Can I use Sonar 2 XL as a pre-amp?
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Posted on Apr 11, 2003 07:53 am
stephie
Member Since: Apr 11, 2003
I use my acoustic guitar with a 'Woody' Pick-up giving line level output. The problem is when I connect to my SB 1024 Live soundcard I get a really low volume and nothing seems to increase it.
Can I use the Re-valver amp in Sonar 2 XL to increase gain/volume negating the need for an external amp or trying to connect through the 'mic in' on the soundcard?
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Apr 11, 2003 08:00 am You should really preamp it before it gets to to the sound card. You have a few options, one is buying a sim like the POD, V-AMp or something like that, one is buying a dedicated preamp, and another would be buying a small mixer and using the preamp on it.
You can use revalver but buy that time the audio is already in the PC, and by using that to bring up the volume you may bring up any recorded noise and such with it.
All I can say is to try it and see what happens, you won't break anything...
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Apr 11, 2003 12:02 pm Here, here,
Once the signal has been sampled and is in the form of a digital file the signal to noise ratio is cast. You can use most any software to increase the amplitude of the file, however it will increase the whole file, guitar sound and noise. Amplifying the signal proir to sampling gets the signal a good distance from the noise level making the noise negligable. Volume of the wanted signal in itself is not a concern. It is the relitive volume of the wanted signal to the unwanted noise. Software does not address the problem of a close signal to noise ratio as well as does hardware used to amplify the original analog signal.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 12, 2003 02:21 am I am not sure about this, but if I read your post right your using the mic input to plug your guitar in. This could be part of the problem. You should be using the line in rather then the mic in.
Apr 12, 2003 03:21 am Noize, I think the Seymore Duncan Woody is a passive pickup. It will need a preamp.
Apr 14, 2003 02:36 am Hi,
Thanks for all your comments. I am plugging the pick up in to the 'line in' of the soundcard. I have tried plugging it in to the 'mic in' and got a good signal but was scared to leave it in as I am told that it could knacker the card.
Is this correct?
Thanks again,
Apr 14, 2003 03:37 am i've never heard of leaving anything plugged into a mic-in casuing any problems. I used to leave a little computer mic plugged into my sound blaster all the time. never gave me any trouble. if you're not sure, just unplug it when you're done.
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Apr 14, 2003 10:55 am Stephie,
The mic input is designed to accept a lower voltage signal than the line input. If it sounds good you are probably ok fine. It is not a recomended procedure, but now that you have done it without damage and discovered it works all is well! If the sound distorts at all (like too much volume to speakers) don't do it. In your case it sounds like the passive Duncan pickup is close enough to a standard mic output to be fine.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 14, 2003 06:33 pm But as stated earlier in the post, you will definatley need to get a pre-amp to get a better input signal then you are getting without it.
