Having some trouble...

[Evil Undead]

Hi

I've been trying to record my bass to my computer using mixcraft - been plugging my bass into the amp, and then the amp into the mic-in jack on my laptop - this picks up a recording but it's basically just horrible fuzz and noise!
For some reason it works ok when I plug my guitar in the same way and record

I was looking at StealthPlug and wondered if this would solve my problems as it's an audio interface. Anyone have any thoughts on this? I'm itching to start recording properly but can't until this is solved!

I would appreciate any other suggestions also

Thanks

 

[Charling]

Hi

I've been trying to record my bass to my computer using mixcraft - been plugging my bass into the amp, and then the amp into the mic-in jack on my laptop - this picks up a recording but it's basically just horrible fuzz and noise!
For some reason it works ok when I plug my guitar in the same way and record

I was looking at StealthPlug and wondered if this would solve my problems as it's an audio interface. Anyone have any thoughts on this? I'm itching to start recording properly but can't until this is solved!

I would appreciate any other suggestions also

Thanks

what sort of output are you using on each amp? Thats very important. If you are coming line out of the guitar amp then taking speaker out of the bass amp then that will certainly cause problems/damage! perhaps to your computer too.

Or are you using the same amp? Have you tried simply turning down? perhaps your bass is a bit louder than you guitar. If you are using a line out and your amp has two 'volumes' (an input and an output gain) then you will need to adjust the INPUT gain, as the output gain is normally the signal coming out of the power amp into the speakers, and won't affect the level of signal going to the line output.

 

[Evil Undead]

Hi Charling, thanks for replying

I use the same amp for both, and record them seperately. Keep my amp pretty low cos I live in an apartment block and the neighbours don't like me being noisy haha

I've also tried just plugging the bass into the mic-in and bypassing the amp altogether (it's an active bass) and it does exactly the same

I was wondering if an audio interface would solve the problem as I guess it's an issue with my soundcard?

 

[Charling]

no problem man!

well, thats a slightly odd problem, as it works fine for the guitar but not for bass. There is nothing fundamentally different between the two as far as the audio interface is concerned so it should work for both.

The only thing I can think of is that the bass is active, and louder, and distorting on the way in. I imagine your guitar is passive and as such a lot quieter. You are coming out of a line out I imagine? Line out is a very loud signal to put into a mic input (as can be a pre-amped active bass signal). it's useable and won't cause any damage (unless you really crank it!) but you will have to tame the level's or it will certainly distort.

It sounds obvious but have you tried just turning the bass right down? Or turning down the mic input level (normally accessable through double clicking the little speaker in the system tray, I assume you are on a PC?). You may be cranking the bass up a bit too much to hear it on headphones or small computer speakers and thats distorting the input.

either way, an interface with a line input will certainly solve the problem, not because of a fault with your built-in soundcard but just because its more robust and designed for the sort of signals you are trying to put into it!

 

[jazzgeek79]

I think a better interface designed for line level signals would be a good investment for you. Even if you can adjust the signal from your bass so that it doesn't distort the adjustment in gain could very well cause a change in tone that is undesirable. In any event a line level input should give a much better sound on both bass and guitar.

 

[Evil Undead]

awesome, thanks for your input

Does this look like a good bet?
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