bass distortiom

[Insomnia_Junkie]

I'm recording my bass on Audacity and I cant figure out how to stop the distortion everytime I hit low notes, I've gone crazy messing with all the volumes, anyone know?

-thanks so much

 

[AdlerAugen]

Too high input volume? Remember that anytime you cross the 0 db threshold it will create some form of distortion, whether it's analogue and more subtle the less over it is, or digital where it just makes a lot of noise once it passes that.

 

[Insomnia_Junkie]

Too high input volume? Remember that anytime you cross the 0 db threshold it will create some form of distortion, whether it's analogue and more subtle the less over it is, or digital where it just makes a lot of noise once it passes that.

See thats what I thought, but even when I lowered the input volume the lower strings still distorted. The high register plays fine its just the lower. I'm stil getting familiar with Audacity but comparing my recorded track with lets say a mp3 song, my recorded track is all scrunch up (visually) where the mp3 is expansive, with its peaks utilizing the whole area. If that makes any sense whatsoever

 

[TheDarkReaver]

maybe your soundcard isn't up to the job.

 

[Insomnia_Junkie]

maybe your soundcard isn't up to the job.

Damn, that pretty much limits my possibilities doesn't it. So mic is my best option?

 

[seamonkey]

Is it an Active bass? If so then try the "line" input instead of the mic input.

 

[Insomnia_Junkie]

Is it an Active bass? If so then try the "line" input instead of the mic input.

I dont have one on my laptop =(

 

[Skit1]

Try lowering the volume on your actual bass.
Failing that, get a better soundcard

 

[goolimari]

are you plugging in your bass directly into your laptop ? this will not work..

lotsa techie stuff involved in why it wont work, but lets not get into it..

get a griffin imic USB recorder. sells on ebay for $20. worth the investment. plug the guitar into the imic (which is inturn plugged into your laptop USB). cheap but highly effective solution. of course, you wont get a pro level recording, but will be way better than your current setup.

PS: you will need some sort of a 1/4 instrument jack to 1/8 mini-jack convertor, to plug your guitar cable to the imic. you'll get this convertor in Radioshack for around $3.