Basic home recording question - help!
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Posted on Apr 24, 2006 05:19 pm
danabrey
Member Since: Apr 24, 2006
Hi
I'm hoping to set up a very simple home recording 'studio' with which I will be able to record electric guitar, mics, bass and keyboard.
I have Audacity at the moment, but I cannot for the life of me get it to recognise ANY sound. I bought a 1/4' to 1/8' adapter and have tried going from the amp > line-in, the amp > mic-in, the guitar straight to the mic-in.. and every time it picks up nothing.
Do I need a pre-amp or some sort of thing in between the amp and the sound card for recording guitar/bass? What do I need to record the keyboard (for drum loops etc)?
As you can probably tell I'm a complete newbie to all this, so any help would be useful!
Thank you so much in advance..
Dan
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Apr 25, 2006 08:12 am Welcome to HRC.
While I can't really explain the Audacity problem right now, I will start by saying Audacity really ins't the right app for what you are doing. Google for "Kristal Audio Engine" it's a freeware application made for multitracking such as you want to do. Configure that app and try. And don't plug anything into a mic input except a mic, don't run an electric straight into anything but an amp or preamp...then into a line in.
Which output from your amp are you running into a line in. Please tell me it's not the speaker output...if it is, you may have damaged your sound card.
Apr 25, 2006 11:17 am Thanks for the software suggestion.
It just says "OUTPUT" on it, so I assumed - there is also a "phones" port on it.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 25, 2006 08:30 pm If it doesn't say Line Out you may have a problem. Is it the same jack the speaker cabinet plugs into?
TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
Apr 26, 2006 07:23 pm Methinks there's no soundcard of worth.
Methinks 'tis not a duplex card.
Methinks a soundcard 'tis in order.
Really, it'll save a world of woes. There are many inexpensive ones on the market. Hell, mine was only $99.00.
And Kristal is pretty cool. Great price.
May 01, 2006 09:23 pm The amp doesn't say line out, and the soundcard is something I haven't even been able to identify, although there are a hell of a lot of 1/8 inch holes in it, which hasn't made it easy.
I think you're both right!