line input/preamp question

[robbocop]

The card i have just bought(yamaha sw1000xg) defaults to 'mic in' and ive tried everything to get it to go to 'line in' as default,ive downloaded Yamaha flashroms and a small file thats meant to set it to 'line in level'etc but nothings changed?Im new to pc recording and to start with i just had a lead from my guitar to line in input of my card,raw sound of guitar out of speakers sounded distorted,told i would need preamp which ive bought,Yamaha told me line in jack of the card is set at -10db,so i get preamp and set it to -10db,guitar still sounds distorted like the speakers buzzing?Im using the software that came with the card to record etc,even within Xgworks and Xgedit that im using if i try to change from 'mic in' to 'line in' the guitar sound cuts off?This preamp i have has an 'INST IN' which i take is instrument in and a 'MIC INPUT' which i take is for the microphone,the speakers i have for my pc i bought specially for recording and they are really good ones,your ears would bleed before the bass would break up on these things,so why does my guitar sound break up at really low volume levels?sorry for long post,hope someone can help! This is only problem thats setting me back with this card,its driving me nuts!

 

[Seanmorse79]

Being that you're new, I'm going to post a couple of simpler suggestions first - please don't be offended if you've already tried, or you're going "duh"

1) Check your pre. Plug headphones into it if you have to and make sure that it's not clipping (or God-forbid, gating) the audio coming into it. If it's too hot, bring the gain down.

2) Make sure that line-in is selected via your windows audio mixer (click the speaker in the tool tray, options, properties, recording.

3) Using your bundled recording software, check the levels of the recorded signal - there should be a way to monitor how hot the signal is. If it's in the red, bring the preamp down.