Mic Help please

  • Thread starter Thread starter ems
  • Start date Start date
E

ems

New member
Hi

I've looked at the FAQ but it really is as clear as mud.

The most I’ve ever done with a mic is plug it into my pc and have chatted to friends over the internet, but I’m attempting to use my PC now to record my own songs. I have a keyboard, guitar and voice.

I have just bought one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7401392884

You are all so knowledgeable (I’m not sucking up) could somebody (or everybody) please help me in getting the mic from the box and connected to my pc in a way in which I can get a great sound without breaking the bank.

I have an Emachines210 pc with an Avance 97 soundcard.

Any help would be very much appreciated,

Thanks

Em
 
A signal chain looks like this: Source (sound) - mic/DI - preamp - interface/recorder - software - interface - monitors

You've got the computer that could house the software and the mic - what you need is a preamp, software, an interface (aka a soundcard) and monitors. Yes, your current soundcard could do the job, but I really, really wouldn't reccomend it. I'd take a look at something like this: http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackUSB-main.html or this: http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MobilePreUSB-main.html - these give you a pre and an interface in one unit. They're good beginner-for-fun products.

You can pick up decent software for free around the internet...check around here and you'll find links.

Lastly you'll need monitors. Your home speakers won't do the job right. What you're looking for a called 'balanced' or 'reference' 'monitors. Find a nice used pair and you'll be set.

Oh, and you'll need some mic and 1/4" cables as well.

Jacob
 
hi

thanks for the help and links they are very useful.

i have a pair of Beringer MS16 Monitor Speakers, are they good enough?

have you any soundcard recommendations?

thanks a lot Jacob

Em
 
Your speakers are under the 'multimedia' section of Beri's site which tells me they're more like computer speakers, but their description says they can be used as monitors. I guess it's up to you, but I'm not 100 percent sure they're balanced reference speakers. Will they do the job? Yes they will...

I'm a fan of M Audio personally. I use their Delta 1010 as my interface. It gives me 8 1/4" ins and outs, as well as Midi ins and outs, and a pair of Spdif ins and outs as well (spdif is a digital format that allows for a stereo signal over an RCA or toslink cable). You have to decide whether you want to go PCI or Firewire. PCI is like my 1010 or a 44 (http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.list&ID=pciinterfaces) and Firewire you're looking at a 1814 or a 410 (http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.list&ID=mobileinterfaces). Also check out Presonus - especially for the firewire type of interface.

What's your budget like?

Jacob
 
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