do i need a preamp?

[Jacko]

im almost 100% sure that the mic im going to get is a studio projects B1, so my question is do i need a preamp for it to work or can i plug it right into my computers sound card to record?

im only 15 and i dont have a lot of money so thats why if i dont need a preamp for that mic then im not going to buy one.

 

[Sklathill]

Microphones need preamps. Your B1 will need a microphone preamp that also has phantom power.

Most cheap sound cards do have mic ins, and yes, this is technically a preamp, but you're not going to get anything out of your B1 if you plug it in there.

Spend some time learning your typical recording signal chains. Learn the components that are out there and get your mind wrapped around signal flow and good gain staging. Understand signal flow and you can do almost anything.

 

[Treeline]

You'll need a preamp for any mic.

The typical soundcard on a computer is designed for games. It's OK, plays music and all, but it will not have anything like the quality that recording will require. If you're just starting out, take some time before buying anything and learn how a signal chain works.

A small, cheap mixer lets you run a line to the direct input of your existing sound card. The mic can then plug into the mixer and use its preamp. So you have the cost of whatever mic you get and another $50 or less to get signal you can recognize, using your existing sound card. It's a place to begin.

A Behringer "disposable" mixer like this one is under fifty bucks. It has a preamp and you can use the output to drive the sound card. Use the "direct in" on the sound card and avoid the "mic in" jack.

This mixer does not have phantom power, so if you want to operate a condenser mic (like the SP B1 you mentioned) you will need to find a mixer that offers phantom power. It will cost a bit more, but not much. The other alternative is to buy a dynamic mic, like a Shure SM 57 or SM58. Those do not need external power to operate, so phantom power is not an issue.

 

[thajeremy]

tell us about how much you can afford at this point and Im sure most of us would be happy to suggest some setups that might get you going.

 

[Jacko]

well im thinking my price range is around 150 to 175, i have a samson r21 but i hate it for recording acoustic guitar and other things because it sounds too far away. my next band practice is tomorrow, ill see if the other guys are willing to throw in a couple hundred bucks, i know our drummer is getting a 1500 dollar drum set but he should still have like 800 left over and our singer should throw in some money too. so ill make a guess of somewhere around 300 for what i can spend but it might be more or less.

 

[Diffusion]

my first preamp was a mic200... it was like $60... it has phantom power also...

 

[thajeremy]

If you have $300 to spend. I say get a DMP-3 ($160 brand new) and the B1 for $100. Thats only 260 so if I were you, and you could scrape up another 40 or 50, get a better soundcard. M-audio has some good cards that you can get for under $100.

 

[Treeline]

If you have $300 to spend. I say get a DMP-3 ($160 brand new) and the B1 for $100. Thats only 260 so if I were you, and you could scrape up another 40 or 50, get a better soundcard. M-audio has some good cards that you can get for under $100.

Yep. I have the DMP-3 and it is a great little preamp. It will continue to be useful even after you move to something else, because it makes a very nice direct box as well.


How about something like this: Presonus Firewire interface with software, $300 . You would still need to get a mic. This would allow you to record a stereo live signal with the band, which might be a better bet to start than either a single channel or a whole multitrack approach. It would let you learn with a pretty nice signal chain to start with. The computer would need a firewire interface, which most have on the motherboard anyway.

 

[Jacko]

ok well i talked with my band today and they are down for the idea of buying a new mic and preamp and whatever (they dont know anything about recording but i do, though i just plugged my mic into my sound card) so im guessing that 300 will be about our range

i cant use that firewall on my computer, i have windows 2000 and its for windows xp, were going to guitar center wednesday so if nobody says that i should get something different than the dmp 3 and b1 mic thats what we'll get

 

[Jacko]

i just realized that i only have 1 line in on my sound card and theres two line outs on the m audio preamp, if i didnt get the sound card how exactly could i get both in and pan 1 output to each speaker?

 

[Treeline]

I expect your computer sound card has a stereo line in jack; check the manual. Radio Shack will have a 2 -> 1 cable adapter so you could plug in a couple of 1/4" cables from the DMP3 to the adapter and then to the line in. The plug would look like a little headphone plug, 3 conductors ("Tip / Ring / Sleeve") with channel 1, channel 2 and neutral. You'd get two signals the computer would "see" as left and right of a stereo signal. Then you can fool with them once they are in the computer.

For a very nice starter software program, go to the "n-track forum" on this BBS and look around. Somewhere a link will take you to Fasoft.com where you can download a trial version of n-track. Toss 'em a credit card and for very little cash you will get a code to unlock the complete program; it's an unbelievable bargain for the money.

The DMP has phantom power switchable on each channel, which is pretty handy. It's a good practical box.

 

[Jacko]

yeah i have adobe audidition already

sorry to be a pest but i have 1 more question

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F007%5F002%5F001%5F002&product%5Fid=274%2D892

are you talking about something like this? and what if i wanted to make it stereo as in 1 mic on the left the other on the right? would this work?

and finally before i let you all get back to answering important questions about technical gear

can someone make up a list for me of exactly what i need (minus mic cables)
like the b1 mic, the dmp 3, an adapter, but what else do i need???

thanks for everyones help so far

 

[Treeline]

The best thing to do is go to the store and bring your cables. They can help you out. Whether you do stereo or two separate tracks is up to you and your software.

There are a lot of resources you can learn from; articles at this site and at the recording project site are good places to begin. Google "recordingproject" any you will find the site. Go to the main page here and you will find a bunch of articles. They are good beginner tutorials. Also check the newbie threads on this BBS; lots of good basic information. Once you can visualize a signal path, many of these questions will tend to answer themselves.

In a nutshell, signal path = microphone + cable + preamp + cable + computer card + software + speakers + experience. That last part is where all the work is.



[edited because I can't spel].

 

[tourettes5139]

two of these:
http://www.radioshack.com/product.a..._name=CTLG_007_002_003_008&product_id=42-2373

And one of these:
http://www.radioshack.com/product.a..._name=CTLG_007_002_001_002&product_id=274-369

What would be ideal would be to have a cable that has two mono 1/4' plugs(like the end of a guitar cable) on one end, and one stereo 1/8" plug(like a jack on a pair of headphones) on the other. Then you would only need that one cable, but I couldn't find one on RadioShack in the 2 minutes I was looking. Both of these will work.

Hope this helps.