General Vocal Recording Question

[Taiyed]

First off, this is not a joke. This is a serious question.

I've been recording vocals lately. I'm a good singer, but the results are pretty bad. I'm currently using an SM57 and a sound blaster sound card into Cakewalk Sonar. Now, obviously the SM57 and sound blaster are not good for recording vocals. I have upgrades for both of them in mind. My question is, what do you guys think is more of a problem for the bad vocal sounds? Is it the SM57 or the terrible sound card?

If you can read between the lines, I'm trying to see which I should replace first. I recognize that in order to have good recording, I must replace them both, but would I be better off for now with a better mic into the sound blaster or the SM57 into a much better sound card?

Thanks a lot.

 

[kdrumstl]

The sound card is probably the worst culprit. It will add a lot of hum and hiss. Try using your sound card line input if you're not already. The sound card mic-in preamp is really bad. I'd replace it first, get something like a Roland Edirol UA-25.

Many pros like the SM57 for vocals, and if you're still unhappy with its frequency response you can always try EQ'ing the sound in Cakewalk.

 

[Chris Shaeffer]

Your 57 is a good mic. Your soundblaster is a good gaming card... that shouldn't be anywhere near a mic.

www.m-audio.com has lots of low cost options for replacing that soundblaster with something that will do a *much* better job than the SB.

-Chris

 

[Eric Altizer]

I agree with Chris. I replaced my SB soundcard with an M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 soundcard with great results. Make sure that you run your mic into a good preamp and then into the "line-in" on your soundcard.

 

[snow lizard]

Having a half decent preamp to run the 57 into before going into the line in of a soundcard is necessary.

Having a better soundcard might help. Not all soundblasters are created equal and many are very very bad. Prices on better recording cards are always coming down these days. You can get an E-MU 1820M for less money than what the Delta 1010 was once worth. On a lower budget, the smaller Delta cards are good value.

Understanding how vocal plosives and sibilance are created and how to minimize these things and reduce or create eq adjustments through mic placement will help if that's a problem area.

Understanding how gain staging works and how to set a proper recording level will make a huge difference if that's another problem area.

Finally, the 57 might not be the last word in quality vocal recordings for your particular voice, but you should at least be able to get decent results with it if all the other stuff is in good order. Sometimes it is the right microphone. If you can't get decent recordings with it, you won't solve anything by getting another mic.


sl

 

[Nativikee]

It sure does seem like alot of newbies has 2 sound cards, a sound blaster and the replacement,lol. Dont worry it happen too me too and I have to get a new one.

While were on the subject I was looking at that m-audio sight and Im getting ready to get me a new soundcard is a delta 66 6 line in/6 line out audio card with digital I/O pretty good.

 

[bcains]

for 3 more opinions heres you another thread.

 

[Chris Shaeffer]

Just in case anyone wants to jump on the guy for double posting, it looks like an accidental double post. The post times are identical even if the text is not.

Think of it as Deja View.

-Chris

 

[bcains]

Just in case anyone wants to jump on the guy for double posting, it looks like an accidental double post. The post times are identical even if the text is not.

Think of it as Deja View.

-Chris

I know, its happened to me before. I just re-directed him,
for the other replys.