mic and preamp

[MR X]

I am going to record country and blues, I have heard the dmp3 and the marshal v67g could work out. my voice is low to mid range. I will be recording guitar, vocal and clawhammer banjo. The voice and banjo or voice and guitar I want to record at the same time. Would the v67g work for this? I will be using a computer, a newer dell. on the front there is a red headphone looking jack with a microphone on it. Would I plug the mic into the preamp and the preamp into the computer?
thanks

 

[warlock110]

I am going to record country and blues, I have heard the dmp3 and the marshal v67g could work out. my voice is low to mid range. I will be recording guitar, vocal and clawhammer banjo. The voice and banjo or voice and guitar I want to record at the same time. Would the v67g work for this? I will be using a computer, a newer dell. on the front there is a red headphone looking jack with a microphone on it. Would I plug the mic into the preamp and the preamp into the computer?
thanks

mic >>> preamp >>> line in (not mic in)... that should work, eventually you might want to get a dedicated soundcard.

 

[MR X]

alright thanks, what about the mic and preamp choices. Will they work for what I am trying to do?

 

[warlock110]

alright thanks, what about the mic and preamp choices. Will they work for what I am trying to do?

DMP3 = 150, at that price range you're not going to find anything that's much better for what you're doing.

But the mic is a large condenser, for the guitar and acoustic stuff most people like the smaller condenser...

but the large condenser should work good with vocals... I dunno, try it and see if you like it, if not then buy another small condenser for the acoustic stuff.

 

[tdukex]

You need to invest in a decent sound card ($100 - $150), something from M-Audio, EMU, or Echo.

 

[Shadow_7]

You could run it into the mic port as well. But you don't need the voltage a mic port supplies with an external preamp. And that voltage tends to add a bit of noise to the recorded sound. Especially on laptops. Line in is just the better option in terms of quality of sound. My laptop however only has mic in and headphone out.

I'd second the better soundcard option. Most onboard cards are not even full duplex. So if you plan on multitracking, you'll have issues that can only be overcome by different hardware. By full duplex, I mean being able to playback something into headphones and record another track at the same time. For my non full duplex laptop, the symptom of sorts is that the output makes it into the input, even when it shouldn't even be heard by the input. Not only does it make it in, but it's about a 20% blead over and a very noisey blead as well.

If you don't already have the preamp / soundcard, you might consider getting a device with both. Although the preamps on many of those are generally not as good as stand alone preamps. And the upgrade path of sorts requires you to replace it all.

 

[Middleman]

The DMP3 and V67G are a fine combination. I would suggest that you also need a pop filter and keep about 12 inches away from the mic on vocals.

For banjo (so close to making a banjo joke here but I will restrain myself) and guitar I think you might be disappointed with the results. If you are looking for a universal recording mic then get either the SM57 or SM58 from Shure. They work on a lot of things more so than the V67G. It might be a little strident sounding especially with the DMP3 which is very neutral sounding.

I agree with improving your soundcard or interface. The AD/DA of most built in sound cards is not that great.

 

[MR X]

thanks for all the help folks. I am wondering if going with one mic for everything isn't the better idea because I know nothing about proper mic placement. As for the desired results I would like to have a fairly plain, barebones sound...like most old time music and acoustic blues. What combination of standalone mic, soundcard and preamp would do this?

Also I have a pretty pricey and new dell computer...how do I figure out just how good my current soundcard is? I am running xp if that would help you do your thing.

thanks again in advance
matt

 

[suprstar]

Also I have a pretty pricey and new dell computer...how do I figure out just how good my current soundcard is?

There are NO good integrated sound cards, they use 40 cents of parts to make em. It'll work, but it wont sound pretty, it'd be somewhat better than recording it over a telephone. A little $100 usb mixer woulda be GIGANTIC step up. If you can live on recording 2 simultaneous tracks, it's perfect. Plug it in, Windows recognizes it as a sound card and you're up and running instantly.

 

[hairylarry]

Omnistudio

Hi,

Look I don't have one yet but the M-Audio Omnistudio uses the same preamps as the dmp2 and dmp3. And it comes with the soundcard. Around $100 used on ebay.

Since any of these preamp options have two mono channels you might as well record stereo. The Naiant omni condensers work great with these preamps and do great on acoustic instruments.

Then add your LDC and you are beginning to see some flexibility and options in your recording. So what if you don't know anything about mic placement. That's what you're going to learn. By experimenting.

Looking to the future you could add some cardiod SDCs like the MXL 603/604 or the Audio Technica Pro37/Pro37r. And, of course, dynamics. All of these mics have their own strengths and none need be expensive.

Thanks,

Hairy Larry

 

[MR X]

I am really just looking for one mic to do it all. What would be good for what I would like to do?

 

[tmix]

The 67G is good for what you want.
Nice sound, but not too bright and crispy.

A second alternative would be a Studio Projects B3, because it is fairly neutral , but has multiple patterns that might work better for you over a cardiod only pattern.

i have both.

 

[MR X]

so the v67g will work and sound decent for acoustic guitar+vocals or banjo+vocals?

 

[crazydoc]

Initially, it will sound fine through the dmp3 and into the line input of your current soundcard. You can upgrade the soundcard when it doesn't sound fine to you anymore.

Possibly problematic will be the cardioid pattern of the v67 and trying to record voice and instrument simultaneously.

 

[MCI2424]

I am really just looking for one mic to do it all. What would be good for what I would like to do?

Look at the Oktava 319.

 

[Paj]

I have a bunch of mics that are always out (setup) and covered, and the VG67 is one of them. Works on and for my voice but I'm pretty sure that you'll be disappointed with the banjo sound, especially if you're a clawhammer guy---unless you find a serendipitous placement. Doing voice and banjo at the same time through the V67 is going to sacrifice either your vocal or the banjo, or both. A Naiant omni might outperform the V67 for this task. I can vouch that the discontinued MSH-4 was very good at this task. Another (inexpensive) mic to check out when it goes on sale might be the GXL3000 (or, in order of expense, JM37DP, SP-B3, Karma K-35, CAD M-179). I'd seriously suggest a second mic for the banjo with the V67, and that leaves you a host of SDC options. Another option is a ribbon mic, placed horizontally so the figure-8 pattern has a vertical axis (top lobe for vocal, bottom lobe for banjo).

Paj
8^)

 

[ch2os7]

my experience with v67G

I have used the v67G on vocals and acoustic guitar (on the same song) and was pleased with the results. In fact I liked it on my acoustic guitar as much as my more expensive mics. (notice I said "my" acoustic guitar.) ymmv

Banjo? not so much...I use an AKG c1000s on banjo & dobro with good results.

 

[Paj]

Geez---, if you read this on Sunday 7/27/8, and you want to go the second-mic SDC cardiod route, check out the MXL 603s for $30. BTW, all of the mics I mentioned work just great with the DMP3.

Paj
8^)