Easy way to record/amplify el. guitar with stuff I found at Home

[jimm]

Hi guys. So I'd like to connect my computer with tannoy mercury m3 and somehow be able to connect a guitar to notebook(Thinkpad R61). I know there is no way to use integrated sound card as it has only speaker/mic in. Speakers are connected to
Kenwood amp ka-5090R with cable like this. Above amp there are compact disk player DP-4090 and am/fm tuner, same brand.
Are these somehow usefull for my purpose? Mainly I do not have idea how to use these big speakers with computer.

So basically I imagine playing myself, hearing sound from tannoy speakers and recording the music to computer if needed.

So what is some easy but not crappy way how to realize this idea? Maybe some comparison of cheaper/more expensive way would be nice.

I also have V-Amp2 from Behringer but that is propably useless without some audio interface.

Any help will be appreciated.

 

[gecko zzed]

Look for a USB or firewire interface.

Connect interface to computer using USB or Firewire cable.

Connect Kenwood amp to the interface's output.

Speakers are connected to Kenwood as they are.

Record stuff onto computer using the interface and monitor via headphones (also through the interface).

Play back from computer through the interface (and through Kenwood and speakers).

 

[clivus]

If your speakers are 'passive' (needing external amplification) then you would take the line output of your soundcard and route it to an aux or tape input of your amplifier which would then drive your speakers. You would have to select the aux or tape input on your amplifier's controls to hear the signal coming from the computer. The 'speaker' output of your soundcard is probably a line output, as most computer speakers are 'active' (have thier own amplifiers built in).

Not sure about a direct guitar hookup with your gear--i got some ideas but it would require careful approach so as not to damage the gear. recording software and interface would be a good choice.

 

[clivus]

what gecko said!

 

[jimm]

Is it possible to use Speakers as ordinary amp+speaker with that interface? I mean sound goes right from speakers without using headphones while I play.
So the point 5 and 6 is not propably clear to me.

 

[gecko zzed]

Is it possible to use Speakers as ordinary amp+speaker with that interface? I mean sound goes right from speakers without using headphones while I play.
So the point 5 and 6 is not propably clear to me.

Yep. Go from output of interface to amp to speakers.

I'm not sure what method of recording you have in mind. Generally, if you are using a microphone, you record using headphones to prevent the mike from picking up stuff coming out the speakers. However, if you are playing keyboards or instruments and going direct in, then you can just monitor via amp and speakers.

 

[jimm]

Ah, cool. So for start something like this (Beringher UCA-222) would be sufficient, or is there some better solution in similar(2x,3x) price range?
I mean recording direct in as you said.
Now I see will need some mixer as well. Need to do some research..