Best way to record acoustics?

[robertmunch]

Ok, well Im looking to record acoustic guitar and vocals, I use my comp with Audacity and FL studio, which i make all the beats and stuff on myself, but I some times run into lagg, and back ground noise and other annoying stuff. Right now I've just been useing a normal vocal mic and a webcam mic lmao, which is obvisly the reason for some of the problems, but I was wondering if anyone could tell me the best and cheapest mic for this type of stuff and how to set it up? Thanks oh and another question when i export a song from FL studio or whatever the track is always a rediculous size like 10MB and stuff normal songs are never that big and most of my tracks are shorter then a normal song, does anyone know how to make the files smaller?

Cheers,
Brandin

 

[shortedaman]

the reason your files are bigger than a "normal song" is because your probably saving your songs in .wav which is usual. the only reason this file seems so big too you is ,and im guessing here, that you are way to used to .mp3. also, did you spend anytime at all going through the threads on this forum. your question on recording acoustics and best cheap mic has been answered on here millions of times. do a little research. no one here wants too answer the same question a million times. so spare us please.

 

[TheChikenMaster]

wavs are bigger than mp3s, and if you do alittle research you can find some very cheap mics http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Nady-SCM-900CM-90-Studio-Mic-Package?sku=277523 here I did some research for you enjoy.

 

[robertmunch]

oh alrightyyy, andthanks for the help sorry to annoy you

 

[robertmunch]

those mics look decent, but I dont know how to record to my comp with a normal mic cord, like my friend has a mic with a USB connecter it is possible to get a cord for mic's like those that I am able to plug in like a USB?

 

[gehauser]

those mics look decent, but I dont know how to record to my comp with a normal mic cord, like my friend has a mic with a USB connecter it is possible to get a cord for mic's like those that I am able to plug in like a USB?

Your equipment has to convert the analog mic signal into digital for the computer - so you either need a USB mic -OR- a regular mic and an audio interface. An audio interface has A/D and D/A conversion -- A/D for recording input from the mic to computer, and D/A for playback from your computer thru your monitor speakers or headphones.

 

[robertmunch]

oh alrighty, is a decent audio interface pricy? and does anyone know of an easy way to convert a WAV to an MP3 file?

 

[commanda]

oh alrighty, is a decent audio interface pricy? and does anyone know of an easy way to convert a WAV to an MP3 file?

You're already using Audacity. File -- Export -- (fill in the data fields) & click OK. Now select "mp3" in the drop down file type selector box.

 

[saads]

There are plentyof god cheap interfaces available depending on what you want to record. If you're not going to do drums than all you really need is 2 inputs. Look into the presonus firebox.

 

[gehauser]

oh alrighty, is a decent audio interface pricy? and does anyone know of an easy way to convert a WAV to an MP3 file?

Audio interface - check out the Emu 0404 USB ($200)

WAV to MP3 - I use Acoustica's MP3 to Wave PLUS ($20 - it does WAV to MP3 very high quality)

 

[robertmunch]

alrighty ill look into thoughs interfaces but about the file conversion, I am useing audacity yes but I only use that for the actual recording then I transferr the tracks to FL studio where I add effet and drums and other stuff, but on FL studio when i try and export as an MP3 is says it cant something to do with codecs or something. Is there liek a program I can download the is souly for converting files?

 

[robertmunch]

also has anyone ever used or heard of this interface? it is cheaper and looks like it could do exactly what I need because all I am going is vocals and acoutics soo I dont need to do drums?

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Tascam-US100-USB-Audio-and-MIDI-Interface?sku=502783

 

[Erockrazor]

Here, on this section of this forum is a sticky acoustic thread. It's a good primer for recording acoustics and should get the wheels turning.

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=290919

 

[robertmunch]

Thank you that did help

 

[gehauser]

also has anyone ever used or heard of this interface? it is cheaper and looks like it could do exactly what I need because all I am going is vocals and acoutics soo I dont need to do drums?

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Tascam-US100-USB-Audio-and-MIDI-Interface?sku=502783

That interface lacks phantom power, best I can tell. Better get one with phantom power if you will be using condenser mics.