new pc with PCI soundcard

[fabfour]

I am getting a new PC with a SB 64v PCI soundcard. I am also purchasing Cakewalk Pro.

I think I need a "breakout Box" to connect my guitar and microphones from the instrument to the soundcard.

Being that I am now in hoc from my other purchases and I am an amateur musician,
is their an inexpensive solution for this box?

Thanks
Bill

 

[OldGrover]

What you are looking for is called a "pre-amp"

Probably (since you have a stereo (and thus two input)) line in on the SB, you want a two-channel preamp.

I've got (and like) the Behringer dual preamp, but most people around here will steer you differently. You're probably look at about another $200 for a basic one. There are lots of posts on this subject - do a search for pre-amp.

 

[OldGrover]

To expand - the pre-amp does just that, it brings the tiny signal from the microphones and brings it up to an appropriate level for recording. Most pre-amps also can be used for guitar (at least accoustic, I doubt you'd get the sound you want from an electric, but I'm not an guitar player), but there are also Direct In or DI boxes, such as the POD, which you could use in place of the pre-amp (essentially, they are a pre-amp with some cool features to change the sound to make it sound like you are using specific effects boxes or amps or speakers)

Not my bag, but I hope this is enough info that you can at least search the site intelligently.

 

[RWhite]

A lot of people on this site will not agree with this, but for someone in your situation I think a small Behringer mixer would be ideal. You can get their smallest one - Model 602 - for about $100. It has two channels with mic pre-amps plus 4 more. I have the model 802 which is a bit larger. Behringer mixers don't have a very good rep but I have have found mine to be fine for the basic tasks I use it for (I have another larger mixer for my main recording equipment). I think it is a good tool for a beginner on a tight budget - there is nothing else out there I know of in that price range. And if you continue to pursue your interest you will find other uses for it later.

Well that's my opinion....