Electric Guitar and a PC: How do I do it??!!

> > > Electric Guitar and a PC: How do I do it??!!

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Member Since: Jan 29, 2004

Hi Everybody....
Last time I had a query, I received some real help ! I guess I could do with some more !!
I just bought an electric guitar and want to connect it to my PC.
The soundcard I'm using is Audigy 2 ZS and its manual says that I can plug in the electric guitar into the line-in of the soundcard thru a "Pre-Amp FX box".

The software I'm using is Cakewalk (Plasma and Guitar Studio) and Fruityloops Producer edition.

Now as I understand that there can be two ways to connect the guitar to the soundcard (please correct me if I am wrong):

1. Directly ( using a 1/4" mono to 1/8" stereo adapter). But I guess this gives avery weak input signal to the PC.

2. Connecting the Guitar to an Amp and then the Amp o/p to the PC line-in


I guess the main purpose is to bring the o/p of the guitar to same level as acceptable by the soundcard i/p..

So should I be using a mixer for this or an Amp?
And how do I decide the specifications of the Mixer/Amp when I go to buy these.. what wattage etc?? I am not sure if most of the stuff like POD etc is available in India.
So could you please give me some general guidelines as to how I should go about choosing the Amp. I just need it for connecting with my PC ; nothing more.

Secondly I am confused about whether I should go for an Effects box or rely on software effects for things like distortion , overdrive, flanger etc for my electric guitar?

Looking forward to some suggestions....
Satendra

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Lost for words with all to say.
Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003

Sep 20, 2004 12:43 pm

If you are serious about recording a good clear clean guitar, I wouldn't go this way. But to record stuff you come up with as for reminders of what you played or just to mess around, sure why not. But, you will need a direct box, thus the "pre-amp fx box" does I'm guess. Guitar to the direct box, direct box to soundcard. I'm sure this will work this way?

The fat one always watches us.
Member
Since: Nov 08, 2002

Sep 20, 2004 12:58 pm

the best way to go is to get a small mixer, like the behrger 602 (see reviews here at hrc.) then going to the pc.plus the mixer helps alot with jamming with other folks, recording a few things at once ect ect.

Member
Since: Jan 29, 2004

Sep 27, 2004 12:59 am

Hi,

thanx a lot for the tips !!

I got a small amp for the time being and am playing with the mic position to see how the tone varies.

I also got a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter and am using the mic-in to experiment with the sound of my guitar... its a bit noisy.

I guess I'll go for a virtual amp soon.....


Satendra

> > > Electric Guitar and a PC: How do I do it??!!

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