Bought M-Audio What else do I need?

[felixmanos]

I am totally inexperienced in computer recording. I did a lot of research and decided to buy a sound card to commit to doing it.

What I intend to do is record voice and the flute I play. I don't have much money, so I need to know what is the minimum equipment I need to get started. I realize I need a mic preamp and thinking about buying M-Audio. I have been reading the posts on the board and I am concerned with getting equipment that will accept 24hz and not getting stuck on 16hz.

I didn't realize sound cards have to be amplified. Can I use my stereo equipment to amplify? Do I need a mixer to get started?

In general, what do I need get started equipment-wise?

Thanks,

felix

[therage!]

Good thing that you have already figured out you need a good sound card not a soundblaster.

You'll need sequencing (recording) software, something like N-Tracks might work well for you as doesn't cost a bundle. There's people here at the N Track forum who can help you. Cakewalk also makes some relatively inexpensive apps.

You need a decent mic but I've got no experience recording a flute but I'd imagine you'll at least need a SM57, but a condenser would probably be better for flute. SM57 at the minimum.

Preamp...Get the best you can afford so talk to your bean counter and pony up some beans on a preamp. It would be good if you could get into the $300-400 range and you could bag the idea of getting a mixer at first and get a better preamp. You can mix your songs in your software so you could live without a mixer at first but they can be nice for a number of reasons.

When I first started out I was using my stereo system for monitoring and it's not the way to go. It's not that you can't do it you just won't be hearing your music in the same way you will using studio monitors. If you do use ypour stereo plan on spending a lot of time checking your mixes on many different sytems. Not that it's a bad idea not to do that anyway but your going to get less accurate representation of your sound using a stereo.

BTW, it's not "Hertz" it's Bits, typo?




Good luck and enjoy your new hobby! But I warn you....You will suffer from gear lust FOREVER!

[SPINSTERWUN]

Originally posted by therage!
......... But I warn you....You will suffer from gear lust FOREVER!

That's the truth!!!!!

[SPINSTERWUN]

felixmanos...................

What is your financial budget?

spin

[SPINSTERWUN]

Here are some glossaries for you.........

http://www.rane.com/digi-dic.html

[SPINSTERWUN]

http://www.modernrecording.com/resources/glossary.shtml

[SPINSTERWUN]

http://www.sospubs.co.uk/sos/regular_htm/glossary.htm

[SPINSTERWUN]

Here is a TON of reading for you..............

http://www.studiocovers.com/

[felixmanos]

Originally posted by SPINSTERWUN
felixmanos...................

What is your financial budget?

spin

Damn little! I had to save for three months just to buy the card.

[felixmanos]

Originally posted by SPINSTERWUN
Here is a TON of reading for you..............

http://www.studiocovers.com/

Thank you SPINSTERWUN for the links you provided. I'll get right on it and read for a while. It's a little difficult because I don't have much of the lingo down, but constantly reading is probably the only way I'll get it.

[felixmanos]

Originally posted by therage!
Good thing that you have already figured out you need a good sound card not a soundblaster.

You'll need sequencing (recording) software, something like N-Tracks might work well for you as doesn't cost a bundle. There's people here at the N Track forum who can help you. Cakewalk also makes some relatively inexpensive apps.

You need a decent mic but I've got no experience recording a flute but I'd imagine you'll at least need a SM57, but a condenser would probably be better for flute. SM57 at the minimum.

Preamp...Get the best you can afford so talk to your bean counter and pony up some beans on a preamp. It would be good if you could get into the $300-400 range and you could bag the idea of getting a mixer at first and get a better preamp. You can mix your songs in your software so you could live without a mixer at first but they can be nice for a number of reasons.

When I first started out I was using my stereo system for monitoring and it's not the way to go. It's not that you can't do it you just won't be hearing your music in the same way you will using studio monitors. If you do use ypour stereo plan on spending a lot of time checking your mixes on many different sytems. Not that it's a bad idea not to do that anyway but your going to get less accurate representation of your sound using a stereo.

BTW, it's not "Hertz" it's Bits, typo?




Good luck and enjoy your new hobby! But I warn you....You will suffer from gear lust FOREVER!

