Help! My right line in doesn't work

[someone124]

Hey everyone,

So I'm using a cable I made which takes two 1/4" mono jacks (one plugged into a guitar amp one into a bass amp) that both converge into one 1/8" stereo jack for the computer. I recorded something in audacity, and split the audio track and it worked fine.

However, today, audacity tells me that my right audio line in channel is maxxed out? Even when there isn't anything plugged in O_o

Here's what it's telling me.



Anyone have any ideas? Is plugging an amp into a line in super dangerous or something?

Thanks

[steve]

Looks like you have a wiring fault. There is a DC voltage on the right channel.
Check the wiring - do not use it in this condition. If the fault is in your wiring, it could destroy your sound card.
It is possible that there is a fault with your sound card - to check your sound card, disconnect the plug from the sound card and record nothing - you should get a central flat line in the middle of each track.

[kozikowski]

Does the channel move a little while it's up there? If you lose one of the grounds in your custom cable, the channel without the ground or shield will hum and buzz like the end of the world. Does it still do it if you unplug all your cables?

Do you have an iPod, portable CD player, or portable cassette player? Jack the headphone connection into the line-In connection in the computer and see if everything doesn't return to normal. That's a simple stereo 1/8" to 1/8" cable.

Soak a paper towel in a couple of squirts of Windex and scrub all the 1/4" plugs and 1/8" plugs. Dry and scrub with a fresh paper towel. Replug and retry.

There are a couple of more exotic things to try, but start there.

Koz

[someone124]

When there is nothing plugged into the line in jack, the right line in is still all the way up. I've tried plugging my iPod into the line in, nothing happens, the left line in is completely silent and the right is still all the way up.

Is it possible I destroyed my sound card from plugging it in directly into the amplifier?

[steve]

Is it possible I destroyed my sound card from plugging it in directly into the amplifier?

Yes it's possible.
Is this a laptop or a desktop PC?