The Rocktron PC Preamp is a preamp built for one job: getting a guitar, bass or microphone into a computer's audio inputs without a pile of extra gear. Music & Computers Magazine's reviewer Brett Ratner described it as "a quick way to plug your guitar or microphone into your PC's audio inputs"1. It sits on the desk rather than on a pedalboard, and it carries its own clean and distortion channels, EQ, noise reduction and reverb, so the signal arriving at the soundcard is already shaped the way the player wants it.
What it does and how it connects
The rear panel carries left and right RCA Auxiliary audio inputs, and 1/4 inch and 1/8 inch stereo outputs meant for a direct connection to a soundcard's line in jack1. The 1/8 inch output is the practical one for most desktop setups, since it matches the input found on a typical soundcard of the era.
On the front panel, the controls are laid out as a row of knobs and a mode switch:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets input gain |
| Shape | Sets the EQ curve |
| HUSH threshold | Sets Rocktron's proprietary HUSH noise reduction |
| Preamp level | Sets the preamp output level |
| Reverb level | Sets the reverb level |
| Aux. input | Sets the auxiliary input level |
| Mode button | Switches between clean and distortion modes |
The HUSH control is worth noting for players recording at a desk: it is Rocktron's own noise reduction, and its threshold knob lets the player set how much of it is applied before the signal reaches the computer1.
Sound and character
The distortion channel is described by the magazine's reviewer as "a saturated, compressed lead guitar sound with so much sensitivity that you can play an entire solo using only your left hand"1. That is a reviewer's account of a high-gain lead voice, not a neutral description, but it gives a sense of where the channel sits: heavily compressed and responsive to playing dynamics.
The clean mode and the shape control give a second, simpler path for players who want to record without distortion, and the reverb level knob adds a touch of space at the preamp stage rather than in the computer1.
Design and build
The housing is metal, finished in the same vanilla color as the computers it was designed to sit beside, and the manual goes as far as saying the unit is sturdy enough to support a computer monitor on top1. That makes it a desk accessory as much as a piece of recording gear.
The PC Preamp is a desktop unit built around a computer's audio inputs, not a rack preamp. Players looking for Rocktron's rack-mounted preamps can read about the Rocktron Chameleon, the Rocktron VooDu Valve or the Rocktron ValveSonic Plexi, or see the Rocktron Gainiac 2 for a tube preamp in pedal form. For the wider category, see Preamp Pedals.
Questions
Can the Rocktron PC Preamp connect a guitar directly to a computer?
Yes. It is a preamp built for connecting a guitar, bass or microphone to a PC's audio inputs. Its rear panel carries 1/4 inch and 1/8 inch stereo outputs for a direct connection to a soundcard's line in jack, along with left and right RCA auxiliary audio inputs. Front-panel controls cover gain, EQ, noise reduction and reverb, so a player can dial in a sound before it reaches the computer.
Sources (1)
- Rocktron Product Reviews, Music & Computers Magazine (republished on rocktron.com), 2024-08-28