Yes, I have always had a fascination for electronic gadgets. But it takes an enthusiam based on stuff that I can actually make happen to start spending what little money comes in. By necessity I have to start with a minimal of equipment and pick up stuff as I go along.

Thanks for your encouragement.

felix

[Chris Fallen]

I'd say at the minimum pick up an Audiophile ($150ish?), a DMP3 (depending on your haggling skills, from $130-$199), and then (since you're recording flute) either a SP B1 ($80?)ething. Maybe a MXL V67.


When I started I went to guitar center and just got one of their cards with $1000 limit and bought stuff. I started off with an Omni Studio, which pretty much does everything the Audiophile and DMP3 do (without midi, but with a lot more).

[felixmanos]

Originally posted by Chris Fallen
I'd say at the minimum pick up an Audiophile ($150ish?), a DMP3 (depending on your haggling skills, from $130-$199), and then (since you're recording flute) either a SP B1 ($80?)ething. Maybe a MXL V67.


When I started I went to guitar center and just got one of their cards with $1000 limit and bought stuff. I started off with an Omni Studio, which pretty much does everything the Audiophile and DMP3 do (without midi, but with a lot more).

Thanks for your response Chris. As far as a card is concerned I've already installed the M-Audio Delta 410. I don't know how to get it to show up as my regular Windows audio source yet, but when I got to Device Manager it shows the drivers and all are operating correctly, and the Control Panel boots from an icon. But it doesn't show up in my multimedia page at all so I can designate it as the default audio source. Any ideas?.

I appreciate your including the links that allowed me to know what you recommended. The DMP3 looks like just what I would need. I might have to wait for a while. The mic link you sent me is very attractive for the price. I'm interested.

[Chris Fallen]

Yeah, search the mic forum for reviews of the B1 or v67 (I forgot to include it, but the v67 goes for $80-90 I think). Both are great budget mics. You also might want to search in the mic forum for what you should use on a flute (large diaphram or small).

I can't help you with the computer problem. I'd say just try troubleshooting or reinstalling. What are you using that it's not showing up on? If I'm familiar with the program maybe I'll be able to help more.

[felixmanos]

Originally posted by Chris Fallen
Yeah, search the mic forum for reviews of the B1 or v67 (I forgot to include it, but the v67 goes for $80-90 I think). Both are great budget mics. You also might want to search in the mic forum for what you should use on a flute (large diaphram or small).

I can't help you with the computer problem. I'd say just try troubleshooting or reinstalling. What are you using that it's not showing up on? If I'm familiar with the program maybe I'll be able to help more.

Hi Chris,

I use XP Pro on an Intel Pentium 4 1.6Mhz system. I read in the instuction manual that a dialog box would pop up that offered the choice of using the Delta 410 as my regular Windows card, but I didn't encounter such a dialog box. You're right. I may have to reinstall to see if that will do the trick.

When I go to the Control Panel -> Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices -> Sound and Audio Devices -> Properties -> Audio and look at the choices available on Sound Playback and Sound recording, I have only the Modem Line #1 playback as a choice as my source for sound.

When I click on the Troubleshoot button it doesn't take me anywhere that's useful. There's gotta be a way to get it to recognize my sound card, but I haven't figured it out yet.

[felixmanos]

Originally posted by felixmanos
Hi Chris,


When I go to the Control Panel -> Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices -> Sound and Audio Devices -> Properties -> Audio and look at the choices available on Sound Playback and Sound recording, I have only the Modem Line #1 playback as a choice as my source for sound.

When I click on the Troubleshoot button it doesn't take me anywhere that's useful. There's gotta be a way to get it to recognize my sound card, but I haven't figured it out yet.

I went through the Device Manager again. Found a MS WNN driver with a yellow question mark beside it. Deleted it to see if a restart would reinstall it. It didn't, but when I went the Audio page my card showed up and everything seems to work properly now. Thanks for taking an interest.

Now, back to reading...

[Innovations]

You don't say what kind of voice you have. If it were just the flute I would suggest going with a fairly bright LD condenser like the MXL V93M. On the other hand if your voice would like a darker mic somehting like the V67G would most likely be better but still fairly good for the flute. You will need a preamp in addition to the microphone. The DMP3 is very popular but in preference to your budget you might try an AudioBuddy.

