Can't get guitar connected to pc

J_C · #1 2 Days Ago

Hi guys!

So today I decided it was time to upgrade from my $70 Yamaha to something a tad bit more.... everything. So I went to GC for the third time and finally made my decision: a Breedlove AD25SRPlus.

I went to radio shack and got my 1/4 to 1/8 adapter. Plugged a new 1/4 monster cable into the breedlove, the other end into the adapter, and the adapter into the line in. I set the recording properties on the sound card to line in.

I'm getting nothing! Audacity is getting zip from the line in. I thought I did everything right; I used to broadcast internet radio from my PC so I know a thing or two about soundcards. I even tried plugging into the mic jack with the boost enabled.

Can anyone think of anything stupid I'm missing? For what it's worth, the guitar worked with the amp in the Guitar center.

Thank you in advance

X4StringDrive · #2 2 Days Ago

Have you checked the settings in audacity under "edit"> "preference's" >"audio I/O" to be sure that the recording/playback device's are properly selected? Do you have a mic to test with to help narrow down which end the problems are initiating from {settings or input device}.

737blues · #3 2 Days Ago

Whilst you are in that Audio I/O preferences, make sure you check the two boxes under playthrough.

J_C · #4 2 Days Ago

Hi guys. I did adjust the I/O, however I don't believe I recall seeing a playthrough option. I can certainly investigate that.

I also have my computer connected to a Bose speaker system, with the soundcard set to stereo mix. If the line-in was being heard at all by the computer, then I should have heard the guitar on my speakers. Does this having anything to do with needing a preamp??

Tekker · #5 2 Days Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by J_C

Does this having anything to do with needing a preamp??

It shouldn't. The guitar should give you plenty of volume.

Is the line in muted in the "playback" options of your sound card's mixer? If it is not muted, you should be able to hear the guitar through the speakers. If you don't hear the guitar at this point then the problem is not in Audacity.

Try unplugging and pluging in the guitar cable into the sound card a few times. If you don't hear any noises from unplugging/plugging in the cable then the problem is not the guitar, and it has to be in the sound card's mixer settings.

-tkr

J_C · #6 2 Days Ago

Thanks Tekker, I was hoping you's see this

The line in is unmuted. I remember from last night that there was no 'popping' sound as I plugged it in. I will revisit the card settings this evening when I get home. I did try it on both the onboard and pci card and got the same results, I just must be having a brain fart and setting something up incorrectly.

J_C · #7 2 Days Ago

I've now tried three different soundcards. I must be losing it. Did I get the wrong adapter? It says 1/4 to 1/8 Adapter. Accepts 1/4 stereo plug. Fits 1/8 mono jack

The fact it accepts stereo shouldnt mean anything, right?

I've tried recording using different programs, different cards, different jacks.... This guitar just isn't being heard

X4StringDrive · #8 1 Day Ago

No the adapter should be fine unless its ages old, most newer ones will ground out{?terminology} one channel when going from stereo to mono.

Tekker offered an idea before, similar to the sound when plugging the cable in, have you tried that while using audacity, it should show wav movement when connecting/disconnecting with a track ready for recording

Tekker · #9 1 Day Ago

Did you use the Sounds and Audio Devices (in the Control Panel) to make sure the sound card that you were trying to use was selected?

It sounds like you have the right adapter (1/4" to 1/8") and the stereo input shouldn't make any difference.

The recording application also won't make any difference at this point. You should be able to hear your guitar with no recording applications open.

-tkr

J_C · #10 1 Day Ago

Thanks guys.

I did confirm the sound card was properly selected. I opened Audacity and tried unplugging and plugging in the 1/8 adapter connected to the guitar. It did have a very very small blip. I don't know what that tells me, but this is a major drag. Thank you so much for helping me sort through this.

OldG · #11 1 Day Ago

Firstly fit a new battery in the guitar, make sure the guitar has good output. Get to an amp that works and test your guitar and cable - also make sure you play into an amp/another computer using your 1/8 adapter to make sure that works.

Once you know for sure the guitar and cable/adapter are good then you can look elsewhere...

The amount of time wasted when setting up for a gig/band practice was nearly always due to cables/batteries and the like...

J_C · #12 1 Day Ago

Thanks OldG, I'll try the battery, cable and connectors. The battery is easy, I'll need to find an amp somewhere to test the cable. Thanks again

carol m · #13 1 Day Ago

Did you try with a different cable? It would be easier/cheaper to find than another amp.

Tekker · #14 1 Day Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by J_C

I opened Audacity and tried unplugging and plugging in the 1/8 adapter connected to the guitar. It did have a very very small blip.

Try plugging it in and unplugging it multiple times and see if you get a pop each time you plug/unplug it. If you do get a pops each time then your sound card is setup correctly and the problem is happening "before" the sound card, so it could be a bad cable or a dead battery in your guitar.

-tkr