Line-in recording with a 30 watt amp

[cukaracha]

hey there

how can i line-in my 30watt amp (with effects) safely into my laptop for recording and maybe some realtime effects and amp models without blowing my soundcard (i happened once...)??

since its a 30watt amp, the master volume can't really go that low and i'm afraid that all the add-ons (like effects and amp models) might overload the sound card and blow it.

any suggestions/other precautions i should take?

thanks in advance

 

[wasp]

I think use something like a DI pedal with cab simulator to make it sound better.

 

[gutturalpiss]

Does your amp have a "Line Out"? If not, it probably just has a "Headphones" output. Just know that a line-level signal is always preferred, but you can try slowly incrementing the volume knob with a headphone out until you reach about 3 o' clock. To connect to the laptop's mic/line-in (choose line-in if given the choice), use a 1/4" to 1/8" jack adapter.

Frankly, I see no point. What gives the amp its sound is the speaker. If you decide to bypass the speaker, I suggest you bypass the amp and go straight into your laptop, use an amp simulator (plenty out there, especially as VST plug-ins). A popular and standalone amp sim is Guitar Rig.

 

[cukaracha]

i'm using line-out, not headphones.

ok.. so i just connect my guitar to my comp? i have the adaptor cable thing, but where does my guitar get the power from..??

i'm sorry, i'm new to this and really not sure how to go about it.. is there some additional hardware that i need to buy (excluding the cable)? i already have a program that can record riffs, has some effects and amp models. so what else do i need?

 

[gutturalpiss]

Don't need anything else - just plug it in. Your guitar is like a dynamic mic, and your soundcard is like a preamp. After that, it's upto your sound device settings. If you're on Windows, go to Control Panel > Sounds... and make sure the device for recording is correct. If you don't know how to verify that, then just load up your recording software and record. If it doesn't work, set the input to a different one and try again.

 

[fifafu]

Deleted-----

 

[killinghall]

You'd really want to mic it up, if you could.