Multi-fx units as pre-amps

[daled]

I'm looking to do some CPU recording but dont want to spend the $ to buy a pre-amp to go into the soundcard line-in. Can I just use my Zoom PS02 as a pre-amp and just run it out of the output into the soundcard line-in? If I use the headphone out into the soundcard line-in I risk frying the card right?

 

[Seanmorse79]

To answer your question, yes you could do it. In fact, you probably would be fine using the headphone out to your line in (as long as it wasn't cranked). Keep in mind, though, you're not going to get a pro-quality (I hate that term) signal out of it, (I'd guess that it doesn't have the nicest mic pre), but it'll definately work. In my earlier days, I'd used all kinds of stuff for preamps (guitar pedals, keyboard amps, old knob mono mixers, various garage sale items).