Computer Recording

[AllenJM]

I've done a little bit of research on how different mics sound, work, etc., on the internet, but what I'm confused about when researching is whether they'll plug into the back of my computer? (kind of basic I guess, huh?) I have a new Dell computer with windows XP, and the software I want to use and everything...I just need a better mic, and I don't want to spend a bunch of money and then realize an amplifier or extra equipment is needed in order to use it. If anyone has any advice on what I should get, or can point me in the right direction I would appretiate it a lot.
Thanks

 

[H2oskiphil]

Your soundcard has a rudimentary preamp built in-that's why you can plug in a 1/8" mic to your card and talk through the computer.

You won't find a "decent" mic that has an 1/8" plug-virtually every mic that's worth a damn will have an XLR plug, or, at WORST, an 1/4" plug.

You can buy the best mic in the world, but your limiting factor will be the preamp in the soundcard. You need to come up with a budget, and decide what you're trying to do (vocals only, acoustic instruments and vocals, etc...). At that point, there are a lot of people out here that can give you suggestions. But without knowing what you can spend and what you're going to use it for, any suggestions would be foolish.

 

[TimOBrien]

I don't want to spend a bunch of money

Wrong hobby. This is not a $1.99 type of thing to "dabble" in or you'll just sound awful.

The built-in soundcards in computers are for gaming beeps and boops.

You need a much better soundcard and pre-amp; it won't cost a mega-fortune but at least several hundred bucks.....

 

[lpdeluxe]

"Wrong hobby".
A-men!

You get a computer on sale, crack some software, and you're the next Bob Clearmountain. Great.

Hopefully a percentage of the beginners are here for the capability of preserving perfomances rather than something to add to their blog.

 

[AllenJM]

Thanks for the feedback. But really, all I wanted to do for now was play around with a simple one (maybe a 1/8" as you said), see what I could do with it, then go the next step if I wanted to. I'm not heading for anything top notch I guess, just something in-between. What I'm trying to do is vocals and acousitc guitar. As for now, with something very simple, my budgets is probably $100, maybe $200 max...If I got something, tried it out, and liked doing it, I might put more money into something more fancy in the future. How does an XLR plug work, how would I go about setting that up?

I don't know much about it, but the sound card I have is a..."soundMAX Digital Audio," (I don't know what that means, hopefully it's not too pathetic Hopefully that explained my position a little better.

Thanks all

 

[notbradsohner]

studio projects b1 microphone or shure sm-57 microphone

art tube MP preamp or m-audio audio buddy

total is about 170

 

[Innovations]

Your soundcard most likely has two inputs. One is a 'mic-in' and the other is a 'line-in'. You can pick up a cheesy computer mic and put it into the mic-in and it will use the sound card's built-in preamp. It will sound like a bad telephone connection.

You want to use the line-in, at which point your sound card is only being used to digitize the sound, and most are OK for a beginner at doing that. But this presumes that something else has already boosted the mic signal to 'line level'. This can be either a preamp or a small mixer with a preamp built in. The choice depends on how many sources you are wanting to record at once.

Then you will most likely want something to edit and process the files you recorded.

So a really basic just goofing around as a biginner self-recording setup would include:

A basic microphone, say a Shure SM57--about $60 on ebay
A basic preamp, like an Audiobuddy--about $60 on ebay
Some editing/multitracking Software, like n-tracks--$64
Cables and mic. stand.--aprox $30.

Now a lot of folks would stick up their noses at this, but to just get your feet wet it will be fine. Then you will either sell it back on ebay to get something better or sell it back on ebay because you aren't using it any more.

 

[protein]

Since he'd have a pre-amp maybe a budget condenser would be better than the SM57? Maybe a Samson CO1 or a CO3? That would give a better sound on a vocal and acoustic guitar.

 

[Innovations]

My thinking was that the SM57 would be more forgiving of a beginner's mic technique and more forgiving of the kind of room that a beginner would be recording in.

 

[AllenJM]

Innovations,

That was just the kind of advice I needed, I think I'll do that.