HELP!! Getting Started!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter flebes
  • Start date Start date
F

flebes

New member
I am just getting into recording and need some help!! I plan on doing some recording on my home PC which has an Audigy Platinum 2 card with the front panel unit. I am looking for a mic to get and am somewhat confused. So far, of the several people I have talked to, they have all recommended the Shure SM57 to get started with.

My main questions come really with connecting the mic. My front panel has a 1/4" mic/ line in port which is where I am assuming I will plug in the mic. In looking at XLR to 1/4 cables I have seen both balanced and unbalanced. What is the difference? Which one do I need? Does the audigy accept only one or the other?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.
 
The audigy front panel in is unbalanced if I remember correctly.
 
get a smaller mixer with xlr inputs to boost up the signal a bit. you won't get good results going from a sm57 to your computer directly.
 
You are also going to need a mic preamp to boost the mic level so you can plug into your line in.
 
Pier Calacino said:
You are also going to need a mic preamp to boost the mic level so you can plug into your line in.
Click to expand...

Yup. Mixers generally have preamps. You can get'em pretty cheap at a music store, or even cheaper used. If you want to use condenser mics at some point, get a mixer that supplies phantom power.

The signal chain will look something like this:
Mic -> XLR cable -> mixer input channel 1 -> mixer main out or tape out or insert -> soundcard line-in.

The line-in is probably stereo, so you get 2 simultaneous input channels into your computer. Use a Y-cable from the mixer to the soundcard.

Then use the soundcard's mixer program to enable the line-in for RECORDING.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top