Play Guitar through Line-in on my Sound Card?

[spifdo]

Hey guys,
I have a quick question about my setup.
I currently use a Sound Blaster Live! Value sound card for my computer, and I've had it for about 1.5 years, just recently I got a new bass that I'm interested in playing directly into my computer. I was wondering if that's possible through the Line-in jack on the sound card, and if there's anything else I should know about it? Also, exactly how would I go about doing it and would I need to get any software/hardware to make it work? I already have an adapter for the huge amp cord that I'm using to make it fit into the Line-in, and my goal is to be able to play directly and record directly to Cool Edit Pro 2.0 without the use of a microphone, so there's no loss in quality (I also plan to do this with an acoustic/electric guitar if I can figure out a way to get the bass to work first). Can it be done?
Thanks in advance!

[Speenis]

Hey guys,
I have a quick question about my setup.
I currently use a Sound Blaster Live! Value sound card for my computer, and I've had it for about 1.5 years, just recently I got a new bass that I'm interested in playing directly into my computer. I was wondering if that's possible through the Line-in jack on the sound card, and if there's anything else I should know about it? Also, exactly how would I go about doing it and would I need to get any software/hardware to make it work? I already have an adapter for the huge amp cord that I'm using to make it fit into the Line-in, and my goal is to be able to play directly and record directly to Cool Edit Pro 2.0 without the use of a microphone, so there's no loss in quality (I also plan to do this with an acoustic/electric guitar if I can figure out a way to get the bass to work first). Can it be done?
Thanks in advance!

That will definitely work, thats how I make all of my recordings. Also, I have the same soundcard and it works a lot better if you use your mic input.

[MWR]

It will work but a DI or preamp will make it sound a crap load better.

[spifdo]

Thanks for the quick responses guys, I appreciate it. However, I still don't know how to make it work. I just plug it into my Line-in or my Mic-in and record through Cool Edit Pro? Or do I have to switch any windows options or anything beforehand? Also is there any other hardware or software I could buy/download to make it sound better or to add effects? Thanks a lot guys

[Brock]

You can't record both at the same time in Windows (I don't think, anyway) - in the Volume Control panel, it makes you select one input

[Speenis]

You can't record both at the same time in Windows (I don't think, anyway) - in the Volume Control panel, it makes you select one input

I don't think he meant recording two things at once, I think he meant he can use either input. Like I said I use the mic input and it works a lot better.
Anyway, go to the volume control like he said and click on the options menu, properties, click the circle for recording, make sure the line in and mic are checked, click OK, then select whichever input you are using and adjust the volume however you want.

[Brock]

Damn it. My bad, I read his "or" as "and" and I thought he meant plugging in both guitar and bass.