Cheap way to hook up an XLR Mic to my PC

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Hunsrus

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Hi guys,

A couple of days ago I was lucky enough to run into an old dynamic XLR Microphone at a second-hand shop. The AKG D330 BT, to be precise. An old goat but I tested it at college and it seems to work just fine. Since it cost me 3,50 I decided to take it home.

Now I went to an audio store and I got myself a microphone standard (this deal is starting to look more expensive by the minute, I know) for 24 euros, and this guy told me he could custom make me an XLR to 3.55 mm cable for another 20 euros. This was probably stupid and too good to be true. I did however find out why they weren't just lying around in the store; they don't exist for a reason; it didn't work.

Now I'm totally new to this kind of thing, and this is probably going to sound a bit amateuristic, but I need a cheap way to hook it up to my PC. It's not like I'm a rich professional, it's more like I'm kind of a poor hobbyist. I just thought it would be fun to screw around with it, it was only 3,50 after all. I'm not looking to spend a lot more money on this, maybe 50-60 euros if its possible.

Looking forward to your ideas.

Regards,

Hunsrus
 
Hunsrus said:
Hi guys,

A couple of days ago I was lucky enough to run into an old dynamic XLR Microphone at a second-hand shop. The AKG D330 BT, to be precise. An old goat but I tested it at college and it seems to work just fine. Since it cost me 3,50 I decided to take it home.

Now I went to an audio store and I got myself a microphone standard (this deal is starting to look more expensive by the minute, I know) for 24 euros, and this guy told me he could custom make me an XLR to 3.55 mm cable for another 20 euros. This was probably stupid and too good to be true. I did however find out why they weren't just lying around in the store; they don't exist for a reason; it didn't work.

Now I'm totally new to this kind of thing, and this is probably going to sound a bit amateuristic, but I need a cheap way to hook it up to my PC. It's not like I'm a rich professional, it's more like I'm kind of a poor hobbyist. I just thought it would be fun to screw around with it, it was only 3,50 after all. I'm not looking to spend a lot more money on this, maybe 50-60 euros if its possible.

Looking forward to your ideas.

Regards,

Hunsrus
Click to expand...

Welcome to HR. You're in the right place.

I don't think it's going to work out for a couple of reasons:

1) Your PC's soundcard is probably not going to give you an acceptable level of quality, but that's a subjective issue.

2) Your PC's soundcard is unlikely to generate enough gain to drive the dynamic mic sufficiently.

Good news: Many USB and Firewire interfaces are very affordable.

As a side note, I'm assuming you have some sort of recording software? If not, check out Reaper.

-Creep
 
An interface

Hunsrus,

A low end interface for cash strapped hobbyists like you and me can be had for around $100. I just bought an M-Audio 1010LT. They go for $175 new and about a hundred used. I like the M-Audio products but there are many other options.

Thanks,

Hairy Larry
 
Thanks for the replies!

No, I don't think my PC sound card generates enough gain for the preamp. That's probably why my 5 buck radioshack crap did work; it doesnt have one.

So it looks like I'm actually gonna have to use some sort of mixer, or maybe an external preamp.

Is it hard to connect a mixer to your pc? And is an external preamp to be recommended?

And no, I currently do not have any recording software like Reaper or Pro tools, but I'll figure something out.

Regards,

Hunsrus
 
Hunsrus said:
Thanks for the replies!

No, I don't think my PC sound card generates enough gain for the preamp. That's probably why my 5 buck radioshack crap did work; it doesnt have one.

So it looks like I'm actually gonna have to use some sort of mixer, or maybe an external preamp.

Is it hard to connect a mixer to your pc? And is an external preamp to be recommended?

And no, I currently do not have any recording software like Reaper or Pro tools, but I'll figure something out.
Click to expand...

You're actually going to need to use an interface with a mic pre in it...like a Presonus Firebox or something. I think that'll probably run you more than 100EU though.

Frank
 
Try Amazon.com...you might try a Line6 UX1...its $99 brand new...and used might be less
 
hairylarry said:
A low end interface for cash strapped hobbyists like you and me can be had for around $100. I just bought an M-Audio 1010LT. They go for $175 new and about a hundred used. I like the M-Audio products but there are many other options.
Click to expand...

Even with a 1010LT, you'd still need to add usable preamps. You're better off choosing something with decent built-in preamps (phantom power, low noise, etc.).
 
Yo Hunsrus! OK, there are a bunch of ways to do what you want to do, and none of them are free. The 3.5mm input on your soundcard is designed for a cheap computer mic, which as you have learned, is a different animal than a real mic. Why they don't just build computers to accept real mics, I don't know, but it really wouldn't be significanly more expensive. Oh well. they don't. So- there's basically 3 ways to get into the computer- directly into the soundcard, by USB, or by firewire. Firewire is the way it is done by the better grade of audio interfaces. Through the soundcard is fine, but that would involve first, replacing the soundcard with one specialized for audio reproduction, and then, getting an external preamplifier. Some external sound cards have built in preamps, and of course, they cost more than the ones without them.The cheapest way is to go in through the USB port. If you want a lot of external control, you use a USB interface, which contains usually 1 or 2 preamplifiers. Depending on the model, it may provide other options, such as an instrument input for guitars, and phantom power for condenser mics. Aside from those 2 things, most of what the doodads on the interface do can be done by software- consider Audacity, which is free. To simply access the computer, and it's software, for your mic, this really isn't that bad:

http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=44712&Category=Audio_Interfaces

I borrowed one from a friend of mine that uses it for a travelogue with his lap book (a sort of sub-laptop). I tried it with cheap mics, and some rather good ones, and for a person with simple needs and a short budget, the basic sound quality is about the same as most cheap USB interfaces. It also fits in your pocket. Best of luck.-Richie
 
Depending on what you consider acceptable results....

