Brian,

If you are just starting out and want to diddle around with recording bass tracks on your computer (for practicing, and such) I'd recommend getting a software program made by Cakewalk called "Guitar Tracks". It has a plug right in the box that you plug into your soundcard, along with instructions, and software so you can record up to 4 lines and mess around with them. It comes with a copy of "Drag and Drop Drummer Lite" so you can put in drum loops too.

However, if you are trying to get into more serious recording, you need a mixer and Pro Tools...and the advice of one wiser than myself.

Hope that helps...

K

1/4" plug to stereo mini, go to radio shack...

there is also free software out there. ProTools makes a free version (not very intuitive, but the price is right.) Felt Tip makes a program called sound studio that you can try out for free for 15 days and if you like it, it's only $15.

does this look right?

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=970%2D0846

ive looked all over the place and cant really find anything

Just go to Radio shack and tell them what you're doing. Specifically it's a 1/4" Female to Stereo Mini plug male adapater (In laymans terms, from big to small). They'll have them with all the headphone adapters. It won't matter if its stereo or mono because your instrument cable is mono anyway.

Jared, it would be best to use a mono plug, as the stereo jack could cause some shorting problems depending on the makeup of the PC's soundcard jack.

1/4" to mini mono is the best thing to use.

Yeah man!
ML

would an ative bass hurt the computer or no?

Jared was right 1/4 to mini directly to the input of you're sound card. I use cakewalk pro-audio software and you can record along with drums. Its a very nice software package. I have had no problems with active electronics, you can adjust input levels on you're pc.

Actually, if you don't have an active bass, you would probably need a preamp to boost the signal levels for your computor.

Most pc sound cards don't give you a very clean signal. Try runing to a mixer first. I use a preamp/DI to a little 4 channel mixer (you can get one for less than 100$ usually) then use the rca out to my pc. It gives me a much cleaner sound and the ability to boost it if needed.