[felixmanos]

Originally posted by Innovations
You don't say what kind of voice you have. If it were just the flute I would suggest going with a fairly bright LD condenser like the MXL V93M. On the other hand if your voice would like a darker mic somehting like the V67G would most likely be better but still fairly good for the flute. You will need a preamp in addition to the microphone. The DMP3 is very popular but in preference to your budget you might try an AudioBuddy.

Thanks for your suggestions, Innovation, the AudioBuddy was my first thought because the price seemed more affordable.

I've been reading about mixers in the various links offered above that say that mixers have preamps. Do mixers have enough amplification to drive a set of headphones or a pair of small computer speakers? My financial situation is slim pickings presently and the prices on mixers seem fairly moderate and affordable. Now that I have committed to my interest by buying the soundcard I'm eager to get started, and the idea of waiting to save enough money to do anything at all is tugging at me. :-)

[Chris Fallen]

The thing about mixers is they're usually used for price per channel, meaning you don't get the best channels. If you're going to get a mixer, a small 4 preamp one will probably cost around 150-200. If you're only recording your voice and a flute, I would suggest getting the DMP3. It's supposed to be VERY quality for it's price (like I said before, with haggling you can get it down to $125ish). It's two channels, so you can do stereo recording with it also. Would you need more than two channels for anything?

I just think that since you're on such a tight budget that the DMP3 would be more bang for your buck than a mixer with more channels than you'll use of lower quality.

[felixmanos]

Originally posted by Chris Fallen

I just think that since you're on such a tight budget that the DMP3 would be more bang for your buck than a mixer with more channels than you'll use of lower quality.

When looking at the pics of the DMP3 at the midiman site I didn't see where it had a headphone jack. Wouldn't I need another piece of equipment in addition to the DMP3 to amplify the sound coming from my card?

I don't think I would need more than two inputs the way I'm thinking presently. My ignorance of home recording doesn't allow me to think too far ahead as to my possible needs. I am impressed with the notion of using the DMP3 because it is designed to work with the Delta 410 card I have installed. Even if I got it for $150 I would still have plenty of time to shop around. I live real close to the bone. ;-)

[Chris Fallen]

Good point about monitoring... You'd probably have to go into the delta, and then use the analog outs to monitor (get an RCA to 1/4' jack). That may have latency, however.

[felixmanos]

Originally posted by Chris Fallen
Good point about monitoring... You'd probably have to go into the delta, and then use the analog outs to monitor (get an RCA to 1/4' jack). That may have latency, however.

That's another thing I don't know much about. I live in a small town that doesn't even have a music store. How does one approach getting the right cables? Since I have all RCA fittings I'm probably going to need several in the future. Are the quality of the cables a big deal. Should I spend a little more to get good quality cables?

[Chris Fallen]

I'm not sure how'd you go about monitoring. I'd usually patch the outs to two powered monitors, or to an amp. Maybe you have a stereo you can use (though in the future you might want to change that, monitors are VERY important for proper mixing) until you get monitors or an amp for your headphones.

As for cables, you can either order them online or order parts and build them. Depends on what you feel like doing. Right now for you cables won't really make a difference, but if you can get either monster or mogami.

[felixmanos]

Originally posted by Chris Fallen
I'm not sure how'd you go about monitoring. I'd usually patch the outs to two powered monitors, or to an amp. Maybe you have a stereo you can use (though in the future you might want to change that, monitors are VERY important for proper mixing) until you get monitors or an amp for your headphones.

As for cables, you can either order them online or order parts and build them. Depends on what you feel like doing. Right now for you cables won't really make a difference, but if you can get either monster or mogami.

Yes, this discussion has paid off for me. I finally realized the Altec computer speakers I have are self-amplified and that I can probably get a Y cable that will allow me to at least hear something for the time being until I can afford better. I'm about as far as I can afford to go now until I come up with some money. It'll give me plenty of time to read at all the links provided and to shop around for a good price on the DMP3. It'll be a slow process, but at least I have some direction now. Thanks a lot people!

felix

[Aren]

Since the 410 has multiple outputs, the only way to properly use them is to get a mixer. That way you could do you mixes analog style.
A 16 channel Behringer mixer (hardly top quality stuff, but it would get you going, and supply you with four more-or-less usable preamps) would cost you about 150$.
Well worth it, IMHO.

Oren