Cost-effective improvements?

[johnf]

Basically, I'm hoping somebody here can help me identify the weakest link in my recording rig, cause I can probably only afford to upgrade it one component at a time.

Keep in mind, all I'm recording is acoustic guitar and vocals.

I have a Behringer mic, which I have plugged into an XLR to 1/4 mono cable, which is then plugged into a female 1/4 mono cable that has a 1/8 jack on the other end, that plugs into the "microphone" input on my computer's (which is basically just a newer entry-level emachines computer) stock sound card. I'm capturing all the sound in Cool Edit Pro.

What I'm wondering is what component of this system would be the most cost-effective choice to improve, whether it be the soundcard, or the mic, or anything else?

 

[Nick98338]

From your description, I take it that there is no preamp in your signal chain. So, IMHO, that is the first place to improve. However, the sound card also needs improving, right away. And, all of those plug adapters are not... ah.. er.. helping your recording quality. So, spend around $200 US to get a "real" audio interface, which has preamps built in, and has the proper cabling jacks and plugs. One little package will improve your recordings and make working with the hardware much more convenient.

I started like you. Tried using a cheap dynamic mic straight to the stock computer sound card. No good. Sounded lousy. Hard to work with. I ended up doing just as I have suggested. Bought a decent quality interface. Has the preamps, has the proper plug-ins, came with decent software. I bought that and one decent condensor mic. Haven't needed anything more for almost two years now.

 

[wreckd504]

I'd say soundcard first, then mic.

As nick said, get rid of all the adapters too. You won't out grow the preamps on a decent soundcard for a while, a nice mics last for ages if you treat them right.

This is just my opinion, Headphones, headphone amps and monitors are ok, but keep behringer out of your signal path if you can afford it.

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

Seeing as you didn't refer to it I'm going to say the acoustic environment in which you're tracking and mixing. Upgrading gear is a fairly futile pursuit if you have a shitty sounding space to record in.

Gear wise you might want to indicate how much you have to spend. There are plenty of recording interfaces these days which would provide an upgrade to both A-D/D-A conversion and mic preamps.

You DO have a mic pre in your signal chain (otherewise you wouldn't be getting a useable signal from the mic) but it's not going to be great quality.

If you're going to be upgrading all of it in time i wouldn't worry too much about the order. I'd probably go mic pre, mic, soundcard in that order.

 

[johnf]

I'd probably only be able to spend a couple hundred dollars a go. Any reccomendations as far as specific Mic preamps, soundcards or microphones?

 

[groovyisland]

From your description, I take it that there is no preamp in your signal chain. So, IMHO, that is the first place to improve. However, the sound card also needs improving, right away. And, all of those plug adapters are not... ah.. er.. helping your recording quality. So, spend around $200 US to get a "real" audio interface, which has preamps built in, and has the proper cabling jacks and plugs. One little package will improve your recordings and make working with the hardware much more convenient.

I started like you. Tried using a cheap dynamic mic straight to the stock computer sound card. No good. Sounded lousy. Hard to work with. I ended up doing just as I have suggested. Bought a decent quality interface. Has the preamps, has the proper plug-ins, came with decent software. I bought that and one decent condensor mic. Haven't needed anything more for almost two years now.

great advice!

a usb interface like a tascam allows for all sorts of configurations. i have a us-122 which is an older model and i have

mic - preamp - rack compressor - to the line in

i also have my midi controller keyboard hooked to the midi in

i used to have a mixer hooked to the stereo line ins - add channels for mics and all your instruments

and it does have mic preamps but ive never tried them. kind of embarrassing really...

you can direct monitor for zero latency!

you can do all sorts of stuff and i doubt you would ever regret buying it.

 

[groovyisland]

i have to disagree with soundspace... the guy is going miniplug into his sound card!!!

stop doing that!!!

lol

its like hey i got my fisher price mic and now all i need is studio a at abbey road

i considered sound cards. too many selections and the audio ones come with pigtails and interfaces anyway.

a usb or firewire interface is like an outboard soundcard, or at least mine is. i can route all my media players on my computer to the tascam which is connected to my monitor mixer.

i can output all my recording programs to the tascam if i want to.

