Problem with amp-to-pc recording

[Ojja]

I need to know how I can limit the volume of my amp when connecting it directly to my computer's onboard line-input.
My mic input does not work on the computer, so I can't even hook a computer mic to it and mic the amp.
I don't have another amp besides this one, so no possibility of a pre-amp unless
I re-engineer an old pair of computer speakers into an amp, which would be an incredible amount of hassle and basically impossible at the moment.

I've tried putting a pot between the computer and amplifier, if I strummed the guitar while the amp volume was up high or if I turned on the amp distortion one of the contacts onthe pot would catch fire.
I don't remember how to connect pots. So I've only used two contacts at once on the pot, the middle one with one of the other three.
The pot is an A500 K, 2 CW(if my memory serves me correctly) and Google refers to it as a volume pot for instruments.
Thanks for any help.

 

[ocnor]

Are you running the preamp/line out from your amp into the line in of the soundcard or are you being a complete retard and running the speaker output into your soundcard?

 

[gecko zzed]

I've tried putting a pot between the computer and amplifier, if I strummed the guitar while the amp volume was up high or if I turned on the amp distortion one of the contacts onthe pot would catch fire.

Whatever you are doing, stop! It sounds highly perilous to me!

What output of the amp are you hooking up to the pot and from there into the computer? If it is a speaker output (which is what I suspect given your comment about contacts catching fire), then you are feeding way too much power into the pot and you can easily fry your computer as well.

Do yourself a favour and invest in a cheap and nasty USB audio interface. This will allow you to mike up the cabinet, or you can even plug the guitar itself straight into it. Your efforts at economy and ingenuity are commendable, but they could easily lead to tears before bedtime.

 

[Ojja]

Whatever you are doing, stop! It sounds highly perilous to me!

What output of the amp are you hooking up to the pot and from there into the computer? If it is a speaker output (which is what I suspect given your comment about contacts catching fire), then you are feeding way too much power into the pot and you can easily fry your computer as well.

Do yourself a favour and invest in a cheap and nasty USB audio interface. This will allow you to mike up the cabinet, or you can even plug the guitar itself straight into it. Your efforts at economy and ingenuity are commendable, but they could easily lead to tears before bedtime.

I shut off the amp the first time I saw the contacts flash.
It's a 20 watt amplifier. It has preamp and headphone outputs.
The preamp output doesn't bypass the speaker, but headphone output does.

I wire a mono cable(a mono cable from one of those cheap speakers that come with cheap stereos) to the two speaker output wires and plug the other end into my computer's line-in.

Yeah, a USB audio interface would be nice. Do you have any recommendations? Obviously I have basically no money or else I probably wouldn't be squeezing blood from turnips here, so any feasible USB device would need to be as cheap as possible.
Thanks for your compliment.

 

[gecko zzed]

Connecting speaker level directly to PC is a bad idea.

If you want to get out of paying money, you can try a lead from your headphone socket to your line in. This is still sub-optimal, but it will get you by.

If you are interested in reasonable quality, then start looking at interfaces. Search this forum and you will find heaps of info about them.