I`m 12 years of age and learning about rap vocals.

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jazzyc

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Alright..
i barely know ANYTHING about this whole recording thing
to what i know
to record music (i only need to record rap vocals .. not instruments)
i need a microphone (planning to get sm58).. and audio interface (not sure which one i should get) .. and a decent pc (i have a $1500 gaming computer built earlier this year 2010)
to what i know you plug the sm58 into the audio interface using a XLR cable, and plug your headphones into the audio itnerface. the audio interface then connects to the computer and you can start recording
i have a few questions
1. am i right about the whole setup (if not please tell me what i did wrong)
2. can i just use a USB mic (planning on getting shure pg48 if so)
3. HOW do i record my music. i understand the whole microphone part but is there a button i press on the audio interface to start recording or is there a software on my computer enabling me when i wanna record
4. can i simply just use a software like virtualDJ to mix the vocals and the instrumental or beat together




sorrry for so many questions but im looking to being a rapper in the future. :P
 
Welcome to the board, youngling.
A jedi you shall become.
There'll be along some help in a short while.
 
hello jazzyc and welcome

i think you will need:

1. an input to your computer - as long as u don't want to record 2 things at once through separate mics use your computers built in input. (probably next to the headphones output). (see my section 4 for interface)

2. some kind of recording software - it sounds like "Audacity" would suit your needs fine. it's good quality (with some fantastic facilities even some commercial software lacks) simple, easy to use and FREE!
that is my recommendation + it is being improved all the time by the open-source community.
open DJ sounds great for the mixing afterward but i don't know it at all and would say it's better to record in audacity and then export to openDJ afterwards.
here is a link to

3. a mic. well this is the tricky one but if you can afford the sm58 then go for it! it will be more robust and probably handle the ,often very close, way in which rap is sometimes recorded better than some more expensive and sensitive mics. so - good choice I say.
you could go for a digital mic (usb mic) but they tend to be hundreds of pounds more. also the shure pg48 isn't a usb mic and will be as good as the sm58

4. you may well need to buy a cheap "preamp" this boosts the sound coming from the microphone so that the computer can record it (try it without the preamp first and increase the input volume in audacity to see if you can get away without it first though).
I think you don't need an interface to your usb (this makes it more complicated and expensive than it needs to be for your needs).
the only reason you would need on would be for multi-tracking or if you had a very high quality mic that the computers inbuilt sound card won't represent properly. for a mic like the sm58 a sound card would be wasted on it. go for a simple preamp - if you need one.

i would also advise not buying online untill you know a bit more about what you need. you will find mics like the sm58 and preamps in most music shops and it is very valuable to be able to discuss exactly what you need with a real person!

good luck with your project :)

if there are things you are still unsure about post them back here and I (or someone else) will get back to you if we can help.
 
alright you answered my questions mainly
but im still missing one thing
HOW do you setup all the stuff
and what do i NEED
currently im assuming all i need is a mic , audio interface, and a preamp
how does this all work
do i plug the mic into the audio interface, and the audio interface into the preamp and then into the computer? how does it all plug in


also are there any home recording stores in the markham, toronto, ontario area?
what are some good stores where i can ask ppl these questions.
thnx for your support btw.
 
The audio interface has a number of elements, one of them is (usually) a preamp...

So:

Mic - audio interface - computer (running recording software)...

Easy
 
Hey Jazzy C........Welcome to the board. :D
You do realize that the new guy has to bring the refreshments, Right?;)





:cool:
 
Here's an example of a cheaper 2 input interface from Long and McQuade. Looks like they have a store in Markham. The presonus says it comes with Cubase 4LE which is good program IMO. Check the box, the presonus website mention they now supply their own DAW software.

WIth either of these all you would need is a mic and a cable.


M-Audio

Presonus

As a twelve y.o. $200.00 could be way out of your budget. In which case you may want to just try using the mic input on your sound card as iLogical suggested.
 
moresound said:
Hey Jazzy C........Welcome to the board. :D
You do realize that the new guy has to bring the refreshments, Right?;)





:cool:
Click to expand...

