher I set this, the more "useless noise" I get. The "Microphone" slider seems to be what I hear directly through the speakers as I'm playing (whether I'm recording or not) - the higher it is, the more clean sound I hear. Therefore, it's safe to say that the physical connections, cables, etc. are fine, but something's going wrong in the actual recording process.

[Rick Brienzo]

horrible as in distorted/clipping or horrible as in lots of hiss and noise with a very weak bass signal?

When you rec. what do your meters look like? are they really hot or really low?

[Ziddy]

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/197/waveform2hq.png

http://media.putfile.com/noise-78-71

[seanm]

You shouldn't run the line out to the mic in. Like you have noted, it will work with some amps but will give you way too much noise with most.

[bassguitar]

Yep. A mic input is for a mic, not a line. Use the line input and it should be much better. Also uncheck monitoring on the recording properties window if you don't want your bass coming out of your soundcard/computer speakers.

[Rick Brienzo]

That sounds like your computer is not fast enough or you have to many things running in the background.

The only time I have gotten a sound like that is when my computer is bogged down or my clock is not syncing with my other soundcard.

[Ziddy]

I have no line-in on my soundcard, and my computer is certainly fast enough, especially since I don't have anything running in the background. Should I try directly connecting my bass instead? I have the +20dB boost turned off, by the way.

[chrisp2u]

You probably won't get too good of a level or a decent sounding tone plugging your bass in direct either.

To get a decent level/sound you really need to mic you cab, use a DI of some type or a mixer which has line inputs which are a high impedence instrument input. What you're experiencing are differences in line level and impedence.
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c

[lemur821]

My bass comes out pretty well when I go direct.

If you've got a headphone out on your amp you might run that to the mic in. I've had good luck like that.

[chrisp2u]

I guess I'm pretty picky about recording and what sounds good. I suppose the original poster just wanted something passable though. You typically have to jack your gain up pretty high (more hiss/noise) to get a good level direct into an input that's not through a pre, and it typically sounds pretty thin. However, he only has a mic in, which is at a different line level and would need to be boosted more. A headphone out would prob work a little better, however many amps don't have them nowadays.
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c

[MeYHymN]

Two things to note.
One, if you have an active bass, you can plug straight in with out a DI or similar into the Line In.
Two, since you don't have a line in. PC mic inputs are stereo, look at any PC headset if you don't believe me. So, what you need to do is (if you have an active bass) goto Radio Crack (you've got questions, we've got that stupid look on our face) get a 1/4" to 1/8" reducer plug. Then get a 1/8" mono female to 1/8" stereo male connector. Boom you're in there like G-string underware. If you don't have an active bass, then an effects pedal w/ a headphone out, or a headphone practice amp, get a 1/8" stereo male to male connector.
FWIW, a $20 soundcard has a line in.

[MKS]

Check out this thread:
Playing through computer?????