Please critique my audio setup. $20 PayPal to winner! Budget $600.00

[RB4580]

Hello everyone, nice to be here. I need help and I figured a PayPal payment would be appropriate when asking for others time. Here is the deal. We film instructional DVDs and add audio seperately. We are moving everything in house for audio now and just wanted you all to critique what I'm about to buy. I'll PayPal $20 to whoever picks the setup or the closest to the setup I'll buy. Provide links if possible.

Below is what I'm thinking about, but I don't have much experience, I just need EXTREMELY crisp audio for our DVDs and also for CDs such as audiobooks, corportate training, etc.

Remember, we don't record music, we just need crisp / clean audio to insert in our DVDs, CDs, Etc. THANKS!

P.S. The software is not included in the budget. Just the hardware.

Rode NT1 (199.99)
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/...se_pid/271593/

M-Audio MobilePre USB Portable Audio Interface (149.99)
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/...se_pid/701368/

R0DE Stand Mount for NT1 (19.99)
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/...se_pid/271582/

Cables? (What should I buy)

Software? (Thinking of using Acid Pro or Acid Music Studio (only 70$)

Pop Filter comes with Micro Phone

[wheelema]

Hmm.

$600.

Assuming you are using a desktop with an open PCI you might consider the M-Audio Audiophile 2496 sound card ($100) connected to a M-Audio DMP-3 preamp ($160) to a Shure SM7B microphone ($314) with a copy of Sony SoundForge 8 (incl. CD architect) ($140).

$714 and you need to enroll in your local J.C. (you can always drop your class later). You can scale back on the microphone though I don't advise it.

Luck.

[RB4580]

Originally Posted by wheelema

Hmm.

$600.

Assuming you are using a desktop with an open PCI you might consider the M-Audio Audiophile 2496 sound card ($100) connected to a M-Audio DMP-3 preamp ($160) to a Shure SM7B microphone ($314) with a copy of Sony SoundForge 8 (incl. CD architect) ($140).

$714 and you need to enroll in your local J.C. (you can always drop your class later). You can scale back on the microphone though I don't advise it.

Luck.

So it doesn't look like you recommend the RODE NT1, that's cool.

Will Sound Forge let me chop all these files into audio files, etc?

And let me get this right, it seems simple. You need: Mic, Pre-Amp w/phantom power, pre-amp hooked into sound card, sound card to software?

[mshilarious]

Originally Posted by RB4580

So it doesn't look like you recommend the RODE NT1, that's cool.

Will Sound Forge let me chop all these files into audio files, etc?

And let me get this right, it seems simple. You need: Mic, Pre-Amp w/phantom power, pre-amp hooked into sound card, sound card to software?

Wheelema wins.

And with the SM7 you don't need phantom power (good thing to have for the future though), although nearly every quality preamp has it. You do need a preamp with lots of clean gain, because the SM7 is low sensitivity.

[BigRay]

Originally Posted by RB4580

So it doesn't look like you recommend the RODE NT1, that's cool.

Will Sound Forge let me chop all these files into audio files, etc?

And let me get this right, it seems simple. You need: Mic, Pre-Amp w/phantom power, pre-amp hooked into sound card, sound card to software?

Soundforge 8 is excellent.

you can also use audacity(freeware) or cd wav(freeware)..

[RB4580]

Originally Posted by mshilarious

Wheelema wins.

And with the SM7 you don't need phantom power (good thing to have for the future though), although nearly every quality preamp has it. You do need a preamp with lots of clean gain, because the SM7 is low sensitivity.

So if I spend a little more for the SM7 your saying not having to deal with Phantom power is a plus huh?

Then you just need the mic going straight into a good sound card and that's good?

[virtualvisions]

If you do end up getting the NT1-A, you don't need to get the stand mount, it comes with a shockmount already.

[Docaroo]

no phantom power doesn't matter - its the actual mic itself he's recommending! phantom or no phantom Its just handy to have a soundcard wiht phantom incase you ever have a mic in the future that would use it

Some soundcards have built it preamps (Firebox, etc) however the one suggested doesn't have - it's no biggie, just means you can buy a real quality preamp like the one speced!

[COOLCAT]

Originally Posted by wheelema

Hmm.

$600.

Assuming you are using a desktop with an open PCI you might consider the M-Audio Audiophile 2496 sound card ($100) connected to a M-Audio DMP-3 preamp ($160) to a Shure SM7B microphone ($314) with a copy of Sony SoundForge 8 (incl. CD architect) ($140).

$714 and you need to enroll in your local J.C. (you can always drop your class later). You can scale back on the microphone though I don't advise it.

Luck.

Yeah. That'd be a sweet close mic setup>DAW compared to the Rode and USB unit.

[Halion]

Originally Posted by RB4580

So if I spend a little more for the SM7 your saying not having to deal with Phantom power is a plus huh?

Then you just need the mic going straight into a good sound card and that's good?

Not quite, you still need a preamp. You see, any mic level is too low to be used in a computer, and first needs to be boosted. That's what the preamps does, the phantom is just an extra that has become a standard in basicly any preamp. But the main use if to boost the signal.

The SM7 is a tried an true mic for voice-overs. Many broadcasters use it, but it's a great mic for much more than just broadcasting.

The NT1a is a decent mic, but for JUST voice overs, you can go much more specific in picking your mic, hence, the SM7. The NT1a could be concidered somewhat harsh, while the SM7 will in no way be harsh.

The soundcard suggested in a great choice, as is the preamp. You will get a clean signal without having to worry about noise. The mobile pre is very usefull for on-the-spot recordin in the outdoors using a laptop, but for indoors, and especially stuff that doesn't move, it's really much smarter to go for a solid internal soundcard.

The software might even be too big for you. Chopping audio up is the first thing any audio application should be able to do. Therefor, most any freeware (like Audicity) will help you out with that.

Buying the SM7, DMP3 and Delta 2496 sound cost you roughly 320 + 150 + 100 = 560. Add shipping, a mic stand and a nice pop filter (althought the SM7 comes with a windshield) and your right on your budget, but with a much, much better setup than what you initially had in mind.

[wheelema]

I am still a little bummed.

Oh well.