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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 26
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 26 |
Has anyone tried hooking a synth into the microphone input on a PC?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,554
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,554 |
I haven't ever tried it.
Too worried about the consequences. Some may handle it, many may not. Could mean a repair job.
Most likely wouldn't get the best results if it did work; computer mic inputs are notoriously low quality for the most part.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,513
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,513 |
It would be better to use the Line In if your synth provides Line Out jacks and your soundcard has Line In.
This questions seems a little old, though. Don't almost all synths have USB connections now?
Above all, I detest those 3.5 mm mini-jacks. It's so easy to have one get bent inside and stop working, or get intermittent.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926 |
I have. It works for quick-and-dirty recording. For serious production you need a serious interface. I use a PCI card (Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro) on my eight-year-old PC and a TASCAM US-224 USB I/O on my laptop.
Richard
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,616
Expert
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Expert
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,616 |
I hooked a mixer to the mic jack. It worked but quality was subpar. I also believe that mic inputs are mono. If you have a Line In, use it. Not many computers have it anymore though.
R
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021 |
I would think that most pro level keyboards provide a USB output. Shouls show up as an audio driver as well as a midi driver.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Not only is the PC Mic input mono, it is also scaled for much more sensitivity.
Typical AC Audio output of a keyboard is consumer Line Level, on the order of 2V.
Typical Mic Level is on the order of 50 to 200 milliVolts.
A milliVolt is 1/1000th of a volt.
As you can see, attaching the Line Level output of the keyboard to the Mic Level input is a mismatch on the order of twenty orders of magnitude and at least would result in overdrive of the audio and clipping, and could possibly damage the mic preamp input over time as well.
An aftermarket sound device, USB if laptop, would be the way to do this. On top of having the proper Line Level inputs, it would have two, stereo L & R, and most keyboards output a stereo signal, much better for recording purposes.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 622
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 622 |
A four-port USB mixer is about $75 on eBay or Amazon. Probably worth the price to do any serious recording, especially if you have mikes that need XLR inputs and phantom power..
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