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Jrama

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Ok Im wanting to start recording on my computer. And get GOOD quailty music. I rap so basiaclly Im nto worried about instruments. Im just worried about recording and getting good sound.

I have a budget limit of $500
I currently record with cool edit pro 2
I make beats with FL 5 studio edition, or a friend makes them in a studio
And have been using a cheap mic from radio shack

So far all Ive gathered from other forums is that I need to get a better mic which I know. I have been told by MANY of ppl to go for the Shure sm58 dynamic microphone?
Ive been told to get a better soundcard then the one that came in my comp. I was told soundblaster X-fi Xtreme music would be the way to go.
And to get a pop filter for my mic and of coruse a mic stand. This puts me around $300

What is there to get and is this what I need to start recording at home on my computer? I want the best sound I can get with $500
Will be recording Demos and cds for promotion

Also can microphone preamps hook up to a comp? Im guessing no since it would need to be powered by something?No... Or would this soundcard act as a preamp?

Im new to recording and software and recording equipment , so if you mention something please explain what it does and how I wuold hook it up. THANKS

Thanks in advance for someone who can help me out and who knows what they are talkin about
 
There are more then a few good quality soundcards availible for cheap, so I would suggest looking around... I would look into companies such as EMU, M-Audio, and Echo... Some of which are better and even cheaper then the soundblaster...

Some soundcards come with preamps, others dont, but then again some of them come with such features as 48v Phantom power and multiple in/out...

There are a wide variety of cards, I would shop around... :)
 
Re-reading your post, what you require in one form or another is the mic, a preamp(possible on some soundcards), and the actually card... A typical setup would be: (including the soundblaster)

Mic--> Preamp --> Soundcard(line in) --> DAW Application.

Theros
 
Thanks, but is this all I need for good quality?

Also will any sound card go into any comp?

I was looking at the soundblaster soundcards and the one I mentioned was 130 bucks AMERICAN

How much do you think it would run for the ones with preamps made in them

Remember Im on a $500 budget
 
basically I need to know what I can put on my computer like preamps etc. to get a better overall sound for my recordings
Id like to get a mic, mic preamp, and sound card.

on about a $500 budget
 
How good your mic recording will be will have mostly to do with the space you are recording in.

I was told soundblaster X-fi Xtreme music would be the way to go.

no. I really hope nobody here told you that. Soundblasters have a fixed 48K clock, horrible jitter, and dont record in 24 bit in ASIO. Which amounts to a CRAP SOUNDCARD for recording.

A preamp can be included in your soundcard and you will want a powered mic. Search the fourms for recomendations. You will probably need a stand and a shock mount too.
 
I hear the preamps made into the soundcards are no good after I did some research
 
Depends on the sound card. Some are better than others but unless you have a good space, any difference in preamp/mic will be masked over by the background noise. Seeing that you have 5 bills to to work with its knida a moot point since your going to be limited to "prosumer" stuff (a good pre will run you at least a grand). Something like a Presonus TubePRE and a good soundcard (emu or M-audio) should leave you with ~300 to spend on a mic which is more than enough for something decent.
 
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