i seriously need help with the mic setup!!

[lachrymist89]

hi,

i'm kinda new to all these and seriously need some help..
i'm on a tight budget now, so i figured that i'll get a condenser mic like MXL 990 or SP B1 or Rode NT1.as for the preamp im getting Audio Buddy. will that be a good choice?

im using the normal pc soundcard now, gonna to get it changed when i have enough money. but for now, will it be alright if i simply connect the condenser mic to pre-amp then to my soundcard? i'm only looking for a good quality for the recordings for now, not those very professional type, but at least, it should sound good..so how? will that be ok?

also, should i order the stuff at ebay and get them shipped to my country or get it from the shops here?which one will be cheaper? is ebay reliable in terms of the quality of their goods?

thank you.

 

[SRR]

For entry level, a studio projects B1 and a audio buddy will probably work nicely. If you just need one channel of pre-amplification also look at the Studio Projects VTB-1 (its what I have, and I like it). Ya you can use your sound card you have now, but a $100 (US dollars here), sound card from the likes of m-audio or Emu or such will make a good bit of difference.

As far as Ebay goes, look for sellers that first ship over seas/cross borders, and then look for feedback ratings that sit well with you. For me on $100 items, if the seller has 25+ feedback that is 100% positive, I would buy. If the feedback is better then that, all the better. Sellers with 2000+ feedback that is 98% positive or better are what I normally buy from, but thats just happen chance, I wouldn't rule out sellers with 25 or more feedback, less then that kind of gets more risky.

 

[lachrymist89]

thanks a lot.. =)

by the way,my friend just told me to simply get a mic and an adapter, he also said that the pre amp is not needed.. i'm kinda confused..???? is he right? or i should go ahead with the plan of getting a pre amp?

 

[SRR]

Yes you can get a XLR to 1/8" adaptor for plugging a mic straight into a sound card.

BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One you can only do this with a dynamic mic, not a condenser.

Two if you only have/had a SM57 or the likes (ie a dynamic), and pluged it into the mic in on the sound card it would sound terrible, I know this from a fact, as I even tried it once myself. The signal to noise ratio was the pits, it was 15dB below anything usable in output. The frequency response is less then good.

Its just not a good way to go, even for just the basic of uses.

Get a preamp even if it has to be a audio buddy, it will be much better then what is on a sound card.

 

[lachrymist89]

oh... thanks a lot for that!! =)

i guess i'll get audio buddy or any other preamp and a condenser mic..