Preamp for recording into laptop mic jack

[Temcat]

Can anybody recommend a cheap and small commercial preamp or DIY preamp schematics that would allow me to record electric instruments into a laptop mic jack with better quality? Preferably USB-powered. I guess it will not even be a preamp but basically an impedance match circuit.

I do realize that the sound quality will be rather poor (it's actually adequate for my purposes here), that I can buy a cheap USB sound card instead, and that I will most likely have latency issues with this setup. However, I want a dirt cheap, compact, and universal solution.

 

[Dave W]

Just grab a cheap USB interface, I don't think you're going to make the built in mic jack sound any better. It's a limitation that's built in no matter what you plug into it.

 

[silky smoove]

+1

A cheap USB interface will have a simple mic preamp built-in that will put you light years beyond trying to use the computer's Soundcraft with something in front of it.

 

[DuraMorte]

Blue makes a USB interface called the Icicle. My guitarist has one, and he likes it a lot.

 

[winegamd]

PreSonus

I have one of these and it is great. It even comes with really decent software and a load of effects.

 

[seamonkey]

ASIO4ALL solves most latency problems. Even with cheap USB interfaces.

For levels, many PC "mic" inputs also do line level.
It may prompt you when you plug into it. Or you may have to go to the control panel to adjust it.

A "instrument" is lower level than a "line" input.
A regular pedal, or any bass pre-amp will raise it to line level.

 

[Dave W]

A regular pedal, or any bass pre-amp will raise it to line level.

Most pedals (assuming you mean effects pedals) are instrument level, and not all preamps are line level.

 

[Temcat]

Thank you all for your kind suggestions!

 

[TheGinBass]

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