Art Tube MP + cables + adapter -> existing sound card.
(many "mixers" seem to have preamps good enough for it too.)
($50-ish)

M-Audio Mobile Pre (or audio buddy or .... not the best, but usable)
($100-ish depending on model / source)

Of course I did something equally lame myself. Bought a $300-ish soundcard for $100 off of craigslist, if only because it was "full duplex" so I could multitrack. Not realizing that 1/4" connectors implies a lot of things to make it work like a traditional soundcard. i.e. headphone preamp for 1/8" outs. i.e. microphone preamp for 1/4" ins. i.e. studio monitors to bypass at least one of those temporarily. But hey, I saved at least $150 right?
 
Hey guys, thanks for all the replies! :D

Richie, that icicle looks like a great, cheap and easy way to meet my needs. I'm going to look around if I can get it second hand just like the mic. I might move to some sort of preamped mixer later on, when I get more seriously into this, but for now, this will do.

Wait...hang on..

Just found a second hand mixer (used once or twice according to the seller) for 45 EU. Do you think this is any good to record simple stuff to my pc?

Behringer MXB 1002 Eurotrack 10-channel mixer

Sorry if all my n00b questions are bothering you. And thanks for your time and answers.

Regards,

Hunsrus
 
Id skip anything from Behringer...they really mean it when they say you get what you pay for.
 
I would get an ART Tube MP ($30 @ musiciansfriend.com) and take the output into the line in on your computers soundcard. That's probably about the cheapest way to do it.
 
Behringer's mixers aren't horrible, but the noise levels are less than ideal for recording purposes. If you needed something cheap for live gig use, I'd say go for it, but not for recording. Peavey makes some ultra-low-noise mixers (the PV series) that I've used for recording with much success. They're not quite as cheap as the Behringer mixers, but IIRC, they're in the ballpark.
 
If you are going to go the cheap mixer route SoundCraft is the way to go...with behringer you are rolling the dice on if it will work properly or not.
 

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darrin_h2000 said:
If you are going to go the cheap mixer route SoundCraft is the way to go...with behringer you are rolling the dice on if it will work properly or not.
Click to expand...

The SoundCraft mixers spec out better than the Behringer mixers (-123 dB EIN for SC pres vs -120 dB EIN for Behri pres), but they're a far cry from the Peavey pres (-129 dB EIN).
 
Id normally say that they are a world better...but I havent heard a peavey mixer pre for years...the ones on my old mark3 mixer were pretty noisy...but soundcraft has allways sounded good to me...those old yamaha mixer pres are pretty good...but I wouldnt trust a new one.
 
For what it's worth, all you REALLY need to record is a mic, an XLR cable, and an XLR-to-1/8" adapotor (or, like an XLR-to-1/4" cableand a 1/4"-1/8" adaptor).

I started recording in college on my laptop (pretty pimp by 1999 standards, but... :p) with one of those old computer mics that look likea guitar's whammy bar, and eventually "upgraded" to a cheapo Radio Shack SM57 knockoff with an XLR-1/4" cable and a 1/8" adaptor to run it into my soundcard. I didn't even have a mic stand, I'd just prop the mic up on whatever couple books happened to be handy, in front of my amp.

As far as audio fidelity, it was a pretty shitty setup. But, it was enough to learn on, and enough to get me hooked, which is the important bit. :D
 
Hey guys. Again, thanks for the replies. Where would I be without you :D?


ido1957 said:
http://cgi.ebay.com/XLR-Female-to-1...4|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:0|293:1|294:50
and add an 1/4 to 1/8 inch adapter

or
http://cgi.ebay.com/Hosa-XVM-105-Ri...0?hash=item3351fab464&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116
Click to expand...


Yes, well I've tried a direct XLR -> 3.55mm cable, unfortunately it doesn't work because the mic is not getting near enough power for the preamp.

Raw-Tracks said:
I'd check out something like the ART USB Dual Pre:
http://artproaudio.com/products.asp?...6&cat=9&id=150
They can be had in the US for around $75. Might be a good option for you. I would stay away from using your on board soundcard, even when going through the line in. They tend to be pretty noisy.

The ART option will bypass your sound card.
Click to expand...

Looks very seductive. Straightforward enough. I'm in doubt about whether to take your USB Dual Pre or an ART Tube MP, because the price difference is significant enough for me. So how terrible is the noise coming from hooking the Tube MP directly up to my soundcard (using a 1/4" -> 1/8" plug)? Remember I'm not doing anything professional here so it doesn't have to be perfect, so if you're only slightly hearing a noise when you listen really hard, that's cool.

Oh yeah, I cancelled the deal with the behringer. Thanks for the heads-up guyze.

Hunsrus
 
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