Recording guitar with onboard sound

[philclare]

Hi,

I am trying to record my guitar using my computers onboard sound, I know that this is not the best soundcard to use and I'll probably have issues with latency and stuff but want to prove concept and play with software more than produce albums...

The trouble I'm having is that when I plug my mic into the mic input, everything works fine and I can record the mic. However when I plug the guitar into the line in, I don't seem to get any signal.

I have tried plugging my electric guitar straight into the line in, or going through my Boss GT-6 floor pedal, I have tried both these into the line in and the mic input, but to no avail.

I have followed all the instructions with the software (ntrack) including messing about with the windows volume settings etc, but have so far been unsuccessful.

My current thinking is that the guitar output is not at line level and therefore might need a preamp, however the mic isn't line level (I think) so not sure if that is the solution...

Any ideas?

Thanks

Phil Clare

[jpw23]

maybe a bad cable.

[dcwave]

A guitar pickup is like a microphone -you need a pre amp or a direct injection box to raise the level of the signal. The mic input has a pre amp - a really bad pre-amp with no over head. For about $30 you could get a DI box and have a usable signal to play with; provided of course your line input it working.

Try putting a CD player's headphone out to a the line in and see if you get sound. Check to make sure the sound card's mixer application hasnt check the mute box for the line in.

[TimOBrien]

Line-6 Guitarport, Phil....

[mrbelfry]

I like the behringer active di100 for a di box. It is about £35