line in recording on GTP2

[Monkey Allen]

If I rig a condenser mic via a preamp into the line in of my soundcard, will the recorded source be in mono or stereo? It seems in GTP2 that the signal is recorded in mono...I am so used to using cheap mics via the mic jack and having stereo

Also, is it best to set your sound/windows control sound for line in to a low level, and let the preamp be the link in the chain that sets the volume, or should you have your line in up to say 7 or 8 in windows?

 

[dachay2tnr]

If I rig a condenser mic via a preamp into the line in of my soundcard, will the recorded source be in mono or stereo? It seems in GTP2 that the signal is recorded in mono...I am so used to using cheap mics via the mic jack and having stereo

Well theoretically it could be in either, depending on the connections you used.

However, if you are using just a single mic, you want it to be in mono.

 

[Monkey Allen]

Then how will I ever get things to record on the "right" if everything is being recorded on the left all the time?

If it all goes left how can I balance it out or convert it to stereo?


Also....why would I want it to be in mono? What are the benefits of mono? Is it desirable when recording? I thought stereo everything was where it was at?

 

[dachay2tnr]

Then how will I ever get things to record on the "right" if everything is being recorded on the left all the time?

It all depends on the connections you use. If you plug a mono connection into the Line In port, it will typically record on the left track. What you want to use is a splitter or Y cable, with a stereo connection into the Line In port branching into two mono connections. Then you can record Left or Right (or both simultaneously) depedning on which branch you plug your equipment into.

I don't know if they have Radio Shack's in Oz, but, if not, you want to make a trip to your local eletronics store.

If it all goes left how can I balance it out or convert it to stereo?

Not sure I understand this question. Ultimately you will mix your recording down to a stereo wave file. However, the individual tracks themselves can be either mono or stereo. In most cases, if the source is mono (vocal, bass guitar, guitar), you will want your track to be mono. Stereo is only used where you are trying to "capture" a stereo sound. A good example is a pair of mics used as overheads on a drum kit. [/quote]

Also....why would I want it to be in mono? What are the benefits of mono? Is it desirable when recording? I thought stereo everything was where it was at?

The major benefits to mono are that it uses less disc space (1/2 of what a stereo track uses) and is much easier to pan (i.e., to place left or right within the stereo spectrum).

The real question is, why would you want to record in stereo if the source is mono? All you are getting is two tracks of the exact same thing.

 

[Monkey Allen]

Ok thanks for that.

I still don't get how I would use a Y splitter. The output from my preamp is not L and R...it is either one xlr output or one 1/4" output. It's deadset mono I think.

I see what you mean about stereo now and I realise that my recordings are all going left because my software specified stereo recording when really I should have specified L or R.

My software can record in the following...

L
R or
S

does this sound about right?

If I record in mono on the L channel, will I hear anything in my right headphone can?

 

[dachay2tnr]

Ok thanks for that.

I still don't get how I would use a Y splitter. The output from my preamp is not L and R...it is either one xlr output or one 1/4" output. It's deadset mono I think.

You asked how you would record onto the right channel. If you plug into one branch of the Y you would record to the Left channel. If you plug into the other branch, you would record to the Right channel. Or, you have the option to record two different things at the same time by plugging one thing into the left branch and something else into the right.

My software can record in the following...

L
R or
S

does this sound about right?

It sounds exactly right.

If I record in mono on the L channel, will I hear anything in my right headphone can?

Yes. Once the mono track is recorded, if the track pan control is in the center position it will play equally from both the right and left. The only way it will play from one side only is if you have the pan set to 100% left or 100% right.

 

[Monkey Allen]

You asked how you would record onto the right channel. If you plug into one branch of the Y you would record to the Left channel. If you plug into the other branch, you would record to the Right channel. Or, you have the option to record two different things at the same time by plugging one thing into the left branch and something else into the right.
QUOTE]

Thanks...

I don't have this Y set up you aretalking about. From my preamp I can either send my cable into my 1/8 soundcard line in via

1. xlr output

or

2. 1/4" output

My preamp does not have a left and and right output. Do yuo know what I mean? I guess the xlr carries both L and R, and the 1/4" carries L and R as well.

The preamp just gives you the option to send from xlr or 1/4" it's not like the xlr is my L and the 1/4" is my right

Anyway, I have it working ok now. I was just a bit confused about left right and stereo recording. I thought stereo was the best...but apparently recording in mono doesn't mean that you will have less quality.

 

[dachay2tnr]

I don't have this Y set up you are talking about.

I know you don't. You would have to go out and purchase it at an electronics store.

I am simply speaking of a cable shaped like a Y. The base of the Y is a 1/8" male stereo miniplug which would plug into your sound card. The branches of the Y will be mono and can be whatever format you want (1/4" phone jack, RCA, etc.). One of these branches is where you would plug the output of your preamp into.

Here is an example which uses mono RCA's to 1/8" stereo:
http://www.radioshack.com/product.a..._name=CTLG_007_002_001_002&product_id=274-369

 

[Monkey Allen]

OK, so what happens to the other part of the Y? It doesn't do anything. So I might as well use a single xlr cable out with a connecting 1/8 jack into the soundcard right?

