how can i use my soundcard with active pickups?

[WaR HeaD]

hi dudes, how are you doing?

i´ve been very busy lately with my band and haven´t used the net a lot... i have a big question because i´ve bought a presonus soundcard to record guitar with the pc, and a couple guys has told me that i can´t use emgs or livewires with the instrument input of the card because i am using active electronics...

what can i do with this issue? the card will be comming next week so i can make something about this or i just can cancel the shipping and think about another option

thanks a lot in advance, dudes

 

[Zerberus]

Re: how can i use my soundcard with active pickups?

It´s not even really an EMG related issue. You can´t us any guitar with a soundcard without a buffer between guitar and card. BUT something as simple as a distortion pedal will do fine for this purpose.

The reason is that the soundcard has a line-level input, and no guitar in the world could ever produce a signal that hot. Even the mic preamps in most soundcards can´t boost a guitar´s signal enough to make it more than barely audible. Certainly not "workable"

 

[WaR HeaD]

Re: how can i use my soundcard with active pickups?

It´s not even really an EMG related issue. You can´t us any guitar with a soundcard without a buffer between guitar and card. BUT something as simple as a distortion pedal will do fine for this purpose.

The reason is that the soundcard has a line-level input, and no guitar in the world could ever produce a signal that hot. Even the mic preamps in most soundcards can´t boost a guitar´s signal enough to make it more than barely audible. Certainly not "workable"

thanks for the quick answer zerb! that said i dunno if i have said it rigth... i mean, as souncard i don´t mean a soundblaster audigy or live or whatever, but an interface soundcard like this one

that is made for direct plug in, just the instrument cable, or a canon-canon from a mic in front of the amp... as i have tried it on the shop, but i tried it with passive pickups and i have been told about the actives going in different ohms than pasives, and already making overdrive sounds...

what do you think? thanks again

 

[Zerberus]

Re: how can i use my soundcard with active pickups?

AHAA, Le Nox dú Breakout, zis changez everyzing :laugh2:

Should be less of an issue than with passives with the EMGs, but shouldn´t be a major issue either way. If for some reason it is, use a stompbox and the Line in
The actives do go in at a lower "Z" level, but this is usually actually beneficial in these situations.