Guitar to PC

[Jeff5]

I have a Blackstar HT5 with an emulated speaker output that can go to any input or recording device. I'm trying to hook it up directly to my sound card to play through my PC but I'm not totally sure how to proceed. I have an adapter for it that can hook the guitar cable directly into my sound card but I can't get any sound. Do I need another interface device/program or is there something in my sound settings that I need to look at? I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience with this type of thing and maybe has some tips. Thanks!

Jeff

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Guitar to PC

What is the input on your sound card? You may have to turn it on through the mixer (if you are using Windows). Might be easier to convert it to USB, grab a free DAW program, and then use the USB as an input on the DAW.

 

[GoldenVulture]

Re: Guitar to PC

Your sound card is bound to have a control panel. You should be able to see there if your " line in " is enabled and be able to set an input level. If it's something like a creative you probably will have to enable your " line in " playback.
Soundcard brand and model ?

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Guitar to PC

Appreciate the advice guys. The sound card is a creative labs soundblaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio. I have been futzing around in the control panel and did get it to work a bit. I clicked the line in then clicked "monitor" and it came out of one speaker. However, the delay was just horrible. Like a 2 or 3 second delay between hitting a note and it coming out of my speaker.

 

[GoldenVulture]

Re: Guitar to PC

What OS [XP , Win 7 ] ? what drivers are you using ? WMA or ASIO ?

ASIO drivers are the best to use , usually
This can help dial out some latency. - http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/ASIO4ALL-Download-164345.html -

There are other issues such as; If there's an embedded sound chip on the motherboard, make sure it's turned off in the Bios.

Looking around the net , it seems this is a common issue with that card.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Guitar to PC

That latency is normal and why most ppl use an interface. Also, a guitar's output impedance is very different from a line level (not instrument) input.

 

[hermetico]

Re: Guitar to PC

Appreciate the advice guys. The sound card is a creative labs soundblaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio. I have been futzing around in the control panel and did get it to work a bit. I clicked the line in then clicked "monitor" and it came out of one speaker. However, the delay was just horrible. Like a 2 or 3 second delay between hitting a note and it coming out of my speaker.

Forget it. I was in the same situation several years ago.
You need a good audio card and, your current audio card, even being top notch in the home-pc world isn't enough for audio work.
Get, at least some of the M-Audio interfaces and, better if they have some quality pre-amp to amplify your guitar signal with quality and low noise.

 

[Reload in 5]

Re: Guitar to PC

I spent a LONG time getting sound coming through my sound card working, then sounding decent. I would record with the guitar muted in the PC output and just listen to the track I had already recorded and the guitar directly from the amp or modeler. I would them go back and time shift the new part to line up with the already recorded parts. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Then I bought an interface (think I paid about $40 used for a line 6) and everything just worked.

Short version, stop trying to make this work and get a cheap interface. The cheapest ones still sound 100x better then doing it the way you are now.

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Guitar to PC

Thanks guys I appreciate all the responses and advice. I do have an old Line 6 Guitar Port with amp models etc. that doesn't sound too bad. (Although line 6 discontinued their on-line service which I kind of liked) I really did want to shoot my Blackstar into my PC. Which interfaces have you guys used or do you recommend? I don't want to spend too much as I'm really just tooling around here. Thanks!

 

[Reload in 5]

Re: Guitar to PC

Thanks guys I appreciate all the responses and advice. I do have an old Line 6 Guitar Port with amp models etc. that doesn't sound too bad. (Although line 6 discontinued their on-line service which I kind of liked) I really did want to shoot my Blackstar into my PC. Which interfaces have you guys used or do you recommend? I don't want to spend too much as I'm really just tooling around here. Thanks!

Use the guitarport.
Run blackstar into guitarport with no amps or effects turned on. I think you still have to use the line6 software but just dont insert anything in the chain.

-----
Not sent from a PC......or a red delicious.....but from a robot with a human appearance.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Guitar to PC

Thanks guys I appreciate all the responses and advice. I do have an old Line 6 Guitar Port with amp models etc. that doesn't sound too bad. (Although line 6 discontinued their on-line service which I kind of liked) I really did want to shoot my Blackstar into my PC. Which interfaces have you guys used or do you recommend? I don't want to spend too much as I'm really just tooling around here. Thanks!

I have gotten great results with this Tascam unit.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/tascam-us-144mkii-usb-2.0-4-channel-audio-midi-interface

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Guitar to PC

Guitarport worked like a charm thanks for that! The answer was right under my nose the whole time haha. And thanks for the suggestion of the Tascam. That is definitely something I want in the future.