An issue regarding a sound card and cords.

[Sivart the Sloth Trencher]

Last week I downloaded a trial application called Guitar Rig that's basically an amp for your computer. I'm currently trying to decide if I'll be wasting my money if I purchase this: .

Basically, the application wants an input to be selected. My only input is my sound card. Since guitars have an output slot of 1/4", would it work to plug a 1/4" plug into the guitar and a 1/4 - 1/8 adapter and then plug the adapter into the sound card?

[DK]

Re: An issue regarding a sound card and cords.

How much is the set up? I'm pretty sure it will work but I would not spend more than 30 dollars for the thing.

[Sivart the Sloth Trencher]

Re: An issue regarding a sound card and cords.

$10 for the cord and adapters. It's coming out of my wallert though, and that 10 is pretty much all that I have.

[DK]

Re: An issue regarding a sound card and cords.

do it they'll come in handy for other things.

[thetruecoolness]

Re: An issue regarding a sound card and cords.

I would make sure the mono adapter will work in your sound card. I know pretty much all of them accept stereo but I'm not sure if you will be able to plug a mono cord in there (and even if you do you'll only get sound out of one side of the speakers). I just bought a stereo 1/4" to 1/8" converter and a 1/8" extension cord, and if you plug the instrument cable in about halfway it'll hit both connectors and spread the mono plug over stereo. Worked for my Bass. Of course now I have a front panel with a 1/4" plugin for my sound card. Should be able to get both for about $10 at a radio shack. Though the converters in the package would be handy for other things, I would make sure you could return in in case the mono plug doesn't work.

Also as a word of caution I wouldn't plug the converter directly into your sound card jack as over time it can make the hole bigger and make the connection loose on your sound card (because it's rigid and heavier than the end of a cable). Had that happen on a TV card with a dual RCA to 1/8" adapter.

[Translucid]

Re: An issue regarding a sound card and cords.

buy an adaptor from radio shack for $4. seriously, this is what I did.

however, I also have my setup as guitar -> amp system -> computer. you may need some sort of pre-amp to jack up the volume that's gonna be coming out of your guitar.

[thetruecoolness]

Re: An issue regarding a sound card and cords.

Yeah that is the main problem with just hooking up instruments up to a sound card, they usually aren't very loud, even sticking them in the Mic slot and using the Mic Boost. But then they get distortion. So eventually you'll likely need a preamp.

[JLaCroix]

Re: An issue regarding a sound card and cords.

Thetruecoolness is right, hooking things up to your soundcard generally results in lower volume in the audio. You can increase the volume using Windows sound recorder and editing the .wav file, but it would be lower quality since you'd also increase ambient sounds.

My brother-in-law got a nice recorder set that included support for a mic and guitar at the same time. Using Audacity, it's extremely easy to layer the guitar and vocals or whatever else you want to hook up to it. In fact, I used it earlier today just playing around and created a death metal version of that Charlie Candy Mountain flash thingie. I forgot what it's called but it cost around $80 I think, I know you don't have that kind of money but I'd save up for it. If you're interested I can find out what the product was called, it supports both Windows and Linux, which is pretty cool and hooks up to the PC via USB. My bro uses Ubuntu Linux and it works really well with it. There's a CD in there for Windows users.

So just save up your money and get something like that.

Edit: I found it:
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_u...kUSB-main.html

Edit: Also you may want to consider Ubuntu Studio. It's an extremely easy to use Linux Operating System designed for specifically for artists. If you had a spare computer you could make it into a really good music studio with it. It's really good. It's also free. It is a dream OS for many artists.

Screenshot:
http://ubuntustudio.org/files/US6.png

Link:
http://ubuntustudio.org/

[Sivart the Sloth Trencher]

Re: An issue regarding a sound card and cords.

Well... I bought the thing, and after a lengthy series of connections, I ran into two problems. Setting the Output Latency to anything less than 30ms adds a lot of static, while if it's at 30 or above, there's a delay of about 1.5 seconds.

My setup is this: I have my guitar plugged into my digital 15 watt hybrid Line 6. I have the 1/8 - 1/4 adapter plugged into the 1/4 slot with the extension cord plugged into that. I then have a cable with two outputs plugged into the other end of the extension cord and the sound card.

[Translucid]

Re: An issue regarding a sound card and cords.

well, unfortunately, you'll need a better sound card or a better processor if you want a better output time that doesn't sound like you're playing your guitar through a walkie-talkie. I don't know what you've got running over there (please don't let it be your motherboard soundcard), but chances are one or the either are lacking.

here's my soundcard, it sounds pretty good for the price: http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_u...2496-main.html

[Sivart the Sloth Trencher]

Re: An issue regarding a sound card and cords.

(please don't let it be your motherboard soundcard)

If I'm too cheap too buy anything more expensive than $10, then I'm pretty sure I'll be too cheap to buy a sound card.

[Translucid]

Re: An issue regarding a sound card and cords.

well then GET A JOB, HIPPY

[Sivart the Sloth Trencher]

Re: An issue regarding a sound card and cords.

IN A YEAR. I'm not old enough to get one around here.