 

[groovyisland]

completely bypassing the soundcard which is integrated into the motherboard.

gone are the days when newbs here could all pop out their soundcards.

 

[Nightfire]

Forget using the stock pc soundcard, no matter what mic or acoustic treatment. I did the same mistake and bought an analog mixer and am now stuck using the pc soundcard until I can afford something better.
Get an audio interface, and get it with firewire NOT usb. An interface will act as your soundcard. Theres some fairly cheap ones on musiciansfriend, here are a few.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/PreSonus-INSPIRE-1394-FireWire-Audio-Interface?sku=241483

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/prod...phile-Computer-Recording-Interface?sku=709200

Those are the cheap ones, there are plenty more expensive ones with more inputs etc.


Mike

 

[Nightfire]

This is a great deal going on right now

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/prod...-FireWire-Interface-with-Cubase-LE?sku=184131

 

[Nick98338]

I'd probably only be able to spend a couple hundred dollars a go. Any reccomendations as far as specific Mic preamps, soundcards or microphones?

I will recommend what I actually use. Presonus Inspire 1394. It is a decent interface, with decent preamps built in, comes with recording software, has a direct monitoring circuit, hooks up by Firewire, has XLR jacks, so you can plug in the mic without a bunch of adapters. $190 street price.

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

i have to disagree with soundspace... the guy is going miniplug into his sound card!!!

You're entitled to your opinion of course but a U87 into a 1073 through Lavry converters isn't going to sound particularly good if the source is recorded in a crap sounding room.

Yes, if he wants to get respectable results he'll need to upgrade some gear too but as i said in a crap sounding room you're always going to be limited regardless of the quality of the gear.

I'd personally rather have a good space and shit gear than vice versa.

YMMV.

 

[danny.guitar]

I'd personally rather have a good space and shit gear than vice versa.

Me too.

And prior to that, a great sounding instrument.

A great sounding instrument in a good room will bring much better results than a mediocre instrument in an untreated room.

Me, personally, I don't plan on upgrading any of my entry level gear until my room is treated and I have a better sounding guitar. Then I'll go from there if I need to. I think that's really the best way to do it.

 

[groovyisland]

the space is important but some of the best music is being recorded by the likes of daniel lanois in LIVING ROOMS.

they rent a house and all live there to record an album.

think bob dylan's have mercy!

 

[groovyisland]

firewire is excellent.

it also costs about double what usb does.

for this guys stated purpose, guitar and voice, usb will more than suffice.

reread the guys post and concentrate on "cost effective"

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

the space is important but some of the best music is being recorded by the likes of daniel lanois in LIVING ROOMS.

they rent a house and all live there to record an album.

think bob dylan's have mercy!

Sure, you can do plenty in your living room to make it sound acceptable.

I'm not talking Studio A at Abbey Road.

And good music doesn't always have to be sonically great but it's a recording BBS so you assume people are after the best sound quality they can get. One of my favourite records of recent years is Iron and wine's "the creek drank the cradle" which he recorded at home. It sounds like shit but to me it doesn't really matter because the songs are great.

So I take your point but if we assume everyone here's a bit anal about sonics then I think acoustic space is the most important thing after the sound of the source. If you're not too bothered about sound quality then I guess it doesn't really apply but then why would you care about stock soundcards etc?

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

for this guys stated purpose, guitar and voice, usb will more than suffice.

Yeah, I'm with you there.

 

[groovyisland]

before i forget...

when i said stop that i meant going into the sound card with a mini-plug

i didnt want any confusion

thats like the first step for total noobs

 

[groovyisland]

i wasnt directing that at you kevin

it would be silly to discount the benefits of having a nice room

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

before i forget...

when i said stop that i meant going into the sound card with a mini-plug

i didnt want any confusion

thats like the first step for total noobs

True, although I bang on about the importance of the room, in the real world people generally want to get a modest setup together first off.