/ Register

Can I go from bass -> distortion pedal -> line-in on computer?

Discussion in 'Effects [BG]' started by carp3n0ct3m, Nov 25, 2005.

  1. Nov 25, 2005 #1
    carp3n0ct3m

    carp3n0ct3m

    Aug 4, 2005
    Hi, I was wondering, can I go straight from my bass -> distortion pedal -> line-in on computer for recording? I've tried this for a few minutes and seem to get better sound doing this instead of from the headphone jack on my amp to my line-in or mic-in on my computer. But I was wondering if I will mess anything up doing this, I don't want to blow out my computer.

    Also, for future reference, is the input jack on the front of amps at line level, and also, on pedals, is the output that goes to the amp at line level?

    This of course is just to hold me over and give me something to do until I can get my POD XT either before or after christmas.

    Thank you in advance for your help,
    Justin
     
  2. Nov 26, 2005 #2
    Vox Populi

    Vox Populi Reggae Loving Honkey

    Jan 27, 2004
    Poulsbo, WA
    I go straight from pedals into my computer all the time. Works fine, no problems.
     
  3. Nov 26, 2005 #3
    Droog

    Droog

    Aug 14, 2003
    PDX
    On power amps, yes the input should be line level, balanced or unbalanced. On an instrument amp, no, the input will be instrument level, much lower than line level and unbalanced.

    And no, typically pedels simply output instrument level signal, unless of course it is a pre amp of some sort in which yes it may out put line level, but that is kind of uncommon.

    Going from your bass or pedal straight to your sound card may work just fine. Try it. If the recording is way to low of a level, then you will need to go through a pre of some sort. I would imagine this will be the case.

    Don't worry about cooking your computer. If you happen to feed a line level signal into a mic input or overload some input somehow its just going to sound terrible. Should not hurt your computer. Though I would not recomend running from a power amp into a sound card, that would be dumb.
     
  4. Nov 26, 2005 #4
    carp3n0ct3m

    carp3n0ct3m

    Aug 4, 2005
    Ok, thanks guys. Going from my distortion pedal into my computer's line-in seems to work pretty good, just wanted to make sure that I wouldn't blow anything out.

    -carp3n0ct3m
     
  5. Nov 26, 2005 #5
    Paddy

    Paddy

    Apr 19, 2005
    Kent England
    OK - stupid question time. I've been looking to connect my guitar to my PC for a while. I was going to get a POD as a practice amp simply to do this!!!

    How do I connect my pedal board to my sound card - what cable do I need?

    To my embarrasment I'm an IT guy with no clue this could be done :bag:

    If I don't reply immediately - I'm off to a gig now :hyper:
     
  6. Nov 26, 2005 #6
    Jazz Ad

    Jazz Ad Mi la ré sol

    Mar 16, 2002
    Langueux, Brittany, France
    male mini to female regular.
    [​IMG]
     
  7. Nov 26, 2005 #7
    Paddy

    Paddy

    Apr 19, 2005
    Kent England
    Ah - thanks for that!!!!!!!

    I know what my next purchase is... God, I feel such an idiot :p
     
  8. Nov 27, 2005 #8
    WarPig

    WarPig

    May 10, 2005
    Outside the gates of Cerdes
    Want to get the real feel for PC audio recording? Check out a sound card called Emu1212. Alone its great, but it allows you to add pieces like the Behringer ADAT8 which gives you 8 channels of audio input to your computer.