4 banana speaker plugs to a 3.5 stereo plug – possible?

[Hoss_uk]

I have a mission cyrus amp, the speaker outputs are 4 banana plugs, 2 to each speaker. I want to record from my dual 505 record deck to my PC. I tried the tape output from the amp to the PC but the sound was too loud and distorted and there was no adjustment possible. Then I ran the tape ouput from the amp to the input on a tape deck and the tape deck outputs to the PC, I could adjust the volume output on the tape deck but the tape deck is old and cheap and the sound was “staticky” and distorted on the PC.

I’d like to take the speaker outputs from the amp direct to the PC, I have 4 banana plugs and a 3.5mm stereo jack I could wire up but this arrangement would mean I’d be connecting the grounds from each speaker output together – is that a bad idea? Also I could then adjust the volume going to the PC from the amp but what if I accidentally turned the volume up too high, would I blow my onboard sound chip?

I guess I could buy a pre-amp and run the record deck into that and from there into the PC but I only have 2 records I want to record so it’s a waste of money, also the mission amp is pretty good so I’d rather use that.

I’ve checked online but I can’t see anyone who sells a 4 banana plug to one 3.5mm stereo lead, is this because it isn’t possible?

Thanks in advance.

 

[sparky77]

Hooking the speaker level outputs into the soundcard would be a very bad idea both for the soundcard and the amplifier. The record output from the reciever should work fine unless there's an issue with the soundcard not functioning correctly. Try going into the sound adjustments for the soundcard and turning down the level for the aux input, and also make sure your not trying to use the microphone input.

 

[Hoss_uk]

Thanks for the response. I tried connecting the tape outputs on the amp to the PC (via the input socket on the soundcard, not the microphone) but even with line input set to the minimum it was too loud, I could see the waveform (in audacity) was leaving the box (is this what you call clipping?).

So now I'm going to try that same setup but adding a headphone extension cord with volume control, they are £3.99 from maplins.

Hope this works

 

[bandphan]

http://forums.etree.org/viewforum.php?f=10&sid=94ca3ef739c435eccb5c0499fff2e32b

this is live music recording forum, and you will find all kinds of pc related transfer info here.

 

[Hoss_uk]

yep, a headphone extension cord with volume control from maplins was £3.99 (product code L43AF) and that lowers the input volume to a suitable level.

Thanks Sparky and Bandphan.

I still wonder if 4 banana into a single 3.5mm plug is viable though, just out of interest.

 

[bandphan]

yep, a headphone extension cord with volume control from maplins was £3.99 (product code L43AF) and that lowers the input volume to a suitable level.

Thanks Sparky and Bandphan.

I still wonder if 4 banana into a single 3.5mm plug is viable though, just out of interest.

nope good luck