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GMC Forum _ GEAR & PRODUCTION _ Problem With My Soundcard, Sound Always Distorded

Posted by: Keilnoth Apr 10 2009, 06:55 PM

Hello guys,

I am following guitar lessons on GMC for a few days now and I found some links to Guitar Rig 3 which seems to be a nice piece of software for recording. I downloaded the trial and plugged my old Creatives Audigy Platinium eX soundcard.

That soundcard come with an http://www.hardware.fr/medias/photos_news/00/03/IMG0003410.jpg where I can directly plug my guitar. It working nicely except for one thing. I cannot get a clean sound out of that. I tried a lot of tricks, reinstalling drivers, desactivating the effect in the soundcard configuration, etc... but cannot get that clean sound I would like.

The sound seems to be always distorded with some compressor, rotary and even a flanger. So on Guitar Rig, whatever amp and cab I choose, I have that distortion.

I dunno where to look to get rid of that. Perhaps you have an hint ?

Thanks for your help !
Eric

Posted by: 29a Apr 10 2009, 07:43 PM

Are you sure that this jack is a high impedance input and not a line level one?

Jonas

Posted by: Keilnoth Apr 10 2009, 10:50 PM

I absolutely don't know. How can I check that ?
It is specified in the manual that I can plug a guitar or a "high-quality dynamic" microphone.

I will try to find the technical specifications but as it is a pretty old soundcard I am not sure I will be successful in that quest.

Posted by: tonymiro Apr 11 2009, 09:49 AM

If it says it can take a guitar input then it is capable of taking a high impedance signal Keilnoth.

Perhaps the issue is that the signal is clipping - that there is too much gain - and so the input needs to be turned down? There may be a small rotary knob near the jack input that will allow you to adjust the gain and there may also be some signal leds. If there are you need to adjust the gain so that the signal doesn't go in to the red. Usually that means turn the gain up to where it just clips/goes red and then back it off about 1/8th of a turn.

Posted by: Keilnoth Apr 11 2009, 06:00 PM

Ah well, I think this solved the problem.

As you said, tonymiro, I turned the volume down on my external sound box and up in the software and it is going much better. I had to turn it down to about 25% before the sound get cleaner.

It doesn't look very logical for me but at least I learned something.

Thanks for you help !

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Apr 11 2009, 10:11 PM

If the input on the external box is not a high impedance one, then you should get a DIbox. I suggest checking the manual. In the end they always put these specs. If it says line-level, then plugging in an instrument without DIbox is not a good idea for recording.

Posted by: Azzaboi Apr 11 2009, 11:25 PM

Try moving the guitar away from the screen, subwoofer, wireless devices, etc and from each other.