User:Billw58/Connecting an Instrument
Gale 06May11:
- General: Think it needs cautionary mention about not connecting to mic port (mic but not line port will be common on Windows). But (without there being any control to change level) mic ports on Windows net/notebooks *do* nowadays seem to give some kind of stereo and not massively distort when line-level is connected. It has been a frequent complaint about the LPs / cassettes tutorial that you can get "reasonable" results plugging line level into mic on small form factor machines. True on my netbook, too.
- Keyboard: Should it have a sentence about what to do about hearing the keyboard if you use the headphones jack? Software playthrough?
- Guitar: Maybe I was tired but I couldn't get my head round the 2nd paragraph so tried to rewrite it. I get the impression that sometimes the direct guitar output isn't strong enough for computer line-in so that needs to be covered as do the issues of connecting the output to the mic port if it is strong enough.
Also I think connecting the guitar to an amp or an FX pedal and thence to computer needs to be mentioned. People with USB or acoustic guitar need to be pointed elsewhere.
Connecting a keyboard or guitar to your computer
Keyboard
If the keyboard has RCA jacks on the back then the best way to connect it is with a cable with a dual RCA to stereo mini-plug cable as shown above, plugged from the RCA output jacks on the back of the keyboard to the line input port of the computer.
If the keyboard doesn't have RCA output jacks but does have a 1/8" stereo headphone jack, the easiest way to connect it is with a cable with a stereo mini-plug on each end, plugged from the headphone output of the keyboard to the line input port of the computer.
If the keyboard has 1/4" jacks on the back (usually provided to connect the keyboard to a guitar amplifier) you will need to create an adapter cable using a dual RCA to stereo mini-plug cable, and two RCA to 1/4" adapters.
An RCA to 1/4" adapter
Plug the RCA plugs into the RCA jacks on the adapters - you now have a dual 1/4" to stereo mini-plug cable.
Guitar
Generally the output level from an electric guitar is sufficient to drive the line input port on a computer. You will need a shielded adapter cable that goes from a 1/4" mono plug (to plug into the guitar) to a mono mini-plug (to plug into the computer line input port).
You probably have a guitar cable for plugging the guitar into an amplifier, and you may be tempted to buy a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter instead, plug it into the computer line input then connect the guitar to the adapter using the cable - don't do this! This creates a heavy, stiff cable hanging off the back of your computer - the slightest tug in the wrong direction could damage your sound card!
Next Step - test the input connection
Click on the link for your operating system:
