Volume

[elko]

Hi all,

Bear in mind I know absolutely sod all about computers/soundcards/mics...

I'm trying to record some rough, mostly acoustic demos, on a budget. When I say budget, I mean I have no money. I have a couple of mics (one shit, one PZM), and basically my problem is that I am recording straight into the soundcard, and the output is just way, way too quiet.

Having looked about on the 'net, I sort of understand why this is, but have no idea how to sort it. Do I need a pre-amp, or mixer, or what?

Any advice would be fantastic, cheers.

[Tifstorey]

A Pre-amp is the ideal way to go to get your recordings higher volume, however, as you dont have any money there is another way. You can increase the volume once youve recorded it depending on what software your using. Normalize your recordings to around 90db to get it higher. That should work fine for you

[elko]

Using Logic 5.5 I tried Normalising some recording I just made, and the hiss would make it unusable for anything.

[Tifstorey]

hmm, how much did you normalize it by? Try a little less. Hopefully someone else could answer this part!

[elko]

With Logic, as far as I am aware, there is no variable, it just Normalises so far until it doesn't clip, or distort, or whathaveyou. So I would guess that it's not the solution, I could be wrong though, I usually am.

I just found this:- http://www.prosoundweb.com/recording...shure/msc2.php, maybe that holds the answer but I really don't understand it.

[Tifstorey]

Ill have a think and a read when im at work and post a reply when i get back tonight if someone hasnt already answered it for you. Hope you get it sorted!

[elko]

No luck so far, thanks for your help though.

Looks like I will have to start saving up. Either a pre-amp or a mixer that does the same job - any recommendations anyone?

[Farview]

normalizing a mic plugged into a line input will not work, it will bring up the background noise with it. you need to get a preamp, a small mixer has preamps built in. You might check to see if your soundcard has a mic input.

[bennychico11]

a microphone signal is incredibly quiet. this is why you need a preamp, to bring the signal up to line level.
m-audio makes some decent, inexpensive preamps...take a look at those.

[elko]

Originally Posted by Farview

normalizing a mic plugged into a line input will not work, it will bring up the background noise with it. you need to get a preamp, a small mixer has preamps built in. You might check to see if your soundcard has a mic input.

Would this involve taking it out then?



Thanks to you both for the replies, as I say I am totally crap with everything to do with music recording except the actual music part.

[bennychico11]

Originally Posted by elko

Would this involve taking it out then?

you mean taking out your sound card?? no you shouldn't have to. if you have a stock soundcard that was included on your motherboard or came with your computer....there usually is a little drawing of a microphone on the card to indicate a mic input. A typical card will have 3 jacks on it. One for line, one for mic and the other one for a stereo output.

[Farview]

Originally Posted by elko

Would this involve taking it out then?



Thanks to you both for the replies, as I say I am totally crap with everything to do with music recording except the actual music part.

Nope. There is sometimes an input right next to the line input. It depends on your sound card.

[Sanjanjoseph]

there are many freeware and shareware recording and mixing programs that allow you to adjust your volume....for right this moment mixing....go demo hunting-adobe audition has a limit less demo for a week or so...

[Farview]

Originally Posted by Sanjanjoseph

there are many freeware and shareware recording and mixing programs that allow you to adjust your volume....for right this moment mixing....go demo hunting-adobe audition has a limit less demo for a week or so...

I'm sure he has software, he needs a mic preamp.

[Rockr56]

And do not use the mic input. Use the Line In. After you get a pre amp, of course.

[elko]

Originally Posted by Farview

I'm sure he has software, he needs a mic preamp.

Yeah I have software, it's not the problem.

Thanks for the help guys - do even the cheapest mixers have pre-amps?

[Tifstorey]

I got a Mackie desk which im selling cheap!1402VLZ has 6 pre amps hehe

[elko]

Sorry to bump this thread back up, but I tried using the preamp that came with my friends Minidisc mic, and both that mic and my PZM are still far too quiet when recording to PC. However, they both seem to work fine when recording onto a minidisc player, so I can only assume it's the PC.

Any other ideas before I start saving up for a decent PC (which I will have to eventually anyway, mine is fairly crap)?

[bennychico11]

it's not the computer. the computer has nothing to do with analog sound...it works with digital. it's your soundcard/preamp. you need a QUALITY preamp. what is this minidisk preamp that your friend had?

[Farview]

Consumer home Hi-Fi stuff won't get it done. You need to step up to something that was made for doing what you are doing.