Mics On The Computers...

[shiner41]

I have a WHOLE lot of software on my computer for the use of recording music and stuff, and its been working, on account, I record directly to my computer. I'm kinda new at all this professional stuff and was wondering, can those microphones that you all are talking about be used on a computer, like in the microphone jack, or if there are any kinds of microphones that will work on the computer which are more professional? I was wondering this because my mic right now, is driving me crazy! too much high and you cant understand what I'm saying, etc. Thanks in advance!

 

[astoebe]

Not sure I quite understand what you are asking, but I think you are asking if you can hook a higher quality mic up to a stock soundcard? If so, the answer is yes, but you're gonna need adapters to go from XLR to 1/8.....What are you using this recording stuff for? Music? If so, I'd say you should get a good soundcard w/ XLR inputs.....If not, and you are just recording speaking or something, just stick with the stock soundcard, it will give you decent results. OH! also, you need some type of preamp or you won't get any volume out of the nicer mic you hook up......hope that helps

 

[shiner41]

I'm using it for music, thanks for your help.

 

[shiner41]

Oh yeah, I forgot to ask, where can I get these things from?

 

[astoebe]

Welllll........that's kinda a loaded question. Which things would you be talking about? About all musical things can be bought from sites like www.musiciansfriend.com www.zzounds.com/a--2676837 www.fullcompass.com just to name a few. When it comes down to which things to buy.....that's a harder question to answer. There are many ways to set these "things" up. You could for example, get a PCI sound card such as this one http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/701376/ and hook up each channel to a channel in a mixer such as this one http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/630051/ This would allow you to record many separate tracks (like if you wanted to record drums, or a live band, etc.)

You could also get some kind of USB or Firewire soundcard with fewer inputs like this http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/701368/ This has preamps, and phantom power much like the mixer would have in the other option. You can only record two tracks at a time though, which kinda stinks.

You could go real cheap and just get a cheap preamp like this http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/182482/ and then adapters at radio shack to go into the soundcard you have.....

All in all, this advice is merely scratching the surface of things you can do to record into your computer. I wouldn't take this post and go looking for things, I would encourage you to read more info on this site and others and learn about how things like this work. This post is really just kinda a jump start to look into the many many many possibilities and the thousands thousands thousands of dollars that can be spent on tons tons tons of equipment. Hope it is a little helpful and answers your questions some.....

if you want info on what mics, preamps, soundcards, and other equipment to buy, please read the multiple posts in the archives under newbies, microphones, etc. It would be very time consuming for me to try to scratch the surface of this, especially since these questions have been answered on this site before. There is plenty of good info here.....read and then read some more!

 

[kidvybes]

...if you don't have a high-grade audio card/interface, your best bet would be one of these:

http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=30906&Category=Microphones

...makes setting up directly into your computer's mic input real simple...

...more info here:

http://mxlmics.com/mic_kits/mickit_index.html

...just an affordable way to get started...if you want to upgrade later, sell this one on Ebay and purchase something more like what's suggested on the above posting...

 

[shiner41]

Ok, I'll search around here and try these links, thanks guys.

 

[jgld]

Im just a novice too here. couldnt get my computer to record without any skips and pops so I use an old DAT recorder for my bad guitar playing and transfer to the computer after I record a song all the way. That way I can re transfer it if the computer messes it up. Usually takes a couple tries. Low tech way but got sick of fighting with the computer. I use a mxl 603 mike and a beringer tiny mixer for hobby classical guitar. Have the DAT machine and also a cassette 4 track if I want to play duets. I might buy a flash card recorder to replace the DAT.

good luck

j

 

[dgatwood]

Im just a novice too here. couldnt get my computer to record without any skips and pops so I use an old DAT recorder for my bad guitar playing and transfer to the computer after I record a song all the way. That way I can re transfer it if the computer messes it up. Usually takes a couple tries. Low tech way but got sick of fighting with the computer. I use a mxl 603 mike and a beringer tiny mixer for hobby classical guitar. Have the DAT machine and also a cassette 4 track if I want to play duets. I might buy a flash card recorder to replace the DAT.

Blech. I could handle recording two tracks while playing 20+ tracks concurrently on a G3 PowerBook built in 1998 (approx equiv. to a Pentium II @ 233 MHz). No, seriously. I remember bumping up the limit from 24 to 32 and it started sputtering occasionally. If you can't record two tracks without pops, there's something VERY seriously wrong.

If you're on a PC, make sure that you don't have any IRQ conflicts with your ATA or sound card (or USB/Firewire controller if you're using an external audio interface). Move cards around and disable as many legacy ports (serial, parallel, etc.) as possible. If you can, switch to a USB keyboard/mouse and disable the PS/2 hardware, too.

If that doesn't help, get a better audio interface (either PCI or Firewire---NOT USB, as a lot of people have reported pops and clicks with USB audio on certain motherboard chipsets---and NOT a consumer card like a SoundBlaster).

If you do all those things and it doesn't help, take your computer out, drive over it with your car, and buy one that isn't older than ENIAC.

Don't try to hack around the problem. It just isn't worth it.

 

[Innovations]

For the average beginner trying their first upgrades from 'the mic that came witht the computer' The first step is not to replace the soundcard. The first step is to switch from using the mic in to using the line in. But for that you need an external preamp. the reason is that the mic-in uses a preamp on the sound card and these are almost universally crappy. By using an external preamp you boost the mic signal up to 'line level' and then you can use the line-in. Typical beginner preamps are the audiobuddy and the DMP3.

Your next upgrade would be a better mic. I may get some flack for this but I will say that your first microphone from the one that came with the computer should cost between 75-100 US dollars new. if you spend less than that you aren't getting one that is that much better and if you spend more you are spenidng too much on a hobby that you may not continue far in and before you have really developed your critical listening skills and tastes. Do you then change your sound card? No, you start to pay attention to the space you are recording in. Is it too noisy? Too echoey? And so forth. THEN do you change your sound card? No most likely you should first work on your talent and skills.

I guess my main point is that unless your sound card does not have a line-in (many laoptops don't for example) there is WAY more stuff to spend on first.