A question on vocal mics

[thefadedline]

Hi all.

I am new to this forum but it looks great and I'll be sticking around.

I have only recently got into home-recording. I just bought my first vocal microphone - a Shure PG58. It was a nice price and it sounds great.

I am using it with my PC and Cubase via the line-in socket. However, I don't yet own a mixer and therefore, the input signal is quite weak. Is there a way I can boost the input signal using some kind of software mixer?

I tried the 'Mic Boost' in the sound properties in Windows but that seems to boost the signal a little too much.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

edit: sorry if this seems naive but like I say, I am new to this world. And excited!

 

[light40]

Thats about as good as your computer sound card will get!

The mic input on that thing is designed for counter strike, not audio recording.

There are some really really cheap mixers out there that will have at least one channel with a pre-amp. You can take the tape line out with an adapter cable into your line in, it works a lot better.

The Behringer XENYX mixers, besides being very cheap, come with a stereo USB interface. This will be way better than your mic in.

They also make some pre-amps with a built in interface, but I have had no experience with these.
But as far as software support for these kind of problems go, I have no idea!


Good luck!

 

[thefadedline]

Thanks for your reply.

I was thinking along the lines of a simple free VST pre-amp plug-in - just something to boost the signal a little. I am getting quite a good sound through the line-in, it's just very quiet.

I am still confused about something though. When I do get a mixer, and I plug my microphone into it, what does that connect to?

I am planning to get a mixer eventually, and the mixer you suggested does indeed look good.

 

[light40]

Most mixers have a CD/TAPE output which are two RCA type jacks. There are adapter cables to turn that into a stereo (I think it's 3.5mm or 1/8th inch) connector that plugs into your line in.

Thats what it looks like.

The XENYX board I mentioned earlier comes with a USB interface, so you plug that into a USB connection on your computer and it records through that.

As far as VST plug-ins go, just google something like "Free VST" and you will be amazed at how many free plug-ins there are.

Good luck!

 

[thefadedline]

Thanks, light40.

I looked at the series of mixers you suggested and I am quite interested in the BEHRINGER XENYX 502 5-channel mixer.

But, if I choose a mixer that doesn't have a USB output, how do I tell Cubase that I have up to 5 seperate channels through one stereo cable and how do I seperate them into their respective channels on my software? Will all 5 channels be recorded onto one channel on my software?

Sorry if any of this seems 'noobish' but I really don't understand right now!

 

[light40]

The mixer will create a stereo mix that is sent into your computer.
So this mix you make when you record is the mix your stuck with forever.
Even the Behringer mixer you are looking at just sends a stereo mix into your PC. So, even though it is a 5-track mixer, it will record to only 1 track!

If you want to record many tracks simultaneously and separately, you will need a bigger (and more expensive) interface.

This all depends on your application, if you are just recording single instruments one at a time you may only need a stereo input. If you are planning on recording a whole band at the same time, you will probably like additional inputs. However, stereo recording is often underrated. Although an 8 input firewire device is very very helpful when recording drums, it isn't impossible to mix all your drum mic's into stereo and record 1 track and still make it sound ok.

So it all comes down to what you need, and how much money you are willing to spend for "tools" that make the job easier.

 

[elly-d]

i would go for a soundcard with say 4 inputs, and some pre-amps (dmp3 style) you don't need a mixer at this stage.

 

[Randy Yell]

A stereo mix is actually two seperate tracks so you can record two tracks at a time using a small mixer. Another option instead of the mixer would be an inexpensive mic preamp. I like the m-audio audio buddy, two channel mic preamp/ direct box. Your set up really depends what you want to do, if you want to record one or two tracks at a time and overdub then you only need a stereo preamp / mixer but if you want more simultaneous tracks that you'll have to upgrade your soundcard or get a firewire or usb interface.

For now if you are just plugging your mic into your computer try going into the mic in instead of the line in, I don't think the line in supples enough gain for a mic, maybe the mic in will work mo betta.