McGuyver could do it for nothing

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Vantage455

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I have read many responses to to homerecording virgins like myself. I don't understand why recording into my PC should require the expense of special mics, preamps, and an iterface. Since there is a mini jack for a mic on the back of my PC why can't I get sound into the computer without the other hardware? This is probably a STUPID question but I find it hard to believe it will cost hundreds of dollars to make a basic track that I cab jam with.
 
Well, there's really nothing stopping you from plugging a PC mic into the jack and going to town.

Realize, however, that there are exponential steps up in quality... You've got toy cars, you've got real cars, you've got nice cars, you've got great cars, you've got custom hot-rods, you've got the President's limo.

A PC with a mic and a stock SB soundcard is a recording toy. It will reproduce sound (poorly) but it can be done. You can step up in several ways - Mics, preamps, consoles, soundcards or interfaces with nice converters, etc.

Keep in mind that there are also diminishing returns - You can spend $1,000 and sound like a million bucks. You can also spend a million bucks and sound like $1,000,003.98

John Scrip - www.massivemastering.com
 
Thanks for the response. Borrowing from your automotive analogy I guess I'm looking to make a track for jamming at the Kia budget level.
Massive Master said:
Well, there's really nothing stopping you from plugging a PC mic into the jack and going to town.

Realize, however, that there are exponential steps up in quality... You've got toy cars, you've got real cars, you've got nice cars, you've got great cars, you've got custom hot-rods, you've got the President's limo.

A PC with a mic and a stock SB soundcard is a recording toy. It will reproduce sound (poorly) but it can be done. You can step up in several ways - Mics, preamps, consoles, soundcards or interfaces with nice converters, etc.

Keep in mind that there are also diminishing returns - You can spend $1,000 and sound like a million bucks. You can also spend a million bucks and sound like $1,000,003.98

John Scrip - www.massivemastering.com
Click to expand...
 
you definitely can start off recording that way......i started off with a cheapo soundcard and a WalMart mic and using the preamps from my old 4 track, and recorded guitar from line out of amp straight into the line in......

theres a clip in this post of a sm57 straight into a cheapo onboard soundcard.......
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39534&highlight=wheels+on+the+bus

what exactly do you want to record (guitars,drums,vocals?).....i can definitely tell you how to McGuyver it.......
 
Let's McGuyver this PC

I want to lay down a rhythm track with my guitar , then use a software program such as Guitar Tracks for a drum track. Vocal s would be an option. Key word is CHEAPO budget
[.
QUOTE]Originally posted by Gidge
you definitely can start off recording that way......i started off with a cheapo soundcard and a WalMart mic and using the preamps from my old 4 track, and recorded guitar from line out of amp straight into the line in......

theres a clip in this post of a sm57 straight into a cheapo onboard soundcard.......
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39534&highlight=wheels+on+the+bus

what exactly do you want to record (guitars,drums,vocals?).....i can definitely tell you how to McGuyver it....... [/QUOTE]
 
Thanks for the response Gidge.
I want to lay down a rhythm track with my guitar , then use a software program such as Guitar Tracks to add a drum track. Vocals would be nice. I'd like any suggestions you might have to McGuyver a way into my PC on the cheap. Key word is CHEAPO
[.
 
if your soundcard has a "MIC IN", then you're set.

just plug a mic in to that hole, and you're ready to make some crap-quality recordings! :D

if it's just for jamming it should be fine. so you want to solo over the track, is that it?

good luck
 
Vantage455 said:
I have read many responses to to homerecording virgins like myself. I don't understand why recording into my PC should require the expense of special mics, preamps, and an iterface. Since there is a mini jack for a mic on the back of my PC why can't I get sound into the computer without the other hardware? This is probably a STUPID question but I find it hard to believe it will cost hundreds of dollars to make a basic track that I cab jam with.
Click to expand...
You've got it upside down!

No-one is twisting your arm to get any decent front end components:

I'll define that: mic/cable/pre-amp

That way you could use your soundcard's line-in (a cleaner option in all but the higher end cards like an Aardvark) instead of the mic in. Even with a half-assed soundcard and a decent front end you can get results that easily rival 1/4" tape. Which makes just jamming along with it *much* more fun! Especially when you play back the recording through a monitoring system:

I'll define that: amp/cable/speakers

If you got the chain right in front of your soundcard, the edited
end-result will sound pretty amazing even on a Soundblaster 128.
 
I believe Guitar Tracks comes with Fruity Loops / Acid Loops, or D&D Drummer so you've got enough there to lay down a comprehensive drum track to jam along to.

If you have a guitar effects pedal, they will usually provide enough gain to enable you to plug straight into the line-in of your sound card, through a 1/4" to 1/8" converter jack.

If you have a mic you can plug that through a 1/4" to 1/8" converter straight into the mic input of your card. I've done this myself without a preamp with semi respectable results.

So you're set. It's cheap, it's nasty, it's fun
 
Bulls Hit said:
So you're set. It's cheap, it's nasty, it's fun
Click to expand...

much like Tijuana :D






just kidding.... i've never been to Tijuana, nor would i partake in the "cheap, nasty fun" there, but i couldn't resist making the comment....
 
I've been to Tijuana. Got a couple of nice leather jackets, and then got hypotised or something by this wizened 105 year old lady who somehow managed to convince me to spend 10 bucks on this hideous wax candle sculpture thing she'd made. God knows what else she made me do while I was under her influence
 
You can spend $1,000 and sound like a million bucks. You can also spend a million bucks and sound like $1,000,003.98
Click to expand...

You can also spend a million bucks and sound like $3.98...
 
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