Preamp help?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ShawnT
  • Start date Start date
S

ShawnT

New member
Okay. So I have one "decent" mic - a Shure sm58. The mic cable I use has a 1/4 plug at the end. So when I record, I adapt the 1/4 down to 1/8 and plug directly into my pc. I have no preamp or mixer, nothing like that.

I want to be able to record vocals ranging from soft rock to loud punk styles. I need some sort of a preamp to really get the most out of this mic, but as I stated once before **I am so dang poor right now** and have no idea where to start.

While I will not be the only vocalist to record here, I do have a somewhat nasally Green-Day type of voice.

Any suggestions on an affordable ($200.00 or less!!!) pre that could do the job? Two tracks would be cool, but one is maybe all I need for now.
 
If your "58" has a 1/4" plug on the end, you are using it in high impedance mode. If you get a pre, you might want to get an XLR to XLR cable to the pre then run line out of the pre to your computer.
 
Thanks guys for the suggestions. I read about pres "coloring" sound, what exactly does this mean? And in this the wrong place to post pre questions?
 
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned also getting a sound card. A sound card coupled with a microphone pre could yield good results for you.

I'll link you to a few examples.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/FastTrackPro/

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/TonePortUX2/

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AudioBoxUSB/

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MBox2Mini/

There's a variety of different Interfaces (meaning sound card, preamps, converters all in one in short). Some offer 2, 4, or 8 channels and some with expansion to even more. There is much to learn but this can be more cost effective to boot than buying a nice preamp like a dmp3 than plugging your sm58 into your realtek ac97 stock soundcard.

What is coloration?

It's pretty much the effect of your preamp on your sound. Some preamps may indiscriminately add "eq" through the circuitry. Some preamps are more "transparent" and add little or no stamp to your sound. When people say that they get color from a preamp, they're talking about a character, or alteration that the preamp seems to leave on that recording/signal. This may be a skewed definition of "color" but it should get you started.

Good luck, Eric.
 
ShawnT said:
Thanks guys for the suggestions. I read about pres "coloring" sound, what exactly does this mean? And in this the wrong place to post pre questions?
Click to expand...

Some do some don't. No preamp will "color" the sound like that cheap pc soundcard you are using, though.

Erockrazor gave good advice. Spend $80-$150 on a decent prosumer Soundcard (M-Audio Audiophile, e.g.) and your recordings will get 400% better. And yes, then get a decent preamp like the DMP3, and you will have good enough gear to make very good recordings.
 
tdukex said:
Some do some don't. No preamp will "color" the sound like that cheap pc soundcard you are using, though.

Erockrazor gave good advice. Spend $80-$150 on a decent prosumer Soundcard (M-Audio Audiophile, e.g.) and your recordings will get 400% better. And yes, then get a decent preamp like the DMP3, and you will have good enough gear to make very good recordings.
Click to expand...
+1 on good advice. Good luck
 
omni studio

Hi,

The M-Audio omni-studio includes the soundcard and the preamps. The preamps are supposed to be the same circuit as the dmp3 preamps mentioned. I believe it's 4 channels in too although only two mic preamps. Please correct me if I'm wrong here.

I use the dmp2 preamps and this M-Audio family of preamps is the best bang for the buck. They are definitely clean preamps which is what you want.

The PCI omni-studio goes for $100 or so used on ebay. This is cheaper than most quality soundcards or preamps and you get both. A complete hifi interface to your computer if you have a PCI slot.

I haven't got one yet but it's next on my gear list. The price is right and the M-Audio stuff is great for it's price range. If you buy this on eBay be sure it's advertised as working condition or good condition, not as-is.

Thanks,

Hairy Larry
 
Okay. Thanks for all the help, but now I have a couple more questions.

1) What is meant by high impedance mode?

2) How will I know if these all-in-ones are compatible with my recording software (Adobe Audition 2)? Many are USB, and I tried using a USB input one time and my Audition didn't even know it was there. Is PCI a better way to go?
 
Okay, I tried putting the sm58 on the kick and the headset mic over my right shoulder more or less facing the snare drum. I was very surprised how well that works! I record the two mics to two separate tracks. Then, I'll often duplicate the snare track (which has hats/toms/cymbals, etc. in it as well). Then I'll take all of the bottom out of the duplicate track and mix it in to give the higher-end sounds a boost and it works pretty well. I just wish I could get a bit more snare crack in there using this technique.
 
Many of the pre amp/interfaces come with more up to date software such as Cubase LE or Sonar.

If you absolutely have to have the cheapest thing out there, get a ART Tube pre, hook up your SM58 with a XLR to XLR cable and go for it. The ART tube pre is about $40. At this level I wouldn't even worry about if it "colors" the sound. You won't notice it.
 
ShawnT said:
Okay. Thanks for all the help, but now I have a couple more questions.

1) What is meant by high impedance mode?

2) How will I know if these all-in-ones are compatible with my recording software (Adobe Audition 2)? Many are USB, and I tried using a USB input one time and my Audition didn't even know it was there. Is PCI a better way to go?
Click to expand...
This would be a good place to start.

http://www.tape.com/resource/impedance.html

If the interface is USB1 then the PCI is definitely better. USB2 or Firewire are a toss up depending on who you talk to. I use an Omni so it's PCI and has worked very well for me. Don't know what to tell you about Audition. Any audio app should find the interface. Do you have an onboard sound card? This might be the problem.

HTH

Paul:D
 
Yes, I have a Realtek integrated sound card. :( Would I still be able to add some other card? I believe I can.
 
ShawnT said:
Yes, I have a Realtek integrated sound card. :( Would I still be able to add some other card? I believe I can.
Click to expand...
Yes (as tdukex said), but you may need to disable the onboard card. Many prosumer cards don't play well with onboard cards.

HTH

Paul:D
 
Line6 UX2 interface is only $200...a UX1 is arround $125.

Better to go through this than a cheap soundcard with any preamp.
 
I'd recommend a M-Audio DMP3 aswell. (Just got one myself on a limited budget and it rocks for the price)

If thats too expensive it's little brother the Audio Buddy gets good reviews.

As mentioned though, you want to get a half decent soundcard before a preamp. M-Audio do some good cheap cards that will make your recordings sound 100% better than your onboard soundcard in an instant.
 
If you want super cheap and a decent sound, go on eBay and get a used ART Tube MP. It's a cheap little hybrid solid/tube mic preamps that sounds decent and you can get one for probably close to $25. Plus if you want to add a little distortion to your vocals, which can be fun, you can overdrive the tube very easily to give it some edge. You can also pick up one of their little tube compressors, called levelors, I believe, so you can add in a little compression and get a better sound. If you're super poor, this will give you good results for very little cash.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top