Getting Started with Vocals

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daid13

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Hi All

I've recently started making music using podium free and some plugins I don't recall off the top of my head but I want to start adding vocals. The catch being I want to spend as little as possible.

What I'm looking at getting is a bottom of the range mic off amazon and xlr to usb converter however someone has suggested that won't convert the sound to the right format. Is that the case and if so any better suggestions?

Thanks

Daid
 
Don't cheap out on a microphone. Spend the money wisely when you do spend it and get something that will work for you. A $20 mic will sound like you recorded through a $20 mic. Probably plan on $100 or so for a good starter mic of decent quality. A large diaphragm condenser will be good for tracking vocals.

And you might want to consider getting an interface for recording somewhere along the line too. If I interpret your question right, you are going direct to your computer via USB? If all you have is USB, then so be it, and get a mic designed for USB.
 
Big, sexy side address mics can be tricky to use in a small room with bad acoustics (ALL small rooms are bad unless you do something about it!) and this is because the mics are designed to be used at a modest distance, about a foot 300mm and this "lets in" room effects. Can be controlled but you are into faffing with duvets etc, fore and aft..Research this.

So, unless your singing is of an "operatic" style the best option is a dynamic mic such as the venerable Shure SM58 although there are now plenty of alternative dynamics about at 1/3rd the price.

And yes, you need an Audio Interface. Entry level but said to be pretty good, M-Audio Mtrack mk1 or the Alesis carbon copy, well under $100. A bit over $100 is the Steinberg UR22 an excellent AI by all accounts.

So, you are looking at the thick end of $250 to start up but believe me, trying to do this any other way or cheaper will be very frustrating and give crap results.

Dave.
 
ecc83 said:
Big, sexy side address mics can be tricky to use in a small room with bad acoustics (ALL small rooms are bad unless you do something about it!) and this is because the mics are designed to be used at a modest distance, about a foot 300mm and this "lets in" room effects. Can be controlled but you are into faffing with duvets etc, fore and aft..Research this.

So, unless your singing is of an "operatic" style the best option is a dynamic mic such as the venerable Shure SM58 although there are now plenty of alternative dynamics about at 1/3rd the price.

And yes, you need an Audio Interface. Entry level but said to be pretty good, M-Audio Mtrack mk1 or the Alesis carbon copy, well under $100. A bit over $100 is the Steinberg UR22 an excellent AI by all accounts.

So, you are looking at the thick end of $250 to start up but believe me, trying to do this any other way or cheaper will be very frustrating and give crap results.

Dave.
Click to expand...

I totally diagree with a dynamic mic here, if if acoustics are super bad , unless there's a lot of nose around, get a condernser mic
Try ADK microphone
 
Guys are right about the acoustics. Go with a dynamic mic cause a condenser mic will really absorb some nasty frequencies from an untreated room.

If treating your room is way out of your budget try getting a shure sm7b. It may be dynamic but is used on vocals a lot and it rocks.
 
That mic is pretty much bob on Mark!

I have only tried a condenser USB mic (till son snaffled it!) but it gave quite decent results close up.

Big ass capacitors of course do not make a bad acoustic any worse it is just that their much greater sensitivity, 20dB better than a dynamic, often more, makes them less suited to very close work. Then it is often the case that big capacitors have a "character" that can flatter some voices but spoil others.

A VERY good compromise is a small diaphragm capacitor especially one with an attenuator switch, an example being the AKG Perception 170. It will also be the dog's whatsits should you want to record acoustic instruments, especially geetar!

Dave.
 
ecc83 said:
Big ass capacitors of course do not make a bad acoustic any worse it is just that their much greater sensitivity, 20dB better than a dynamic, often more, makes them less suited to very close work. Then it is often the case that big capacitors have a "character" that can flatter some voices but spoil others.

A VERY good compromise is a small diaphragm capacitor especially one with an attenuator switch, an example being the AKG Perception 170. It will also be the dog's whatsits should you want to record acoustic instruments, especially geetar!

Dave.
Click to expand...

To the bank..... ^^^
 
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