Begginer at Voice recording

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jules Sheppard
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Jules Sheppard

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Hello folks,

For the past few years I've been doing various shows on the internet, using mostly the microphone attached to my very cheap and disposable headset. But now I'm trying to improve my work, and a higher audio quality is required for that. I have a few options within my budget(it's not a lot), and I'd like to hear your input on what would be better suited for vocal clarity, with little background noise, for recording on a PC.

My first option is getting a proper microphone, something like the Behringer C-1U USB mic, it's well within my price range, but I've seen people have issues with it in terms of volume.
The second one would be to get a proper XLR microphone, and combine it with a mixer that has phantom power and then connect that to my PC. I was thinking about the Wharfedale Connect 502, since it has a variant with USB output, which wouldn't hurt, since my sound card hasn't been performing at it's best since I switched to Windows 7. I was thinking the mixer could also offer a bit more direct control over the recording, but after reading the "Mixers and Home Recording", I'm not sure if it would be a wise investment, especially since I haven't really seen any sort of review for that mixer.

The majority of my work consists of voice overs and in the future, some live broadcasting. Would a mixer even make sense for such applications, or would the USB microphone be enough, and if things pick up, get an audio interface and a better microphone?
 
Get an audio interface and a mic with XLR connection. What's your budget? Will you ever be doing more than recording 1 microphone at a time?
 
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An audio interface would be out of my budget, for now, a decent one at least. I doubt I'll be using more than 1 microphone for the foreseeable future. My max budget would only cover the basic mixer+microphone setups I've found in local stores, under 200 dollars.
Like I said, up until now I've been using a disposable headset mic.
 
You could look at one of THESE for a micro mixer, and one of THESE for a headset mic. Any Heil mic would be perfect for what you are doing, but they have a few that are under $100, like the Handi Mic.
 
So a mixer would be good at improving audio quality over a USB condenser microphone?
 
Jules Sheppard said:
So a mixer would be good at improving audio quality over a USB condenser microphone?
Click to expand...

Not necessarily, no. But with just doing voice overs, my opinion is you dont need condensor mic quality, you need versatility, and a small mixer will give you that.

What if you want to record an interview? Or have a singer perform a live song with an acoustic guitar? The pros doing voice overs dont use condensors, they use SM7b's and RE20's, unless some client is paying big bucks for a cd quality air ready commercial. If the "morning dj voice" is the same guy doing the voice over, they dont rent a studio and use a bunch of condensor mics, they use the same RE20 that the guy uses for the on-air morning show.

Put it another way. When people listen to your finished tracks on line, are they going to sit there spitting their coffee and asking each other, "Why didn't he use that USB condensor mic? That voice sounds like crap." Can you listen to online radio shows and pick out which voices are using condensor mics and which ones are using $89 dollar dynamics?
 
Well, this is getting more complicated by the minute. Thought it would just be an issue of getting either an USB mic, or the XLR version of that mic and something to power it with.
A dynamic mic would have the benefit of not requiring phantom power, and it is cheaper, so it would fit better in my budget. I'll probably go for that, as long as it's good for voice recording and doesn't have a lot of background noise.

If I'm going to use it in combination with a mixer, keep in mind that I'm now on an on-board sound card, would that be a large factor in regards to the quality of the sound coming from the mixer? Should I go for the USB output variant of the mixer?
 
I am on the same boat...

As long as you continue reading online there will always appear better options.

I am leaning towards a Rode NT1-A connected to a M-Audio Fast Track Mk II. A bit more that USD 200 but IMHO worth it.
 
Personally I'd say either pick up a USB mic and call it a day, or get a cheap interface and a dynamic mic. It's your call.

I wouldn't be recommending a mixer unless hardware routing options and convenient fader riding are necessary.
I mean, what are you gonna plug a mixer into? The computer line input?
I'd forget about it, unless I've misunderstood the advice.
 
You know, you're right. And since the cheapest interface I can find around here goes a bit over my entire budget, I think I'll just go for the USB mic. It should be plenty better than the disposable stuff I've been using so far.
I'm just starting out, so there's time to get better gear if I actually improve at doing this.
Now, time to make a recording booth out of a bunch of old blankets and convert my chair into an microphone stand.
 
i don't understand the perceived need and recommendations for a mixer. You're only recording one mic. Get an XLR mic and an inter-face, then download a free version of any of the recording software that's out there.
 
You don't need a mixer, but like has been suggested - what if you want to record an interview? Here's an inexpensive mixer that also has USB so its an interface too!
How about: Alesis MultiMix4USB/ at $79 this still leaves you $120 for a mic, a cable and a mic stand!
 
The biggest problem with voice recording is noise, mostly system noise in the pre amps and, in the OPs case, the OnBoardSound system.

To beat system noise you need a good AI and you need to work at 24bits! Almost all usb mics are 16bit and so are all usb mixers as far I am aware.

Now most budget AI's(sub £150) have indifferent mic pre amps but two that are very good are the Emu 0404usb2.0 (if you can find one!) and the Native Instruments Komplete audio 6. Both of these will give very respectable results with a modest dynamic* mic. Other AIs such as the M-A Fast track pro have decently quiet pre amps but really not enough gain for speech with a dymo but use a good capacitor and you are back in the game.

None of these options are "cheap"but then the idea is a stepup in quality and that costs, ....Sorry!


*Excellent tho the Shure 57/58s are, it has to be said that they are very low sensitivity mics. Newer models from AKG and Prodipe beat them by about 6dB and that can make all the difference.

Dave.
 
I didn't know the 16vs24 bits matted in background noise, thanks. For the short term, I'll stick to with the USB mic, but I'll save up for an audio interface. Maybe I can squeeze it into next year's hardware revision budget.
 
For voice recording, 16 bit will not result in any more noticeable noise than 24 bit. Noise is going to come from the preamps - or from the cheap converter in a USB mic!
Jules - remember that a USB mic will only ever be used for that direct USB connection, once you get an interface, that USB mic is useless.
 
"For voice recording, 16 bit will not result in any more noticeable noise than 24 bit. Noise is going to come from the preamps - or from the cheap converter in a USB mic! "

Agreed! But it is a bit more complicated than that. A system that can only support 16bit operation will likely have poorish analogue circuitry since the best the noise floor can get is about 90dBFS. A good 24bit AI should get down to at least 100dB

Then, vocals are spikey! You need to be recording with a lot of headroom and that means at the classic -18dBFS or even lower, can't do that at 16bits because digital noise will intrude as you bring the levels back up on subsequent "export".

Of late I have rigged some mics in the garden (and a camera) for 'er indoors and her birds. My old Behringer X802 is doing sterling service amping up a pair of very cheap dynamics (wrapped in cling film and old socks!) the whole issue giving me very passable results into an ESI 1010e and an XP PC. Like speech, I have to run at low levels because of wind noise and other loud sounds, the birdies rarely popping above neg 25!

Dave.
 
Another option would be a Yeti Pro from Blue. It's a USB mic that can also output to XLR.
I think it's the only USB mic to record at 24bit/192kHz
It gets good reviews. I've just got one but I haven't had chance to really use it yet.
 
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Hi, this is my first time using a forum and i just wanted to ask for some advice. I am a singer and i am trying to record a couple of you tube covers from home. I have the Wharfedale connect 502 usb mixer and would like to connect my akai midi keyboard and my microphone through it so i can hear it back on my monitors clearly. I am not too great at this stuff so i would just like to know if this is possible or if i need another mixer? Any help would be great!
Thank you.
 
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