Beginner needing help with the right choice of mic and audio interface!!

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EmilyEvans

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I recently purchased a audio technica at2020 usb microphone and cubase 5. The main reason was for me to record my vocals on a bacing track on cubase etc. After many attempts the ubs mic is not so good with the latency on the computer and there is a popping voice. i am now trying to trade in this mic and get a normal microphone with an audio interface.

Any suggestions which ones i should get? dynamic of condenser microphone? and what interface goes well with what mic?

I am on a prety low budget...thinking of spending £200-£250 on both together.

Help please?!?! greatly appreciated!
 
As far as the interface, you'll get better advice from someone on your side of the pond. Many of the things we think of as inexpensive in the U.S. are quite dear in the U.K. For a mic, consider the B.L.U.E. Spark or AKG Perception 120. You need a pop filter, one of the screens they put in front of mics to stop "popping" with aspirated consonants, especially "P". I believe the Spark comes with one. In a pinch, you can use a layer (or 2) of pantyhose stretched over a 4" or 5" embroidery hoop. A little coathanger wire and some gaffer's tape, and you are in business. If it's set up right, any good interface should correct your latency problem. For an interface, I like M-Audio Fast Track Pro or Line 6 UX-2, but if my memory serves me, most folks on a limited budget in the U.K. use other brands that are less well known in the U.S.A. Good Luck-Richie
 
Why are you returning it? Buy a pop filter and read about the drivers you can change the latency. Do some research on the usb mic you have. If you use any condenser without a pop filter you will get pops its not the mic.
 
Well, Disease8 is probably right that you could alleviate some of your problems by playing with the drivers and buffer size to help the latency and adding a pop shield. However, in the longer term you will be better off with a conventional interface and microphone anyway, so now is as good a time as any to get started on the right track.

For the interface, I've had good results with M-Audio gear. THE FAST TRACK box should do what you need including providing adequate phantom power for a decent mic. Use the ASIO drivers to minimise your latencey issues.

Microphones are a bit more difficult because we haven't heard your voice. However, in your price range you could do a lot worse than this RODE NT1A KIT. The actual mic is a bit cheaper but this kit gives you an XLR cable and a pop screen as well.

Hope this helps,

Bob
 
Are you monitoring the vocal part while you are singing? If you turn off the monitoring button (I think it´s a brown speaker in Cubase) you wont hear your voice through Cubase as you sing but you will hear the playback track you are singing to. This may also help.
 
....though when recording vocals, it's pretty essential for singers to hear their own voice when they slap on the headphones. Setting up a really good monitor mix can make a huge difference in the quality of performance.

Bob
 
Yes but I was just trying to point Emily in the right direction. Ofcourse you are right. Having a great mix in the Headphones while singing or playing makes for the best Performance. I think she is getting stuck with some of limitations of her Gear though. Emily should at least try to sing a few takes without the Monitoring set to on. And maybe just scoot one of the headphones a tiny bit off of your Ear so you are hearing your Voice clearly / directly . Now you may have some bleading in of the Signal out of the Headphones but you may be able to adjust. Not hearing latency may help you get better results.

But I think you should get an Interface and a Microphone as you mentioned. You will get better results.
 
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Yo Emily! I think you started out doing the right thing for the wrong reasons. You wanted to ditch the USB mic and get a proper entry-level recording setup. You wanted to do this because of popping and latency issues. The popping is related to hardware (pop filter) and mic technique that develops with time and practice with condensers. The latency is a software issue and can be (almost entirely) dealt with in the computer. So- neither one is a reason to get a proper setup. But- nobody really wants to talk you out of getting a more versatile, easier to use, and better sounding system. It's really hard for me to tell you how to fix a USB mic problem, and maybe talk you out of really starting to build the capability to make good recordings. You know what you need to do. You were right about that, from the beginning. Don't let *us* talk you out of it.-Richie
 
Thank you for all your replies and opinions! i have however decided to try and trade in/sell my usb mic...i have a pop filter so that was not the reason for the popping, the computer itself was creating a muffled and crackling noise, through some research, i think this was due to the latency levels of the mic itself, so its best for me to buy a normal microphone and interface :)

any suggestions what ones to get?? what about the oktava mk319 mic or SM58 mic and the Emu 0404 USB interface. are these any good? i have heared that this is a great set up fr my needs?
 
The 319 is a good microphone but what you'll have to keep in mind with any condenser microphone is that your choice of interface must have phantom power.
 
Right, the EMU 404 USB does have Phantom Power.

I am sure that is a big step up! You will surely get better results once you get the hang of that new equipment. Personaly I would say go for the Oktava mic if you will just be recording your Voice. Oktava has a good name in Europe. The SM58 is also a great Mic. Perfect for Live performance when playing with a Band, but as far as I gather, you want to record your Voice / Vocals so I think a Large Membrane Condensor Mic. will be nice.
 
Well, Emily, I can't tell you much about the Emu 0404, except that the Emu's are used by some folks here and lots more in Europe. I checked the features, and it has everything you need and a bit more, which is *always* a good thing. Regarding the MK319, the good news is- overall, it's a pretty good mic. The bad news is- they don't all sound the same. Whether it's made in Russia or the later Chinese versions, quality control is a bit sticky. The weird thing is- you can have 2 of them that sound different, but they can both sound *good*. My friend Maureen has one that is a little bright, and sounds eerily like a Neumann U87ai. I've got one that is much darker, and excels at scrubbing annoying shrillness from the highs on many female voices, especially sopranos. My first album used 3 female vocalists- a mezzo soprano, an alto, and a chanteuse-contralto who can sing lower that me. With a pretty fair collection of mics in the house, such as B.L.U.E. Kiwi, AKG C414 and Shure SM7b, every one of them wound up preferring the MK319 in blind tests. It's the first mic I put up for a female vocalist (not necessarily the last). I'd say go for it. You've done a fair amount of research. I'd say it's time to go with your own opinion. Best of luck.-Richie
 
thank you all very much! i am close to buying these priducts now. One more question...will the emu 0404 work well if i buy the shure sm58 mic? i cannot find the oktava to buy right now :/
 
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