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Cheap, Easy Way to Record?

Discussion in 'Recordings [BG]' started by grifff, Jul 27, 2009.

  1. Jul 27, 2009 #1
    grifff

    grifff

    Jan 5, 2009
    I'm looking for an easy way to record some of the passages I've written on bass. I plan on using Audacity as the program, but I'm clueless on how to get the sound from the bass into my laptop.

    Any help is appreciated. :hyper:
     
  2. Jul 27, 2009 #2
    DanAleks

    DanAleks Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult

    Mar 5, 2009
  3. Jul 27, 2009 #3
    JohNLA

    JohNLA

    Feb 18, 2009
    1/4 to 1/8 adapter from radio shack is $3.
     
  4. Jul 27, 2009 #4
    grifff

    grifff

    Jan 5, 2009
    I might try this. Do you know how it sounds?
     
  5. Jul 27, 2009 #5
    hbarcat

    hbarcat Supporting Member

    Aug 24, 2006
    Rochelle, Illinois
    First of all, do you have a bass amp with a line out or preamp out. If you do, then this will greatly help in getting a decent line level signal into your computer which is what you want to use to record.

    You want to avoid going directly from the bass output jack into the computer sound card because the mic preamp in the card will sound like poo. Does your laptop have a line level input or only a microphone input? If only the mic input, then you may be stuck using this option and putting up with the poor sound quality unless you want to invest in a recording interface (about $60 and up) which usually has USB or Firewire outs. You'll have to be careful with the levels set going into the mic input as it will want to record very hot. Overloading the mic pre by setting the levels too high will cause horrible distortion. Be conservative and never exceed about -6 dB just to be safe.

    If your laptop does have a line in then you can go from your amp line out but you need to get an adapter that will convert from your 1/4" mono signal from the amp to the 1/8" stereo input.
     
  6. Jul 27, 2009 #6
    grifff

    grifff

    Jan 5, 2009
    My laptop only has a mic input I believe. The amp I would be using would be an Acoustic B200 which has a XLR Direct Out. Could I just use a cable to connect the Direct Out of the amp to the microphone input of my laptop? http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Acoustic-B200-200W-1x15-w-Tweeter-Bass-Combo?sku=482902

    If I choose to get an interface, is there a particular one that you would recommend?