Newbie in need...

[SpiralStaircas]

Okay so this is what I've done:
SM58 - Input XLR Art Tube Amp
Art out 1/4 stereo jack - 1/4 stereo pug into two RCA plugs
RCA plugs - 1/8 adapter
1/8 - SB Audigy 2 Mic in

The sound is alright but extremely low. When I use the meter on the art preamp, I pump her into the red and yet still get ultra quiet recordings. What have I done wrong?
I've also gone straight from my guitar into the soundcard and it sounds like shit. From my regular amp (JCM 900) into the sound card sounds fine but it's still super quiet.
I'll be bald by this time tomorrow if I keep tweaking. What can I do?
Thanks

 

[James Argo]

...Welcome to the board.
1rst of all... avoid using Mic in. Always use Line in.
Regarding the sound level recorded, you can adjust the level in your Windows mixer. Double click speaker icon in your taskbar, Play Controll --> Options --> Properties --> Recording. Select Line In, and move the slider 70~90 % up... What's your OS ? What's your recording apps ?


Jaymz

 

[KevinD]

check it

here ya go: 1/4 stereo jack - <<<1/4 stereo pug into two RCA plugs
RCA plugs - 1/8 adapter
1/8 - SB Audigy 2 Mic in>>> that statement right there solves alot of problems. By introducing RCA into the mix, you are losing signal. There is no need for RCA connections in that patch because you are just going to an 1/8" jack anyway. Save yourself and simply run a 1/4" Y cable (if stereo) with two female 1/4" inputs to one male 1/4" into a 1/8" adapter into the LINE-IN jack (always). In between the pre-amp and Y cable, simply get a two-sided male 1/4" adapter. ....

PREAMP->two male-to-male 1/4" adapters-> one "two female to one male" Y-Cable->1/4" to 1/8" STEREO ADAPTER-> SOUND CARD LINE-IN

should work...peace

 

[Dani Pace]

I had a similar problem, ended up going to radio shack and buying a few plugs, went home, rounded up enough wire, got out wire cutter/stripper and soldering gun and proceded to make up the nessary wiring rig so I could avoid all the adapters. It not only works much better it also saves time hunting for the right adapter. I learned you loose a lot of signal avary time you use another adapter and the more of them you use the more signal you loose. If you are at all handy with a soldering gun you might want to try this also. Good luck, Dani

 

[teknomike]

Okay so this is what I've done:

Art out 1/4 stereo jack - 1/4 stereo pug into two RCA plugs

Are you sure the output of the ART is stereo ? I would use a mono 1/4" jack out of the ART, splitting the mono up into 2 channels with a Y adapter, and recombining these at the stereo line input on your sound card (requiring another adapter).
Or, if you really must use the (very) noisy mic input, have you selected the mic input as the recording source, and cranked the input level up - via hardware (if there is such an adjustment) or software ?

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

As Mike pointed out, the ART doesn't have a 1/4" "stereo" out, it has a 1/4" balanced output.... it's a mono output signal balanced on 2 conductors.......

You can use a 1/4" TS to RCA cable, but the output level will drop 6dB (since you'd be losing half the balanced signal)...

Without sticking a transformer in there to unbalance the balanced output, there's no way around the loss - it's the price you pay for interfacing consumer and prosumer and semi-pro gear.