Can I plug my amp into my soundcard?

MilanPan!c

I've done something like this in the past, plug the speaker out into a souncard in.

no problem... Except I had to turn everything WAY down.

Then I read this:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/low-end-theory/356897-plugging-guitar-amp-into-computer.html

any comments?

FWIW the times I have done this have been with an engineer, a real one, present.

Odd.

PMI

Dude the speaker out runs voltage and more as you turn up.... dont do anything like that all your gonna do is pop the card and if its a valve amp you need to have a load on the back of it ie: a speaker or load box in order to keep it healthy !!!

Palmer Speaker Sim, have 3 of go buy....

palmer PDI09, or 03 or the 04 if you wanna be really serious !!

TelePaul

As I understand it, substituting a sound card for your amps speakers will cause problems. You need something to soak up that extra output power unless you're using some sort of emulated DI output.

DamagedTrax

MilanPan!c wrote: »

I've done something like this in the past, plug the speaker out into a souncard in.

no problem... Except I had to turn everything WAY down.

Then I read this:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/low-end-theory/356897-plugging-guitar-amp-into-computer.html

any comments?

FWIW the times I have done this have been with an engineer, a real one, present.

Odd.

dude, when we spoke about this i meant thru a DI output on your amp, NOT the speaker out :eek:

remember you need to be going in at line level to your interface.

JonathanAnon

Does your mixer not offer you a "rec out" or something similar.. This is what I use when I'm plugging my mixer in to my PC.

DamagedTrax

he's talking about outputting from an amp, not a mixer.

MilanPan!c

DamagedTrax wrote: »

dude, when we spoke about this i meant thru a DI output on your amp, NOT the speaker out :eek:

remember you need to be going in at line level to your interface.

In fairness, I wasn't referencing our conversation.



so no I didn't think you'd do what I described.

DamagedTrax

thank fook

carthach

as the gearslutz thread recommends, try using the effects out/send of your effects loop if the amp has it, this is a line level signal. If you really want to capture the true sound of the amp along with its speaker use a mic!

Paolo_M

Assuming it's a valve amplifier that you are talking about then a wise recording investment would be an attenuator.

It let's you crank the sh*t out of the amp (the way it sounds best) reduce the volume from the speaker significantly and provide a line for direct recording.
The only thing missing is the speaker tone which can be very convincingly replaced with IR these days.

Edit: Just noticed that you've no speaker. Attenuators like the THD HotPlate can act as a load box negating the need for a speaker at all.

DamagedTrax

carthach wrote: »

If you really want to capture the true sound of the amp along with its speaker use a mic!

the point is that he has no cab yet.

PMI

yep a true capture would be a cab and a mic but then it has to be in a good room, with good mic into good gear and on through the chain....

im gonna try and find a job at palmer haha... im like a saleman now !

MilanPan!c

DamagedTrax wrote: »

the point is that he has no cab yet.

Although if anyone is trying to give away a 2X12 with V30s (open-backed) for free, then please PM me.





Will also consider a free 4X12.

carthach

chancer

fitz

Dude, check out Tube Town:
http://www.tube-town.net/

The way to go for cabs...I've a fantastic sounding 2x12 from there that I loaded with Vintage 30s.
This one: http://www.tube-town.net/ttstore/product_info.php/info/p1816_TTC-212-BA---CUSTOM.html

Covered in this tolex:


with this grill cloth:


As for plugging straight in to your interface...
Plugging from the speaker out into something other than a properly rated cab or attenuator/load box is a sure fire way of killing your amp dead. Worst case, you'll have to replace the output transformer, and you really don't want that expense.

I use a THD Hotplate (Weber or Palmer do similar products, as already mentioned) which you can set to fully load the amp, while still taking a line leve signal out to go into your interface. Then put your cab sim plugin of your choice on the track. Job done.
I use Space Designer in Logic to load up cab impulses for this purpose.

PMI

MilanPan!c wrote: »

Although if anyone is trying to give away a 2X12 with V30s (open-backed) for free, then please PM me.





Will also consider a free 4X12.

Have one but not open backed

MilanPan!c

PMI wrote: »

Have one but not open backed

For free I could learn to suck it up.

MilanPan!c

fitz wrote: »

Dude, check out Tube Town:
http://www.tube-town.net/

The way to go for cabs...I've a fantastic sounding 2x12 from there that I loaded with Vintage 30s.
This one: http://www.tube-town.net/ttstore/product_info.php/info/p1816_TTC-212-BA---CUSTOM.html

Covered in this tolex:


with this grill cloth:


As for plugging straight in to your interface...
Plugging from the speaker out into something other than a properly rated cab or attenuator/load box is a sure fire way of killing your amp dead. Worst case, you'll have to replace the output transformer, and you really don't want that expense.

I use a THD Hotplate (Weber or Palmer do similar products, as already mentioned) which you can set to fully load the amp, while still taking a line leve signal out to go into your interface. Then put your cab sim plugin of your choice on the track. Job done.
I use Space Designer in Logic to load up cab impulses for this purpose.

I am now jealous.

Just checked that link and it's amazing! Thanks man!

fitz

The quality of their cabs is fantastic. You'll save between 30 to 50 percent in terms of the price compared to a branded cab. I got mine for use with a 70's Sound City I had re-wired as a Hi-Watt DR103.

The cab cost me €218, the speakers were €130 from Watford Valves. €350 quid total, for something that is built as well, if not better than any of the brand name cabs that I looked at.

For example: An Orange 2x12 will set you back about €550, a Hiwatt about €600, and a Mesa 1x12 will cost about the same. When you think about it that way, Tube Town is the only sane option.

MilanPan!c

fitz wrote: »

The quality of their cabs is fantastic. You'll save between 30 to 50 percent in terms of the price compared to a branded cab. I got mine for use with a 70's Sound City I had re-wired as a Hi-Watt DR103.

The cab cost me €218, the speakers were €130 from Watford Valves. €350 quid total, for something that is built as well, if not better than any of the brand name cabs that I looked at.

For example: An Orange 2x12 will set you back about €550, a Hiwatt about €600, and a Mesa 1x12 will cost about the same. When you think about it that way, Tube Town is the only sane option.

Thanks again! I'm def gonna go down this road.

Did you put the speakers in?

Was that a pain?

fitz

Yeah, I fitted the speakers, it was really straightforward, the screws to secure the speakers were supplied, and the cab was drilled and ready for them. You can also get the cab fitted with the speaker cable/jack connector, so there's no soldering or anything, you just slot the clip ends of the cable onto the speaker contacts and your jack input is good to go.