This is a worrying development... how can we, in all conscience, ask a 12 year old to bring beer... :mad:
 
moresound has cleverly covered his bases by calling beer "refreshments"... :laughings:
 
basically it goes mic=>preamp=>computer=>program

it's that simple

i'm sorry i have no idea about music stores near u cos i live in england

an audio interface will have a preamp within it. but, as i said before, it just makes things complicated.
the interface is still kind of extra and not needed for a single track recording like what your doing. the only interface you need is input in the computer.

your mic plugs into the preamp ((pre = before. amp = amplification or in your case recording))

then the preamp plugs into the audio input on your computer

you need:

a mic

a preamp

a computer

software to record the sound.


first try downoading audacity and recording just through the mic in the computer (if there is one it will come up in the control panel under hardware)

then when you understand that start experimenting with your mic and preamp. doing stuff one bit at a time is very helpful when learning by trial and error.

try and figure stuff out by yourself as much as possible because you will learn more along the way and you will learn it better.

i am completely self taught! never had a lesson with a mic, preamp, interface or even a computer - never not one!

there is so much to learn from just messing around with what u have to begin with. get ur sm58, a small inexpensive preamp and audacity (just search it in google) and experiment. don't be afraid to ask but don't be afraid to learn from mistakes and to do that you have to try stuff

good luck my friend!
 
Armistice said:
This is a worrying development... how can we, in all conscience, ask a 12 year old to bring beer... :mad:
Click to expand...

That would totally inappropriate... jazzyc just give me the money directly. :)

jazzyc it sounds like you've got a good handle on it. USB mics aren't so good from what I understand. Your computer is easily good enough and will be fine I think.

Just get a mic, a mic cable and some sort of audio interface and the rest should be pretty free.

You'll end up plugging the mic into the interface, and the interface will have a cable to your computer.

The computer program you'll use (there are free ones you can download) will have a record, play and stop controls so that's where you press "record".

That software you mentioned, virtualDJ, I'm not familiar with it... it might work but I suspect there are better ones you can get for free or near free.
 
There probably is a load of music shops in Toronto. Long and Mcquade seem to have interesting products and standard pricing, and they have 2 stores in the Toronto area. If you want to buy from the web, you might want to check out Tom Lee music. I've ordered from them once and have been happy with the service.

Try avoiding to buy from the US, though, if you buy on the web, the brokers fees can get very expensive and the shipping will rarely be free. Shipping within Canada (from a Canadian store to a Canadian customer) usually is free for orders over 200$.

I doubt it would be any cheaper to buy an SM58 on the web though.

www.tomleemusic.ca is the online store I told you about. Long and Mcqade also have an online store.
 
iLogical said:
grimtraveller - anything to add/take away/correct?
Click to expand...

For where the OP is at and considering they're learning, this seems pretty sound to me. As a rider I should point out that I don't record onto computer so what little I know I've picked up from HR. But it seems to make sense, what you've said. If there's anything that needs correcting, I'm sure someone will.
 
i couldn't thank you guys enough. cough i mean iLogical
the rest of you were talking about refreshments and me not being able to serve beer to you. (bastards.) LOL just kidding :)
but thanks for the help, i'll visit a store and pick the stuff up and start rapping thanks guys.
 
Check Torontos c'list....there is an abundance of musical stuff on there and i bought some bargains when i lived in the city....

Long and Mcquade can be fairly expensive sometimes and ebay only works for Canadian goods...many of which will tax you Ontarios tax, and across border will also cost you, never get anything from the US that comes via UPS..ever, they charge you a border handling fee whic,h with low cost items, can almost be the same as the goods value

I bought two audio interface pre amps on c'list that I still use today, for a fraction of anywhere else...there always seems to be m-audios as other people upgrade and its a buyers market


all i had to add :)
 
Armistice said:
This is a worrying development... how can we, in all conscience, ask a 12 year old to bring beer... :mad:
Click to expand...

I said *refreshments* you know like soda, mentos, oreos, skittels, chips, chocolate.
You know refreshments. :D Not the devils brew.:mad:





:cool:
 
jazzyc said:
i couldn't thank you guys enough. cough i mean iLogical
the rest of you were talking about refreshments and me not being able to serve beer to you. (bastards.) LOL just kidding :)
but thanks for the help, i'll visit a store and pick the stuff up and start rapping thanks guys.
Click to expand...

Why you little..........:D......your on the road to great heights my man.
Be cool and check in from time to time and don't forget the refreshments next time. ;)





:cool:
 
moresound said:
Why you little..........:D......your on the road to great heights my man.
Be cool and check in from time to time and don't forget the refreshments next time. ;)

:cool:
Click to expand...

We probably got off lucky just being called bastards with him being a rapper and all.
 
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