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GSUdawg521
01-07-2007, 10:25 PM
Hey everyone, I'm having some troubles with the microphone and line-in inputs on my computer not picking up sound very well.

A couple of years ago a friend and I used to record some music the same way, it was either on the same computer I have now, or on my parent's computer, which is the same model. We did it all the same way, I plugged my guitar into the line-in jack using my guitar cable and a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter. And we used a mic in the microphone jack. We used Audacity for everything too.

For some reason though, when I just started trying this recently, Audacity (or even the windows sound recorder) will barely pick up the sounds from the guitar or the mic, respectively. I have to turn my volume way up to hear the tracks play back and by then you get a lot of background static. I messed with the volume controls in the volume panel a whole bunch but I'm not sure if they are the problem or what.

Any other ideas or suggestions I should check on? Thanks a lot!
jamjumpin
01-08-2007, 01:02 PM
I used to have that problem, use a pre amp. I bought a wee powered mixer for like 15 quid and it did the job.
GSUdawg521
01-09-2007, 01:43 PM
That makes sense, in fact I think I may have done that back when I recorded music years ago.

But what about the microphone? It's a mic actually made for plugging directly into the computer and it doesn't pick up for shit :confused
jamjumpin
01-09-2007, 02:55 PM
No clue, I assume it's a cheap one?
Pick up another one from the dollar store and try it.
som3d3vil34
01-09-2007, 03:05 PM
Are you sure the volume IN the software is up, rather than just the main computer volume?
unccrombie
01-09-2007, 05:08 PM
Are you sure the volume IN the software is up, rather than just the main computer volume?
try that. also the line in port works better. if all else fails increase your db's i guess. ive never had the problem
jamjumpin
01-10-2007, 01:16 PM
try that. also the line in port works better. if all else fails increase your db's i guess. ive never had the problem

Line in is useless because microphones do not output at line level.
unccrombie
01-10-2007, 01:52 PM
Line in is useless because microphones do not output at line level.
did not know that :lol
GSUdawg521
01-11-2007, 09:50 PM
Alright, I've started to pinpoint the problem.

I have my guitar going into my amp. Then from a line from the headphones jack in my amp to the line-in jack on my computer. It's not picking up anything UNLESS I pull the plug out of the headphone jack just a little then it picks it up great. Is that a problem with my amp?
jamjumpin
01-12-2007, 04:04 AM
Alright, I've started to pinpoint the problem.

I have my guitar going into my amp. Then from a line from the headphones jack in my amp to the line-in jack on my computer. It's not picking up anything UNLESS I pull the plug out of the headphone jack just a little then it picks it up great. Is that a problem with my amp?

could be one of two things, either your cable is dodgy or it's do with plugging mono source into stereo line in socket.
GSUdawg521
01-13-2007, 02:50 AM
could be one of two things, either your cable is dodgy or it's do with plugging mono source into stereo line in socket.

Yeah it ended up being a lot better when I set Audacity to record mono. But the crappy microphone still wasn't doing it's job. I need to find my old real mic and see if it still works.

Thanks for all the input (pun intended)