Recording Instruments On P C

[anaxcrosswords]

Hi all. Just installed a Cakewalk product but this question is about using any PC-based recording software.
For guitars/bass I'd generally use line out from an amp using XLR if available. Because PCs tend not to have standard jack inputs the only option seems to be using an adapter into the Mic input. Is there any danger of signal overload doing this? Or do I need to get hold of a patch bay?

[bazwillrun]

Just get an Xlr to mini jack adaptor and plug it into the the "line in" on the comp

[anaxcrosswords]

Thanks Baz, will try it (will start off with all volumes at zero though!). What made me cautious was the Boss R16 digital multi-track I just bought. Even that has its Track 1 dedicated to guitar/bass because of the high impedance. Wasn't sure what impedance the PC line in would handle.

[TheChair]

The XLR out is low impedance balanced line, whereas the line in on your computer is high impedance unbalanced.
You'd be much better off getting a USB or Firewire recording interface like this: http://www.thomann.de/gb/lexicon_alpha_studio.htm
or this: http://www.thomann.de/gb/focusrite_scarlett_2i2.htm