 

[dachay2tnr]

OK, so what happens to the other part of the Y? It doesn't do anything. So I might as well use a single xlr cable out with a connecting 1/8 jack into the soundcard right?

This was originally in answer to your question as to how you could record to the Right Channel. If you have no plans or need to record the Right Channel, then you don't need it.

It would also allow you to record two separate inputs simultaneously. Again, if you have no need to do that, then you don't need the adapter.

Your above described approach will only allow you to record to the Left Channel. And before you ask, there is nothing wrong with that, and no particular technical reason to record Right versus Left. I was only answering your original question.

Then how will I ever get things to record on the "right" if everything is being recorded on the left all the time?

 

[Strryder]

The main reason that I would opt to use a stereo to dual mono "Y" cable on the soundcard's line input would be to keep the soundcard's two inputs seperated.

Think about it for a moment, if you're plugging a mono (tip/sleeve) plug all the way into a stereo input connector (tip/ring/sleeve) you are shorting one side's "hot" input connection (ring) against the ground (sleeve) of the mono plug, as well as against the the soundcard's own ground path by way of the same sleeve touching the common ground on the soundcard's input jack.

Another consideration is making sure that you're not putting a +4 line level signal into the soundcard's input from the preamp, The soundcard more than likely wants to see a -10 input level.

Could these issues cause noise or any other problems within the soundcard? most probably, but in the end it's just plain bad engineering to hook things up in a half-assed manner and expect them to work correctly.

A stereo male 1/8" to dual mono "Y" adaptor can be easily put together with Radio Shack parts for about 10 bucks, in my book, that's money well spent.

 

[Monkey Allen]

I just don't get how I can use a Y cable. In my mind a Y cable is like this:

- one end of the cable will be a stereo 1/8 male jack to plug into the female 1/8 line in of my soundcard.

- the other end of a Y cable will be (say) a 1/4 Left and a 1/4 right

Is this correct so far?

Now, my preamp does not have a Left and Right output. This is what it has:

- A single XLR output for use if you have XLR cable.
- A single 1/4 output for if you only have 1/4 cable

The output of my preamp does not have a Left and Right output that I could plug a Y cable into. My preamp has one XLR and one 1/4.

In my way of thinking...I therefore can not use a Y cable. A Y cable is for L and R. My preamp does not have L and R.

Do you see what i mean?

I'm definitely not trying to be a moron here...even though I might sound like one!!

I'm just new to this and I'm really trying hard to explain myself here

 

[Strryder]

Please re-read my last post, I explained exactly why I would consider it important to use such a Y cable, it has absolutely nothing to do with the number of outputs on the preamp.. it is about seperating the two different audio connections (left input/right input) properly at the soundcard's input.

You would hook up your preamp to only one input on the Y cable, there would be no need to use both, but having the two inputs seperated might very well make a difference in sound quality due to NOT grounding out the "hot" side of the un-used input by using a mono plug that's plugged into the 1/8" stereo input.

 

[Monkey Allen]

My soundcard doesn't have two seperate audio inputs. It doesn't have a Left input and a Right input. It has a single 1/8" line in input.

How can a Y cable which has 3 jacks in total, 2 jacks (L & R) at one end of the cable and 1 jack at the other end, possible be plugged into a set up that has only a single spot for a jack at either end. 1 end = the preamp, other end = the soundcard

The preamp only has 1 xlr (let's forget about the 1/4 it has) and the soundcard only has 1 1/8" input.

That is a total of 2 spots/ jacks.

Now if a Y cable has a total of 3 jacks, where does the 3rd jack go? It can't go anywhere.

Do you understand what i am saying?

Can you post a picture of the Y cable you are referring to please? I am really sorry, I am just not getting it. I mean, you keep saying to use a Y...but I don't see how I can. I mean I understand that if I had a L/R output or input somewhere in the chain, that I could use a Y cable.

I just don't get what you're on about.

 

[Strryder]

I am not "on" about it, I was just trying to help you to understand the line input on your soundcard, and how to make it easier and more trouble free for connecting things to it for recording purposes, as I've stated, the fact that you don't need to use both sides of the stereo input at once right now is irrelevant.

Your line input is a stereo connection, it gives you two seperate audio paths into your computer, one left, and one right, that can be seperated and used as two seperate mono inputs, but the main point of all my writing in these posts is that..

It is not a good practice to be plugging a mono plug into a stereo input jack, they are not the same, even though it fits in the hole, it is not the right connector.

 

[Monkey Allen]

Look, I am sorry, I am not trying to be so dumb. And I appreciate your help so much it's not funny. If I can eventually get this and understand it, believe me I will be a happy bugger.

I see what you are saying now...I think

My preamp's outputs are mono hey? So if I plug a cable from my mono preamp output into my soundcards stereo line in input...it's not good practice right?

Does a stereo female adapter that sits over a mono male jack, turn the signal into stereo?

I am understanding what you are saying now about the mono going into a stereo (line in) jack.

So, please, just again, what is the best way to connect from my mono preamp into my stereo "line in"??

Please don't tear your hair out. I am trying so hard to understand this.