Have SM58 with Tapco 6306...want to improve quality of the voice being recorded pleas

  • Thread starter Thread starter shaolin95
  • Start date Start date
jaygee said:
I wouldn't recommend it for any serious recording job either, but with a < $200 dollar budget to work with, it would be the last
thing in his recording chain I would replace.
Click to expand...

I sort of see where you're coming from but running an ART pre-amp into that interface is a bit like painting nail polish onto a pigs foot. At the end, you're still left with a pig's foot and wasted your money on the nail polish.
 
shaolin95 said:
Sorry it is $200 more or less for the interface and $200 or so for mic so right now I am thinking NT1A and Saffire 6 or so.
Click to expand...

That would be a good combination and should sound much better than your current recording chain.
 
After thinking NT1-A was the one now I have read so many bad things about it that now my choices changed to AT2035 for only $106 , Blue Microphone Spark for $175 or NT1-A.
The guy at zzounds for sure said the NT1-A is better and between Blue Spark and the 2035 to get the 2035...I wonder why so much love for nt1-a
 
I don't have any experience with the NT1-A but I own the Nt2-a and Its very clean and flat Its a VERY honest microphone and for the price range I'd say its better than anything close. Always take bad reveiws with a grain of salt.
 
I've been using NT1As for a number of years now, and I don't have any complaints. From time to time, I've thought about 'upgrading', and lashing out on an upmarket mike, but (so far), it's remained a thought, and I haven't been disturbed enough by the Rode to be motivated to do it.
 
I am getting the Spark for $163 so I think I am going to go with it based on the many reviews I read. I was almost going to the AT2035 since it is only $106 and read rave reviews for it too but I have to pick one at the end. :-(
 
Well is it s done deal I got the Scarlett and the Blue Spark for $387.98 shipped and split in 4 payments...good enough for me and easy on the wallet too :-)
Thanks for the support guys...I am sure I will be posting a lot more when I get them and some comparisons of my before and after songs.
 
shaolin95 said:
Well is it s done deal I got the Scarlett and the Blue Spark for $387.98 shipped and split in 4 payments...good enough for me and easy on the wallet too :-)
Thanks for the support guys...I am sure I will be posting a lot more when I get them and some comparisons of my before and after songs.
Click to expand...

Should be a good sounding combination.
Let us know how it works for you.
 
jaygee said:
Should be a good sounding combination.
Let us know how it works for you.
Click to expand...
Thanks I will do.
I am thinking on either taking the MIC to the empty small room next to my recording room or to the walking closet on the other room as a vocal booth and was wondering if I should either use a longer USB cable or a longer MIC cable. Which one minimizes any possible issues?
Thanks
 
Use a longer XLR (mic) cable. You can go to hundreds of meters with balanced audio but there are specific limits to USB.
 
Sweet. I am thinking the walk in closet will be better since the empty room needs to be treated more but we shall see. :-)
 
Last edited:
There is a reason now for so many closet jokes ..... you may want to stay out of them.
 
An empty closet will sound pretty bad for recording purposes--you just replace a large boxy sound with a small boxy sound. If it is full of clothes and really dead acoustically, you may get away with it.

I've recorded many a reporter commentary inside hotel closets--and it's not always because they're hiding from incoming missiles. Hiding under a duvet on the bed is another option (both for recording and hiding).
 
Bobbsy said:
An empty closet will sound pretty bad for recording purposes--you just replace a large boxy sound with a small boxy sound. If it is full of clothes and really dead acoustically, you may get away with it.

I've recorded many a reporter commentary inside hotel closets--and it's not always because they're hiding from incoming missiles. Hiding under a duvet on the bed is another option (both for recording and hiding).
Click to expand...

The close has lots of cloths and sounds very dead to me. A lot easier than the small room next to my computer/recording room which is empty and reflections are all around.
I guess I will need to give it a try and see how it turns out.
It will be a lot of fun to play with.
At first I will be using my Tapco phantom powers the mic will get here first since the Scarlett is not shipping until the 20th or so unfortunately.
 
I'll assume you're using the TAPCO pre amp to bring the SM58 output up to line level and then sending the mixer output into the sound card line in. If not, then changes things so that's the case and see how it sounds.
Also, try running an iPod or CD player through the mixer (line input) and check how that sounds. If it's bad then the problem is the sound card.

If it's still bad then one or both of the sound card and TAPCO have to go. I have a TAPCO mixer and it's not bad but it's the bottom of the gear range, even though Mackie make it. The pre's are a little noisy. If you think the sound card input is OK and the iPod test is OK, then try a stand alone pre to allow you to boost the mic level before the TAPCO and then run as line level.

The other way is to get a dedicated USB or Firewire recording inferface. I have the M-Audio Profire 2626 which has lot's of ins/outs and good pres. There's a ton of this stuff around to choose from.

Ian

Mu-Theory
 
ruthers1959 said:
I'll assume you're using the TAPCO pre amp to bring the SM58 output up to line level and then sending the mixer output into the sound card line in. If not, then changes things so that's the case and see how it sounds.
Also, try running an iPod or CD player through the mixer (line input) and check how that sounds. If it's bad then the problem is the sound card.

If it's still bad then one or both of the sound card and TAPCO have to go. I have a TAPCO mixer and it's not bad but it's the bottom of the gear range, even though Mackie make it. The pre's are a little noisy. If you think the sound card input is OK and the iPod test is OK, then try a stand alone pre to allow you to boost the mic level before the TAPCO and then run as line level.

The other way is to get a dedicated USB or Firewire recording inferface. I have the M-Audio Profire 2626 which has lot's of ins/outs and good pres. There's a ton of this stuff around to choose from.

Ian

Mu-Theory
Click to expand...
From tests that I have seen the sound card is pretty quite and decent even though people quickly jump on it because of its x-fi heritage. I think it is indeed the Tapco plus the less than quite computer is on the same please so I decided to use the room next to it for recording as well the new parts I am getting (scarlett and Blue Spark).
I have some acoustic panels I am not using in my HT room now so I can use those to "fix " the room and avoid the closet.
Should give me a decent setup :-)
 
Update!
I got the and they blew me away...so much more detail and clarity with no noise...now I feel like singing all the songs I recorded again! :D
 
shaolin95 said:
Update!
I got the and they blew me away...so much more detail and clarity with no noise...now I feel like singing all the songs I recorded again! :D
Click to expand...

congrats! I love the blue spark - woudl take it ANY day over the NT1-A with it's strange sounding midrange "thing" even though aside from that the nt1-a is definitely a real ldc mic with all that goodness.... but the spark (which isn't ldc, only mdc) has a much more natural midrange and with great presence and very clear yet not painful high frequencies... you made a great choice.

and singing into something as sexy looking as the blue spark can seriously improve one's vocals. no joke. a singer will sing better into a great looking mic.

and you're not allowed to be on this forum unless you've come out of hte closet!

pun aside - closets will make your vocals sound like crap. only reason for a closet is isolation from other loud instruments in the same recording room (like drums/guitars cranked up). with headphones just record in the largest room you have available taht sounds great or a smaller room with lots of soft furniture to make it sound as dead as possible.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top