Cheap Mic Preamp

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RecorderN3

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I just bought a Shure SM57 to record acoustic guitar and some vocals, but it turned out that you need a pre-amp for this otherwise it will sound crap. I know what to buy for electric guitar but for i really don't know anything about pre-amps. Can I get some help for chosing a mic pre-amp. I don't want to pay like €100 for it because I wont use this very often. I've searched the internet for some "cheap" mic pre-amps but all I find is like preamps around €500. When I looked this up on amazon I found the "BEHRINGER TUBE ULTRAGAIN MIC200" but is it any good? Or do you guys have some more good ones?

I know i'm a noob :/
 
You don't mention what you're using now to record with. You also don't mention where you're doing the acoustic and vocal recording.........as in is it a treated room or what? That in itself could be your problem with the quality. As well........I'm assuming you have a genuine SM57 and not a fake from the internet. That is extremely common too. Don't buy a pre-amp until we know more. If you post a sample we can give you better advice I'm sure.
 
Good preamps cost good money to some extent. $500 for a good preamp is a bargain.

I'd assume the MIC200 will get you a listenable signal. The only thing I can relate is that I made a recording once with a 2200PRO and if *everything* was bypassed, it was half decent. Ignore the "toob" with the LED behind it.

Oh god, I just looked at MF and just about *everything* in the "uber-cheap" aisle has "toobs" in it. :facepalm:

Well, I guess they sell enough of them...
 
Yehp.
Technically you need a preamp but in practical terms you need a computer recording solution - an audio interface. (assuming you're recording to a computer)
That'll generally cover all your I/O needs.
Mic input, gain, phantom power usually (for condenser mics), speaker outputs, volume control, headphone outputs, and stable drivers!!!!

There are plenty of cheap usb audio interfaces with one or two preamps.
If you have to stay super cheap you could get an old second hand tascam us122 on eBay or something.
Just make sure there are drivers available for whatever platform you're on.
 
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As Mickster said, more information will help us steer you in the right direction. All mics need preamplification....most mixers and interfaces will have them built into the inputs. I find my built-in preamps (on my Presonus Firepod) to be more than ample for giving SM57s the boost they need.

Keep in mind, that mic positioning has everything to do with how these mics sound. When I first started experimenting with recording electric guitar, I didn't understand everyone's obsession with the 57. It was only when I really started experimenting with different positions and tones that I really understood how versatile these mics are. Still to this day, however, I often record guitar with a combination of an SM57 and a Sennheiser e609, blending to taste.
 
What interface are you using? Most have built in preamps that will work fine.

If you got the idea that a 57 sounds better through a nice preamp from something you read online, although it is true, the stock preamps in the interface will not keep you from getting a decent recording.

If you don't have a proper recording interface and are just plugging into the soundcard on the computer, that will be a problem. But you can get a decent interface for much less than the preamp you found.
 
Farview said:
What interface are you using?
Click to expand...
That's the problem I think. I ain't using an interface. The mic is directly connected to my pc via a XLR to USB cable. It gives a very weak signal with alot of noise. I'm recording in a small and listening with headphones btw. I'm placing the mic 15cm away from my guitar around the 15th fret. I'm using a real SM57 that I bought from Thomann.de
 
RecorderN3 said:
That's the problem I think. I ain't using an interface. The mic is directly connected to my pc via a XLR to USB cable. It gives a very weak signal with alot of noise. I'm recording in a small and listening with headphones btw. I'm placing the mic 15cm away from my guitar around the 15th fret. I'm using a real SM57 that I bought from Thomann.de
Click to expand...

