SBLive! comp hookup

[FlamingBill]

Could someone give me some info on how to get plugged straight into my sound card/comp(SB Live!, 750mhz, 128mb ram)? I really don't want to just stick the mic next to my amp!

[StoneDragon]

You can plug your guitar straight into the soundcard, but that is probably the least desirable way to do things.

The guitar by itself puts out a very weak signal and the tone is harsh and dry sounding. What you really need is some sort of preamp to boost the signal and color the tone.

If your amp has a line out or headphone jack, you can you can plug that into the soundcard. Do not plug the speaker output of the amp into the soundcard. That is asking for trouble. Most people find this method less than ideal. Most of the sound you hear when playing through your amp is the speaker. When you remove the speaker by plugging direct, the tone can be harsh and brittle.

Another method is to use an effects pedal (like distortion) as a preamp. This can work pretty well, depending on the quality and sound of your effects pedals. In this case, just plug your guitar into the pedal(s) and plug the pedal(s) into your soundcard.


The best way to go about it is to get a preamp that is designed for producing a good tone without a speaker. There are quite a few options, depending on how serious you are about your sound and how much money you want to spend.

The easiest and cheapest way to get a decent sound is by using something like the Rockman Guitar Ace (http://service.bfast.com/bfast/click?bfmid=5607334&siteid=19880391&bfpid=180253&bfmtype=gear) ($69)

http://img.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/thumbnail/180253.t.jpg

You can simply run a chord from the headphone output of the Rockman to the input of the soundcard.

A step up from that would be to go with something like the Digitech RP200 (http://service.bfast.com/bfast/click?bfmid=5607334&siteid=19880391&bfpid=150175&bfmtype=gear) ($149)

http://img.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/thumbnail/150175.t.jpg

or the SansAmp GT2 (http://service.bfast.com/bfast/click?bfmid=5607334&siteid=19880391&bfpid=480208&bfmtype=gear) ($169)

http://img.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/thumbnail/480208.t.jpg


If you want to go all out, look into something like the Line6 POD (http://service.bfast.com/bfast/click?bfmid=5607334&siteid=19880391&bfpid=482222&bfmtype=gear) ($349)

http://img.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/thumbnail/482222.t.jpg


As far as the physical hookup goes, you'll probably need to visit your local Radio Shack and pick up a cable or two. The line in jack on your soundcard is most probably a 1/8" mini stereo jack. So you'll need a 1/8" mini plug on one end of the cable. Whether or not you go with a stereo plug or a mono plug depends on what your going to be plugging in.

Most of my gear has 1/4" phone jacks and has both a right and left output (for stereo). I use a cable (from Radio shack) that has a 1/8" mini stereo plug on one end and two RCA plugs on the other end. I buy two RCA to 1/4" phone plug adapters to convert the RCA ends into phone plug ends. That way I have the option to use RCA or phone plugs. Most stereo equipment (like a CD player) uses RCA jacks.

[Retro]

I've used the RP200 and have gotten good results. I always use the cabinet emulation when recording direct with it.

[FlamingBill]

Hmm this is all new to me. I can use a computer and play a guitar but when you combine the two I get trouble http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/tongue.gif. My amp does have a headphone jack, so I'm pretty sure I could hook it up that way. All I need is a cable that has a 1/4"(guitar) plug on one end, and a 1/8" mini stereo jack on the other then? BTW, thanks for all the info Stone, more than I could have asked for!
Keep jammin'

[StoneDragon]

Both the headphone jack and the input jack on the soundcard are most likely stereo jacks. You may have the best luck by using a cable (or a cable and adapters) that has a stereo 1/4" on one end and a stereo 1/8" on the other end.