New MicroPhone, newbie. first time even touching a pro mic.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Zanda Sammons
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Zanda Sammons

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I Just out of random impulse brought a Shure SM57, Boom Mic Stand, Pop filter, XLR-6.3mm cable.
And I wanted to ask if you normally have to put your mouth right next to the mic to get any quality audio, and if it is normal is there any program i can use to change this soo i don't have to keep the mic right next to me. I'm using a 6.3 to 3.5mm adapter so i can plug it in to my USB sound card. the sound card is a logitech USB sound card
 
Hi,

Which model sound card do you have? It's probably not black and white but usually anything with a 3.5mm jack input isn't going to be designed for high quality recording.
I think it's normal that you're not getting a very 'hot' level.

Google USB audio interface and look at the ones with XLR inputs.
That usually means there's a half decent microphone preamplifier in there, which is what you're missing. :)
There'll be a gain control per input which allows you to set the amount of amplification.

Try Tascam US-122, for example.
 
does a 6.3mm jack act the same as 3.5mm, because my cable is XLR to 6.3mm. I really don't want to replace it. this one cost me $40 for 5feet, and the XLR to XLR cost $90 for 3feet
 
Zanda Sammons said:
does a 6.3mm jack act the same as 3.5mm, because my cable is XLR to 6.3mm.
Click to expand...

The physical connection doesn't do, or change anything.
It's just usually found on lower grade equipment. Your soundcard is expecting a headset for skype calls, you know?

Zanda Sammons said:
I really don't want to replace it. this one cost me $40 for 5feet, and the XLR to XLR cost $90 for 3feet
Click to expand...
It shouldn't be anywhere near that price! :eek:
Here's one for $17.
 
yea my headset is a logitech g430. the sound card is much higher quality then the jacks on my case. could you recommend a interface with 6.3mm jacks, under $100 if you can, after spending a lot on the rest of the stuff I don't have a lot of room to play with,

and I brought the cables at a physical store, went to 4 stores all the same price.

oh and sorry not Feet I meant meters, so 5meters not 5feet, and 3meters not 3 feet
 
Would this work for what I need it for. Behringer Xenyx Q502USB mixer
 
Zanda Sammons said:
The sound card is much higher quality then the jacks on my case.
Click to expand...
The jacks aren't low quality. There's no quality difference between different connection types. They're all just different formats of metal contacts.
I'm just saying I can't think of any recording gear with 3.5mm jack sockets.
What model is your sound card?

Zanda Sammons said:
Could you recommend a interface with 6.3mm jacks, under $100 if you can, after spending a lot on the rest of the stuff I don't have a lot of room to play with
Click to expand...
Not really. Anything worth buying isn't going to have jack microphone inputs.
You'll find plenty of interfaces/mixers with 1/4" jack inputs but they'll all be instrument/line level. No good for a mic.

Zanda Sammons said:
and I brought the cables at a physical store, went to 4 stores all the same price.
oh and sorry not Feet I meant meters, so 5meters not 5feet, and 3meters not 3 feet
Click to expand...
$90 is waaay too much even if it is meters.
Did you click my link?


Zanda Sammons said:
Would this work for what I need it for. Behringer Xenyx Q502USB mixer
Click to expand...

It'd do, but there's no real need for mixer functionality (unless there's something I don't know about your requirements).
Stick with straight up audio interfaces. That's my honest advice.

Either way, you'd still need an XLR to XLR cable.


It's not a hard and fast rule and there are plenty of exceptions, but generally speaking for home recording -
XLR = microphone level input.
1/4" jack = instrument/line level input/output, or line level sends/returns.
3.5mm doesn't feature. It's found on commercial playback equipment, laptops etc.

Hope that's helpful.
 
checked your link I'l probably get one, I can't really get anything cheaper in terms of interfaces, I Can get the Behringer Xenyx Q502USB mixer for $125 (63Pounds)
 
Zanda Sammons said:
checked your link I'l probably get one, I can't really get anything cheaper in terms of interfaces, I Can get the Behringer Xenyx Q502USB mixer for $125 (63Pounds)
Click to expand...

It'd be a lot better than what you're currently trying, but a lot of your money is going on faders and buttons that aren't going to get used.

I'd rather have this.
 
You're in/near a major city in NZ, find a reputable music store or online vendor in our country to buy equipment. You should be able to get an audio interface for the same price as that Xenyx mixer and it will do what you want a lot better. Return that cable you got for $40 - they ripped you off!
 
The Xenyx is the cheapest thing i could find. the Tascam US-144MK2 costs $250, and the lowest costing interface at the retail stores i can find is in the range of 700-2000.
 
Less than $110 shipped. <- Click this.
I'm sure you could find something closer to home, though.

If you're somehow completely stuck and the 502 is the only option, which I doubt, it'd do.
 
Thing is that i can get the Behringer Xenyx Q502USB right now, and with NZ customs there is at least a 2week wait, and customs charges are high as heaven it self.
example: ordered a $70 fan from amazon, got charged $90 in customs fees.
Thank you Both for your Help though. at least i understand what i need now
 
No worries.
If that's your only option it'll still be a world of difference over what you have (although you still haven't told me the model name!).
Spend some time shopping around NZ stores online, just incase.
There's no harm in buying a used interface. ebay?

Good luck.
 
If you're anxious to get started recording pick up the Xenix. Nothing worse than waiting for the mail and paying customs duty.
 
The SM57 is very sensitive to how far away you sing, (proximity effect) so either sing right up close or practice singing a few inches away - takes some practice but you can do it. Maybe buy a pop filter, keep it a couple inches from the mic, and sing right up to that as your reference.
 
I used the 3.5mm to USB adapter that came with my logitech g430's, just by using a 6.3mm-3.5mm Adapter-3.5mm To USB Adapter-USB 2.0 port on my PC
 
Zanda Sammons said:
I used the 3.5mm to USB adapter that came with my logitech g430's, just by using a 6.3mm-3.5mm Adapter-3.5mm To USB Adapter-USB 2.0 port on my PC
Click to expand...

Yep - done that kind of thing before - you have to be inventive sometimes to get to where you can record.
 
Don't buy cables, especially mic cables, in a store. Go to Seismic Audio (search it) and get them there. Free shipping to boot (Stateside, anyway. Compare pricing with what you're getting now.) There are other places to get them too, of course--just check it out online. While you're waiting, practice your craft.
 
TimN said:
Don't buy cables, especially mic cables, in a store. Go to Seismic Audio (search it) and get them there. There is another place to get hen that I've gone to, and the prices there are very good. You really got clipped for those cables.
Click to expand...

She lives in New Zealand so gear is scarce and costs a fortune to ship there. She probably pays the same thing locally as she would for something shipped there.
 
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