Do I Need A Pre-amp? Need A Mic, My Budget Is $500

[kennymoon83]

I went to guitar center to find out how to get a better quality voice when recording. They told me I should get a better mic ( I have the MXL 990) and a pre-amp. Does pre-amp really help with the quality of the voices? So I need a really good MIC. What is really good out there, my budget is around $500. Do I really need a Preamp. Im using a Pro-tools with the DIGI 002.

 

[apl]

The pres in your 002 should be plenty good, so I don't think you need a pre. The GC guy thinks he needs to sell one, and you look like an easy victim I mean customer. The 990 should be OK, and I'd encourage you to keep playing with it, using EQ, compression, maybe some reverb.

It's usually best to record vox very dry. I usually go to the bedroom, open the closet door, and put my mic so the clothes are right behind it. A good chunk of sound is then absorbed by the clothes, and you get about as dry a signal as you can get without building a booth.

What don't you like about the way it sounds? One painful part of home recording is that you find out how you really sound. Could it be you've just never heard yourself before?

 

[jeff5xo]

APL is right. I don't think you need a pre either, besides, you're not gonna get a pre-amp that will be better than what you have in that price range.

I'm not a big fan of MXL mics, but that's not to say they're impossible to get a decent sound out of. If you have $500 to spend, go ahead and ypgrade your LDC. Lots of fair choices out there in that price range.

Studio Projects T-3 499.00
Rode NTK 499.00 both are tube mics
AT4040 is a great mic for the price 299.97
KSM 32 (you can talk GC into selling it to ya for 365.00, I did)
Bluebird 499.00


That's just a few. If you have the money to spend, it NEVER hurts to add a quality mic to your collection. Just my 2 cents!

 

[qbert1]

It would also be a good idea to look at your environment. If you are recording in a room with untreated walls/ceiling, it's very likely the reflections are coloring your sound. That may be more the source of your problem. Try hanging a few packaging blankets around you to form a DIY isolation booth. It can do wonders for the over all sound of your recordings. Nice cheap solution.

I do want to second the NTK though, rather nice - esp if you swap out the tube.

 

[ozraves]

I use the Digi 002 pres all the time. For most home recordists they are quality enough.

I'd encourage you to look at some better mics. The Audio-Technica 40 series would be something to look at. In particular I'd recommend the AT4047 and the AT4040.

 

[lyricist]

One painful part of home recording is that you find out how you really sound. Could it be you've just never heard yourself before?

I know you were serious so excuse me but..something about this made me laugh in real life.

 

[Robert D]

Yeah, that was a bit like saying "maybe you just found out your voice just sucks". Probly not how you meant it to come across.

I third the NTK for that budget, though an AT 40-something is a good bet also.


-RD

 

[apl]

Yeah, I was trying to be nice. I know I don't sound like I want nor how I think I sound. It ain't the mic, baby.

 

[cafr]

the guys at guitar center are nice enough but do your own research.
Just like any typical box place, they are only familiar with what they have in stock because it is what they push to sell. THe GC people will tell you to get the best of everything even if they don't understand what your trying to do. Only you know what you want to do and you can only learn by asking questions, reading and trail and error; the former two are rather cheap compared to the latter so research as much as you can.