2 basic questions

  • Thread starter Thread starter needmyownstudio
  • Start date Start date
N

needmyownstudio

New member
1. i have been told when recording onto cool edit it is best to plug the mic into the line in plug in. this is what i hear, however it sounds worse to me personally. am i doing something wrong or is it just better to plug the mic into the mic plug in?


2. when i record (i am looking to record strictly hip hop r and b vocals), is it best to record mono as i hear or should i stick with stereo recordings of my vocals?



thanks
 
You need to plug the mic into a mic preamp, then plug the output of the pre into the line-in on your s/c..... don't use the mic-in on your s/c - it'll be crap....

Unless you're trying to capture a group of backup singers, there's generally very little reason to record a lead vocal in stereo.
 
If you dont have a preamp then you will have to go into the mic in.......
 
hey guys i appreciate the help a lot. if you dont mind feilding a few more questions i would be much obliged. right now the sound card i have is an sb audigy audio a000, and my mic is a sony f-v620. now i am looking to get a pre amp, my question is
1. what type of pre amp works the best overall for just hip hop/r&b vocals and is compatible with my mic and soundcard.
and
2. on a scale of 1-10 (10 being best) what kind of quality am i working with thus far in terms of microphones (sony f-v620), and soundcards (sb audigy audio a000)?

please be brutally honest. also when you do recomend a pre amp please throw a few different names up so i can find one that will work within my price range.


thank you so much for your help
 
Does that sony mic have a mini-plug end or a xlr end? If it has a mini-plug end I think you're stuck with using the soundcard mic in (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

Maybe you should consider buying a shure SM57 and a m-audio DMP3 or audiobuddy.
 
Brutally honest? :)

The quality you are working with is rather low. It will work well for figuring out the recording process and getting used to whatever recording software you are using, but once to get rolling with the whole recording process you will outgrow both really quickly.

The soundblaster stuff is great for gaming and listening to MP3's and Cds on your computer, but it was never designed for quality music recording. It sounds good for what it is, but it isn't a quality audio recording device.

A standard, low cost mic that IS a great recording mic is the Shure Sm57. Even though it is *cheap* for professional class mic ($80 or so) its a mic that you will keep and use forever. It rocks, and its a great mic to start with.

Since you have a SB card, I'm going to recommend that you get a different audio interface at the same time you get your preamp. The reason for this is even if you get a good preamp, your soundblaster card is *still* going to limit the sound quality. Here's a couple options:

http://www.midiman.net/products/m-audio/mobilepre.php
USB Mobile Pre: 2 ins and outs, phantom power (which you'll want sooner than later for using higher quality vocal mics) and through a USB port it goes directly into your computer. List: $175

Pros: Simple to set up, fairly cheap.
Cons: Limited to 16 bit operation (24 bit is better), will be useless when you decide to upgrade.

http://www.midiman.net/products/m-audio/duo.php
USB Duo: 2 ins and outs again, but much higher quality. Phantom power. Stand-alone mode lets you use it as just a preamp. List: $350

Pros: You use it for a long time, even if you upgrade. Simple to set up. Up to 24bit / 96Khz recording.
Cons: More expensive.

If you are more serious about a longer term process of upgrading your recording equipment (which must of us end up doing), go ahead and just get a decent preamp and use your SB card for now. Then save up and buy a REAL posumer soundcard when the time comes. It wouldn't be that much more expensive. In that case, the Audio Buddy and the DMP3 are great choices.

http://www.midiman.net/products/m-audio/audibudy.php
http://www.midiman.net/products/m-audio/dmp3.php

(I know these are all from the same company- I just don't know much about the other options that are out there. There are other options- check www.musiciansfriend.com, www.music123.com, and www.8thstreet.com to see what comes up when you search for "Preamp")

Also, all the prices I mentioned are manufacturer's list. Street price should be lower.

Enjoy the hunt!
Chris
 
hey are the audio interfaces compatible with cool edit?
 
mic pre's

I personally really like the Presonus BlueTube mic pre 149.99
but since you only are gonna be using one mic then get the Presonus Tube MicPre with 1 channell you can get it for 89.99 at guitar center... anything less than that isn't worth it DO NOT go and buy an ART tube pre for 39.00 or the behringer mic pre's... they suck a nut.
Also try getting an M-audio sound card... it'll be alot better than the sound blaster for recording..
 
MMMMBLLLEAUCH!!

Sorry, that was the sound of OnTheBlackRock regurgitating everything he's read here in the last couple weeks.

Why don't you save it until you have some opinions based on YOUR experience, dude?



And don't call me a duesch, that's so over.:D
 
Thank you SO much everyone (especially Chris Shaeffer). You guys basically just confirmed my greatest fears. I had suspicions. I appreciate the help A LOT and i really appreciate the product recommendations I had heard a lot about the Shure mics. I knew nothing however in the way of soundcards and pre amps though.

Thank you very much.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top