The Steel Guitar Forum

Has anyone had experience making recordings using the computer by plugging the guitar directly into the mike intput using a Creative Live Platinum Card. I find that when I plug the guitar in directly without the pedal, I can use headphones and play soundtracks at the same time and make recordings with pretty good quality. However when I try using the Goodrich L120, it makes noise when I move it up or down. Can this be solved or is it a problem with compatibility between different technology?

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Ben Wittke

Sounds like a bad pot in the pedal. Check the volume pedal with an amp and you'll probably hear the noise. It may be relatively low with an amp and not noticed but it's probably there.

It is probably noise from the computer.

First, the noise is probably "EM" radiation. It is probably not coming throught the cable. It's basically the same kind of thing you can get from neon lights and/or dimmer switches.

You could try:

Turning off the video monitor. They are usually very noisy. This will at least tell you if it is the culprit. You can run most recording software with keyboard shortcuts.

Moving or changing the orientation of the pedal and wiring to see if that changes anything. Noise from the computer isn't always omni-directional nor is a devices sensitivity to it.

Using a longer cable.

Shielding the pedal.

Ben, I guess it has to do with the level of your instrument, You need to bring it up to Microphone-level or line level.
You need a DI for that or a good pre-amp.
Going through a Profex or a Pod , or simular will do the job. JJ

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I agree with Johan. You mentioned plugging into the "mike input", that's the wrong spot for a directly connected electric instrument, use the line-in input instead (probably next to the mic in jack on the Creative board). The pedal might also be adding a bit of signal boost or slight impedance change too, which might further explain why it acts up in the mic-in location. Switch to line-in and tell us what you get.

Best, -Dave

Is the Goodrich powered? If so, then the line level is the way to go. If you have a mixer, so much the better, too.

Thanks for all the replys. In fact the pedal is only 1-1/2 years old. The Creative Live Drive uses the Line In and Mic in on the same plug. My pedal is not a powered one. Thanks for all the help and I will use it.

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Ben Wittke

The age of the volume pedal is not really a factor. Some wear out a volume pedal pot in less than a year. Or one can fail prematurely.

However, if it's not the volume pedal, which according to your description is the only change, it could be a bad cord. Since the Goodrich volume pedals are shielded fairly good I don't think radiation from the PC is affecting it.

If you can't resolve the problem, try practicing with just using the volume pedal to set a level. It's really good to practice without the volume pedal anyway. Helps improve pick attack.

Ben.
Experienced the same problem when recording into a computer. I don't believe it's a thing wrong with the pedal nor do I believe it's the cables. Not sure what's causing it but Johan is right, I went through a ProFex and TubeFex (not both at the same time) and it solved my problem and sounded great.

Well I solved my problem thanks to some of your replies. I decided to use my headphone amp which I recently purchased for $59 Canadian. It is a Danelectro product with 1 input and 2 outputs, along with several sound effects. I plugged my pedal into the input and from the output into the computer and "voila" my problem is gone and it sounds greater than ever. Thanks for all your replies.

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Ben Wittke

Ben, where did you buy the Danelectro amp?