I need advanced help regarding MIC PREAMP into SOUNDCARD connection.

[DLRMononokE]

I recently bought the X-Fi Titanium HD only to find out that It only has RCA line-in and I was expecting a 1/8th line-in. I have no idea how to connect my mic preamp to this. My preamp has 1/4th" lineout only, so I bought a 1/4th to RCA cable and I have not been able to work it. I'm pretty novice at this stuff and was hoping for some advanced help. What cable do I need to connect my mic preamp to my soundcard?? I did not imagine it being this difficult. Thanks to all who can help..

 

[ranjam]

I'm no expert, but my spider senses say this is a soundcard developed for Windows 7, so be sure you have Vista or Windows 7 for an OS, and your recording software supports your OS. If you have XP, you may be out of luck.
Other than that, if you have the ASIO drivers, it should be pretty simple. Go into Device Manager and be sure your new soundcard is listed as the input and output device, and all other cards (if you have, including onboard) are disabled. Not removed; disabled. Now open your recording software and check that under 'Devices' or however your program does it confirming that it will recognize your new soundcard.
You're right. It isn't difficult!

 

[DLRMononokE]

Maybe I confused you on the problem I was having. I was trying to connect the pre-amp into the soundcard. I had no problem installing the soundcard and yes I run Windows 7.

I ended up buying a RCA to 1/4th" connector, however, now I can't record. The Line-In as default device option can't be selected, so how else can I record? This is such a headache... this shouldn't be this complicated.

 

[ranjam]

There shouldn't be a 'Line In' option for the default device. It should be the soundcard as a whole. It may say X-Fi Titanium or it may say Creative Sound Blaster, or Titanium HD. How you connect to the soundcard is of no concern to the computer. It will just tell you 'This is my default input and output device'.
Can you get audio through any headphones from any website? Then the output is working. Now it's up to getting the input working.
With an interface, you can 'see' an activity light. Not so with your card. So you have to rely on the recording software and the level or vu metering. Maybe the Line/Mic or Instrument switch (if there is one) is set wrong, or there is a pad on the preamp. Without the preamp at all, you should be getting signal just by touching the 1/4" end of the cable. After that, it is likely the settings on the preamp.