Well, I think you found your problem... a proper interface will have the preamp built in and will likely sound a heck-of-a-lot better than your current setup w/ a preamp added into the mix. Also, I assumed we were talking about miking an electric guitar amp. Are you using it on acoustic? I know that people have gotten usable results with a 57 on an acoustic, but a condenser mic (even an inexpensive one) will likely yield better results.
 
dudernut said:
Well, I think you found your problem... a proper interface will have the preamp built in and will likely sound a heck-of-a-lot better than your current setup w/ a preamp added into the mix. Also, I assumed we were talking about miking an electric guitar amp. Are you using it on acoustic? I know that people have gotten usable results with a 57 on an acoustic, but a condenser mic (even an inexpensive one) will likely yield better results.
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I'm using the usb connection from my boss ME80 to record electric guitar and i'm happy with the recording it produces. With this mic I want to record acoustic guitar and vocals. I bought the SM57 because it could record nearly anything and it's the industries standard.

Does a proper sound interface also fix the high piched noise my amp makes. I have to set my amp on maximum volume to hear something and then it just gives a "piiiiiiiiiiiii" sound the whole time. Not so loud but sometimes it is very anoying

Do you know any good sound interfaces? (<€75)
 
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What amp are you talking about that is making the noise? If it is your monitors, that is the internal soundcard picking up all the electrical interference from inside the computer. A proper interface will fix that.
 
Farview said:
What amp are you talking about that is making the noise? If it is your monitors, that is the internal soundcard picking up all the electrical interference from inside the computer. A proper interface will fix that.
Click to expand...

And do you know a cheap, proper interface?
 
RecorderN3 said:
And do you know a cheap, proper interface?
Click to expand...

The cheapest really decent interface I know of (and have used) is the Alesis i02 at 98ees from Thomann.

Better if you can run about another tenner is the Steinberg UR22.

Dave.
 
ecc83 said:
The cheapest really decent interface I know of (and have used) is the Alesis i02 at 98ees from Thomann.

Better if you can run about another tenner is the Steinberg UR22.

Dave.
Click to expand...

I'm now using the mic trough my BOSS-ME80, I know it's not the right thing to do but it has a preamp so the signal is better. Here is a recording of it. What improvements would an audio interface do with the sound.
View attachment Recording 1.mp3
 
Hi,
Are you using a noise gate on that? Hear the way the signal starts to break up as volume tails off towards the end of the clip?
There's also some audible noise which, I guess, you're trying to combat with the noise gate?

The ME80 is a guitar multi effects unit with a USB interface, but I don't see a mic level input.
Are you plugging the mic straight into the guitar input?

Understand that "A preamp" isn't what you need. There are different kinds of preamps for different kinds of signal.
Guitar, phono, microphone preamps...they're not interchangeable.

While a mix 'n' match might work, it won't work well. :)

I recommended a used Tascam us122 in my first post just because I know they're dirt cheap second hand.
I didn't realise autocorrect had butchered "Tascam". Sorry about that.

As I mentioned, benefits of an audio interface are
Balanced mic input (XLR), gain control, phantom power usually (for condenser mics), speaker outputs, volume control, headphone outputs, and stable drivers!
Stable drivers minimise latency. A balanced input designed for microphone level minimises the possibility of noise being picked up and/or amplified.

It's an all-in-one box designed to do what you want.
 
RecorderN3 said:
I'm now using the mic trough my BOSS-ME80, I know it's not the right thing to do but it has a preamp.......
Click to expand...
Steen pointed out to you that there are different kinds of preamps.

Perhaps you could google a bit and find yourself a good buy on something along the line of an M-Audio DMP-3 (2 channel). It's a decent mic preamp.
 
I don't usually comment on folks recordings (not aurally equipped!) but I agree with Steen'. not very nice.

To wax heretical for a mo'. if you are not able or willing to get a decent AI at this time, instead of a pre amp as such, look for a simple mixer such as the Behringer Xenyx 802 (not the USB version and DON'T get one with only one mic input!).

Such mixers usually have very acceptable pre amps and you won't actually be "mixing". If, at later time you do get an AI a small mixer will be found quite useful as well. A second hand unit from Cash Gens would suit.

Dave.
 
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