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Topic: pre-amp for direct-inject to PC ? |
mickd
From:
london,england
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Posted 2 Dec 2005 4:07 pm |
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I have been using a mike stuck in front of my amp to do PC-based recordings, and this has worked well enough for me in the past, but now I have got a new PC (with a better soundcard - Soundblaster Audigy 4) and now find that I'm noticing much more noise. So I decided to try direct inject.
I found that the signal was weak - even with the speakers on max. I believe I may need a pre-amp. Can anyone suggest the sort of thing I should be looking for ? |
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Dave Boothroyd
From:
Staffordshire Moorlands
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Posted 3 Dec 2005 2:17 am
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Why not get a notepad Mixer? That will be the best way to go if you want to keep things in the analogue domain for as long as possible.
Alternatively look into a USB audio interface. M Audio do a wide range, and the Edirol one is good and cheap too.. Check out Digital Village for prices and spec.
Many of these units have a dedicated guitar channel. http://www.dv247.com/icat/homeofferslist
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Cheers!
Dave
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 3 Dec 2005 3:19 am
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Most general PA mics do not put out enough signal for a PC. Use a small mixer or as suggested one of the interface units that are designed for a standard PA mic.
Here is something I found on the Shure microphone web site.
Professional microphones put out a very weak signal - less than 1/1000th of a volt, or 1 millivolt. Audio inputs on sound cards, even though they may be labeled "Mic In" or be identified by a small microphone-shaped icon, often are not designed to accept such a low signal level. Most sound card inputs require a minimum signal level of at least 1/100th of a volt (10 millivolts); some older 8-bit cards need 1/10th of a volt (100 millivolts). This discrepancy means that if a typical professional microphone is connected to a sound card input, the user will have to shout into the microphone or hold it just an inch or so away (or both) in order to produce a strong enough signal for the sound card to "hear." |
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Mark Vinbury
From:
N. Kingstown, Rhode Island, USA
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Posted 3 Dec 2005 6:42 am
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I've been using a Behringer Eurorack UB1002
mixer with an SM58.It was $70 and has been great for computer recording and for running two lap steels and a guitar into my amp at gigs. |
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mickd
From:
london,england
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Posted 3 Dec 2005 9:40 am
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I should clarify that I don't have a problem with the signal level from the mike - only from the guitar when its plugged directly into the line-in socket of the sound card.
I took a look at some of those usb audio devices. They look good but don't they just replicate the function of the PC sound card ? Call me a scrooge, but since I've just bought this I want it to pay me back a bit before I think of ditching it 
Also, wouldnt a mixer be over the top since I only have one device I want to 'mix'.. ?
I was thinking of something much less sophisticated - just an analogue signal booster, with a guitar jack input and a min-jack output..if such a thing exists. |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 3 Dec 2005 10:45 am
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| I use a Korg Pandora to boost the signal. |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 3 Dec 2005 2:48 pm
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| If you are using a guitar amp and it has a "line out" or "preamp out", you can feed that to the line in. |
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mickd
From:
london,england
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Posted 5 Dec 2005 3:16 pm
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I found a couple of cheapo devices that look like they might do the trick.
Theres the FX10 Bi-FET Preamp and the PB100 Preamp Booster .
Anyone know anything about these ? |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 5 Dec 2005 4:14 pm
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| Do you have a POD XT? that will interface directly to the PC, via USB or MIDI. |
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John Daugherty
From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
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Posted 7 Dec 2005 6:02 am
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Mick, most any audio preamp will work. It is nice to have one with EQ control. I presently use a small preamp by "Stewart Electronics". It has low,mid,high EQ controls. Before I found the Stewart, I used a preamp section salvaged from a small guitar amp. I feed the guitar to a Lexicon mpx 100 or 110 effects unit, then to the preamp.
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www.phelpscountychoppers.com/steelguitar
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Tim Harr
From:
Dunlap, Illinois
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Posted 7 Dec 2005 6:18 am
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PODxt by Line 6.
This is a fantastic unit for interfacing with a PC. USB Connection.
EXCELLENT & realistic amplifier simulation (Twin, Boogie, Tweeds,etc.. - all speaker configs: 1x12, 1x15, 2x12, 4x10, etc.. microphone configs)
The best I have heard for this type of money.
YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH A PODxt!! |
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mickd
From:
london,england
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Posted 7 Dec 2005 9:08 am
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wow - that POD website is really impressive  but too many knobs on the thing for my taste  - I think I'd spend all my time looking for the perfect sound instead of practicing.. |
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Jeff Hogsten
From:
Flatwoods Ky USA
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Posted 9 Dec 2005 8:15 am
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| get a tascm 122 I use one everyda at work along with the cubase le it will do anything you need to do |
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