Advice needed...

[ddappa]

Hey guys was up! I joined this site about 2 weeks ago and boy have I been reading, there is a lot of info here to take in all at once anway my friends and I have a small vocal group and we've been thinking about just doing a simple demo we've been using Sonar 4,a studio projects C1 mic and a M-Audio MobilePre USB Amp US41401 going through a soundblaster audigy2 card. Basically we would like to make some improvements to the sound but we have tight budget i know the preamp could use upgrading I was thinking about the studio projects vtb1 we have maybe a $300 budjet to make inprovements right now most of our stuff is accapella and we've been singing on individual tracks and then mixing any advice on how we can get better sound thanx.

 

[cpl_crud]

The weakest link I see in that chain is your soundcard.
Soundblasters tend to have very high self-noise (it's a design flaw, it has to do with how the mic/line ins are wired).

You should be going straight out of the mobile pre and into your PC via USB.

If thata doesn't float your boat, then I'd look at some other USB/Firewire preamp- the Mobilepre only has 16bit/48kHz bitrate, so it's not the greatest (although it will do for demos).

If you go have a search on the Microphones forum you'll find hundreds of reccomendations on vocal mics for less than $300.

 

[SuicideNote]

Well, each of you could sing your parts individually and record them to separate tracks and then mix them up. Or, you could all gather around the single mic and just start howling. Without additional mics and pres or soundcard inputs, I'm not sure if there many more options.

I'd try to record the parts separatly to retain full control over your editing. You do have enough gear to track a rough "demo", I've seen it done with less.

 

[ddappa]

yeah i really think the soundcard/preamp I have isnt the best I mentioned the vtb1 only because i'v read that I have the ability to add some color the the recordings because of the tube mix option...what about the firebox or something similar? as for the mixing of the tracks I think I like recording them on individual tracks gives more control during mixing.