software

On my 2100 slx amp I have a Recording Compensated and Direct Line output. I am planning to send the signal directly to my computer's sound card line in. I assume I'm supposed to use the Recording Compensated output. The output is the standard size, but the sound card's input is the headphone sized 1/8quot;.

Do I just find a cable with a 1/4quot; and 1/8quot; ends on it and just connect it on? If this is correct could you guys give me any links to these type of cables or suggest any that you guys know of?

Bump!

I'm not sure if there is a specific type of cable (as opposed to a guitar cable), but you can just get a 1/8 x 1/8 and buy an adaptor...

Okay I just got at 1/4quot; to 1/8quot; converter from radio shack today. What type of cable should get guitar cable or speaker cable? I know either would work fine, but I think the speaker cable might be better suited for this.


Originally Posted by greendy123Okay I just got at 1/4quot; to 1/8quot; converter from radio shack today. What type of cable should get guitar cable or speaker cable? I know either would work fine, but I think the speaker cable might be better suited for this.

Nope. Guitar cable. For line and instrument level signals, use a guitar cable. For higher-level signals, use a speaker cable.

DO NOT RUN THE SOUND THROUGH ANY COMPUTER SPEAKERS THAT YOU ARE ATTACHED TO WITHOUT TURNING THE RECORDING VOLUME TO AS CLOSE TO ZERO AS POSSIBLE

speaker cable will do it but its best to have something to limit the volume in between your amp and computer output so you dont blow out your speakers
its best to unplug any audio speakers attached to your computer if you cannot limit the volume before you run it to the computer. record then plug the speakers back in to listen to it

^As long as he's not sending the cab output into his computer, he should be fine.

Honestly though, I find I get a better sound putting a $4 PC mic five feet from the amp than I do running directly into the sound card.


Originally Posted by Tux789DO NOT RUN THE SOUND THROUGH ANY COMPUTER SPEAKERS THAT YOU ARE ATTACHED TO WITHOUT TURNING THE RECORDING VOLUME TO AS CLOSE TO ZERO AS POSSIBLE
speaker cable will do it but its best to have something to limit the volume in between your amp and computer output so you dont blow out your speakers
its best to unplug any audio speakers attached to your computer if you cannot limit the volume before you run it to the computer. record then plug the speakers back in to listen to it

He's talking about recording from a line level output, not from the power amp.


Originally Posted by mnbaseball91^As long as he's not sending the cab output into his computer, he should be fine.

Honestly though, I find I get a better sound putting a $4 PC mic five feet from the amp than I do running directly into the sound card.

Yeah going directly to the computer can really distort it

didnt know if the dude was going through the cab or not so i decided to give the warning just in case

Thanks for the help in the cable type to use. I know about the microphone thing and didn't sound too bad. I just want to try the outputs from amp to see what they would sound like. Do you guys know which output I should be using from my amp? It's either the Recording Compensated or Direct Line output.

Thanks again for the help in advance.

^Direct line I would assume would be without speaker quot;modeling,quot; recording compensated is probably with.

I tried a guitar cable into the sound card and came out pretty noisy. Do guys think would be alot less noisy if I used a shielded cable or at least resonably noisy?

A few things:

First, make sure the output is line level and not powered. Speakers are the last ting you should worry about if you’re sending a powered signal to the computer. The sound card would fry in a heartbeat if you sent it more than line level voltage.

Second, even if you have to use adapters, you’re better off using an XLR cable between the amp’s line out and the soundcard. A guitar cable (any 1/8” or ¼” cable for that matter) is prone to picking up RF interference. The longer the cable, the more susceptible you are to it.

Third, your sound card may not be designed for use as you are intending. Basic sound cards have an 1/8” input for the cheap unpowered computer mics. It’s possible that you are already overloading your soundcard and creating a distorted signal. Better solutions, although not the cheapest solutions, are a new soundcard that will support digital recording (I would recommend one with XLR inputs) or a USB interface (takes a line level signal and sends it to your computer via USB).

How are you going about recording? What software are you using?

If you are using a basic sound card the input does not like to see very much level. If you are getting distortion you can try adjusting to quot;line-inquot; level on your computer.

Look under Control Panel / Sounds and Audio Devices / Volume tab...Advanced....you should see a bunch of sliders ...look for line in and take it way down.

also, a cheap cable can easily couple RFI from a CRT monitor (and other sources as well) .... not good ... use good cables and see about getting the monitor as far away as possible ... LCD screen even better

good luck
t4d

This is info from my site which is also from the manual of my amp (would apply to your as well).

The Direct Out is an unfiltered signal directly from the pre-amp which allows you to connect to an external power amplifier. The Recording Compensated Out is a filtered signal for connecting directly to recording equipment or a PA system. *Note: Even when using these line-outs, you still must connect the amp to a speaker cabinet of the proper rating.

Try adjusting the line-in level on the PC so the signal is not so hot. If it's still too hot, then just mic it up. I do that through a 4-track and then run the line-outs of the 4-track in to my PC.