No signal from acoustic guitar

[Marco73]

Hi guys, I've got a Yamaha semi acoustic guitar plugged via 1/4" jack into the line 1 instr input on my Lexicon Alpha. There's no signal coming through in pro tools. I know the guitar is working fine as it sounds when connected to an amp (my friendly local guitar shop tested this for me). I've also routed my mic via the line 1 input so know there's no issue with the Alpha. Input 1 is correctly selected in Protools.

I've tried two different (new) cables so it can't be that.

Running out of ideas here!?

Surely I don't need an amp to sit between the semi acoustic and the Alpha?

Any help appreciated!

Mark

[musicman691]

Guitars (acoustic or electric) are very low level instruments and may not have enough oomph to drive the input on the interface. Couple of things to do: change the battery in the preamp on your guitar and make sure you have the output level turned up on the guitar (and don't forget the level input on the interface).

[JFreak]

First things first; can you hear the guitar from the Alpha headphone outputs? If you can, the trouble is AFTER the USB connection. If you can't, the trouble is BEFORE the USB connection.

[Marco73]

Thanks both. Input set to max. New battery in guitar itself (think that's what you mean musicman?). Output on guitar set to max. Nothing.

Plugged headphones into Alpha and still nothing. So guess that answers your question JFreak.

If it helps, when I'm putting the jack into the guitar I get plenty of signal through the interface, the usual connecting noises, which I guess suggests the cable is fine. But no ****** music!! 😩

[JFreak]

Okay then... Sorry to say but I think that your interface is broken

[Marco73]

But it's working fine with a mic input...

[Marco73]

Do I need a DI box sitting between my guitar and the interface? Or an amp?

I've just plugged the guitar into a Lucky Voice box and audible, so guitar def working fine...

[albee1952]

Using a DI into the XLR is one solution. Is there a button labelled Mic/DI or Mic/Inst? Odds are pretty good that you need to hit a button to use the quarter inch input

[JFreak]

Originally Posted by Marco73

But it's working fine with a mic input...

Sure. But if the instrument input is a different jack, there should be a button somewhere that routes that input to your channel one or whatever. That routing might be broken.

OR, you need to take a look at the manual. What if it routes instrument intput to channel two and you try to record channel one?

[Marco73]

Thanks all - really appreciate it

Still not sorted but got a DI box en route and hoping that will fix the problem!

Not going to let these roadblocks get in the way of sharing my creative juices with the world