guitar help please??

[BUDFREAK]

when i directly plug my guitar into my computer it works fine but when i plug it into a pedal and indirectly plug it into the computer it makes funny noises n doesnt record....how do i solve this???

[orb451]

What kind of cables are you using to connect the guitar -> pedal -> computer? Make sure cables are all good (i.e. not broken) and that they're T/S or Tip / Sleeve connectors. That is, a regular guitar cord will be Tip (metal tip) a black ring and then the sleeve (metal). Don't try to use TRS 1/4" cables with guitar pedals they may or may not work (depending on the pedal). Those cables are Tip (metal), black ring, another ring of metal, another black ring and then the sleeve (metal again).

Make sure you're going From the guitar, INTO the pedal's INPUT, then OUT of the pedal and INTO the computer INPUT.

Lastly, check your power connection or battery in the pedal and make sure its good.

Hope that helps.

orb.

[brandondrury]

Yup. It sounds like it's either cables or the pedal.

Brandon

[BUDFREAK]

Originally Posted by orb451

What kind of cables are you using to connect the guitar -> pedal -> computer? Make sure cables are all good (i.e. not broken) and that they're T/S or Tip / Sleeve connectors. That is, a regular guitar cord will be Tip (metal tip) a black ring and then the sleeve (metal). Don't try to use TRS 1/4" cables with guitar pedals they may or may not work (depending on the pedal). Those cables are Tip (metal), black ring, another ring of metal, another black ring and then the sleeve (metal again).

Make sure you're going From the guitar, INTO the pedal's INPUT, then OUT of the pedal and INTO the computer INPUT.

Lastly, check your power connection or battery in the pedal and make sure its good.

Hope that helps.

orb.

well...i'm using a regular guitar cable i.e. the one mentioned above(tip,ring,sleeve) n it works with my pedal n the cables are okay...
i plug the guitar into the pedal input n then i use this converter thing(a little piece that looks like the guitar cable's tip-ring-sleeve n then we can use the mono wire at its back side....so it sounds fine when i plug it into my speaker(sounds clear)...but when i plug(as u sed) the output into my computer..the sound is completely destroyed...what do i do??
thanks

[orb451]

OK it sounds like the problem is the converter gizmo. I take it it takes the 1/4" output from the pedal and converts it into something the speaker (or stereo) can handle? Maybe its impedence is too high or low (not sure when it comes to that crap). By the way, what kind of pedal is it you're using? If it's distortion or overdrive that might be it too...

Let me know.

orb.

[BUDFREAK]

Originally Posted by orb451

OK it sounds like the problem is the converter gizmo. I take it it takes the 1/4" output from the pedal and converts it into something the speaker (or stereo) can handle? Maybe its impedence is too high or low (not sure when it comes to that crap). By the way, what kind of pedal is it you're using? If it's distortion or overdrive that might be it too...

Let me know.

orb.

so the converter has a tip,a black ring,a metal ring, another black ring and then the sleeve.....watt difference does it make and watt shud i do next???
thanks a lot for the help

[orb451]

Is the converter (tip,ring, sleeve) that you're describing 1/4" or 1/8"? A 1/4" adapter will look like exactly what plugs into your guitar, whereas the 1/8" will look like what you'd normally plug into an iPod or portable music player (i.e. smaller).

What exactly are you plugging into again? I mean for an amp or to get sound? Is it a stereo or an amp of some kind? Also, what pedal fx pedal are you trying to use?

[BUDFREAK]

Originally Posted by orb451

Is the converter (tip,ring, sleeve) that you're describing 1/4" or 1/8"? A 1/4" adapter will look like exactly what plugs into your guitar, whereas the 1/8" will look like what you'd normally plug into an iPod or portable music player (i.e. smaller).

What exactly are you plugging into again? I mean for an amp or to get sound? Is it a stereo or an amp of some kind? Also, what pedal fx pedal are you trying to use?

okay..i'm plugging a 1/4" into the output of the pedal n into its other end i connect a 1/8" wich has 1/8" on its other end wich i connect into the mic in of my computer ...n i use all sorts of effects from accoustic simulation to extreme distortion on my zoom g1 but it all sounds vague and doesnt record
thanks

[orb451]

And you said when you DON'T use the pedal, everything works fine into the computer? That is, guitar -> cable gizmo -> PC and it plays/records all OK? If that's the case then the pedal you're using must have some kind of controls on it for input/output level right? I'm assuming you already tried messing with these. If not, give that a try. I looked up your Zoom G1 because I'm not familiar with it and here's what I found:

# Input: 1/4" phone jack (Rated input level: -20dBm, Input impedance : 470kohm)
# Output(Line / headphones combined): 1/4" stereo phone jack(Maximum output level : [LINE]+3dBm, output load impedance 10kohm or higher / [headphones]20mW + 20mW, into 32 ohms load)

From reading above (and I'm NOT an electronics expert) the problem is the impedence drop or spike you're introducing by going from 1/4" to 1/8" stereo into the input of your PC. Honestly, if at all possible, you might want to think about getting a dedicated sound card (PCI, USB or FireWire) that's designed from the ground up for recording instruments/mics/etc. I'm sure the G1 will probably play nice with one of those as opposed to the way you're trying to get it going now and that's not a dig or insult.

Do you have a Mic and a separate Line-In on your PC's sound card? Have you tried switching between the two to see if sound improves?

[BUDFREAK]

Originally Posted by orb451

And you said when you DON'T use the pedal, everything works fine into the computer? That is, guitar -> cable gizmo -> PC and it plays/records all OK? If that's the case then the pedal you're using must have some kind of controls on it for input/output level right? I'm assuming you already tried messing with these. If not, give that a try. I looked up your Zoom G1 because I'm not familiar with it and here's what I found:

# Input: 1/4" phone jack (Rated input level: -20dBm, Input impedance : 470kohm)
# Output(Line / headphones combined): 1/4" stereo phone jack(Maximum output level : [LINE]+3dBm, output load impedance 10kohm or higher / [headphones]20mW + 20mW, into 32 ohms load)

From reading above (and I'm NOT an electronics expert) the problem is the impedence drop or spike you're introducing by going from 1/4" to 1/8" stereo into the input of your PC. Honestly, if at all possible, you might want to think about getting a dedicated sound card (PCI, USB or FireWire) that's designed from the ground up for recording instruments/mics/etc. I'm sure the G1 will probably play nice with one of those as opposed to the way you're trying to get it going now and that's not a dig or insult.

Do you have a Mic and a separate Line-In on your PC's sound card? Have you tried switching between the two to see if sound improves?

actually...i have a presario v3000 notebook with only 1 in n 1 out...runs on vista 32bit n dusnt give much info on the sound card either...says here conexant high definition 221....so watt now..??please help...i gotta record sumtin right??
thanks a lot..