My sure sm57 is SURE quiet! what's wrong?

[washburn21]

I just bought a sure sm57 microphone. I have no preamp for it, as of right now. When I record, it wont pick up my voice or guitar unless I literally scream into it. Since it is a dynamic micrphone, I thought I could just plugged it straight into my computer and record with it. Is it not picking up my voice because I don't have a pre-amp? I started with the obvious volume control and line connections...but no luck. Any suggestions ? please help!

 

[Slackmaster2K]

You need a preamp. Your soundcard's mic preamp is designed to work with those little computer mics, which are electret, not dynamic.

Slackmaster 2000

 

[washburn21]

sure sm57

Okay thanks slackmaster, thats what I thought. Before I bought the microphone, I was told that I didn't need one! I guess It's time to go get a pre-amp. Any suggestions as far as pre-amps go? Iam just starting out, So I don't need the most expensive one, but at the same time I don't want to buy a junker either. Something that will get me off to a good start is what I'll need...
Thanks a lot!

 

[participant]

Re: sure sm57

Any suggestions as far as pre-amps go? Iam just starting out, So I don't need the most expensive one, but at the same time I don't want to buy a junker either.

Hmm... read this forum... go to page 2 if you have to... there are about 5 current threads about people wanting preamps.

Here's a quickie answer:

M-Audio DMP3
Studio Projects VTB-1
Presonus DigiTUBE

Each one about $200, and very useable. HTH. You might also score an "ART TubeMP Studio" off eBay for around $50.


Chad

 

[washburn21]

buying equipment off ebay

Thanks chad!


I have another question out there for all you people buying stuff on Ebay. How safe is it to buy from Ebay? Any people getting ripped off etc...? I don't know if I feel comfortable with the whole Ebay thing. So any testimonials from those people that have used ebay would help me with my decision... Thanks again!

 

[participant]

Ebay...

To be honest, the very first transaction I did? Got ripped off... completely... $275 and NEVER saw the item

Lesson? NEVER send a personal check.

The last 5 transactions on Ebay were smooth as butter... use Paypal where possible; make sure to get tracking on your items; call the seller ahead of time, if possible... communicate. And don't buy big-ticket items from people with only a few feedback comments.

 

[Sklathill]

Most of the time, ebay is great. Deal with people with solid feedback, and make sure you e-mail them. Even if the product comes in as broken and unworkable, just tell the seller and many time he'll try to figure out how things can work out...

OTOH...getting an ART Tube...the consistency on those things isn't too good. I have on ART Tube MP OPL And it sounds pretty darn good...which is much more than can be said for my friend's first Tube MP Studio. He was able to return it for another one that sounded fine, however. If you really want an ART Tube MP, I'd go to the store and make sure I can go back to return it if it sounds like crap.

If you're looking for under 100 dollars, check out the MAudio Audiobuddy. it sound pretty good, and is a two channel preamp, even. The cheapest per channel solution out there, outside of a Behringer mixer. The only thing that people talk about with the Audiobuddy is the usefulness of the Phantom power in powering more extreme beasts, like the CAD mics. Since you're on an SM57...no worries about that!

Actually, my Behringer UB1002 doesn't sound bad! Just picked it up for routing my synths around, and preamps, which I originally thought would be EHHH at best, are quite clean.

 

[Slackmaster2K]

A goofy sounding Tube MP can typically be remedied by simply replacing the stock 12AX7 tube. You can get a groovetubes 12AX7 at about any music store for about $12.

Slackmaster 2000

 

[ScienceOne]

Ebay is great. As long as you aren't careless, you can end up with a bunch of stuff. My whole studio was built for about $2000, almost all of it off of ebay. Computer, mics, mixers, preamps, outboard effects, cables, all of it. Tons of stuff on there is brand new and unopened, its great.

 

[washburn21]

If you're looking for under 100 dollars, check out the MAudio Audiobuddy.




So would this be a good pre-amp to run my sm57 for recording acoustic guitar and vocals? Does the pre-amp even have anything to with the sound quality at all? Does any one have this pre-amp that likes or dis-likes it? From what Sklathill was saying, it sounds like it might work well for me... what do you think?

Thanks for all the comments and feed back to everyone who replied!
--> Washburn21

 

[maskedman72]

if you havent allready, id do a search on this bbs on the mic pre you are interested on.
e-bay- i have bought and sold on it a million times. never a problem. you can really luck out and get great prices on things. it is highly addictive. i would look on there for a pre. just buy from a buyer with a high positive feedback rating.
once you start scanning around for recording gear on e-bay you life will change and your set up will grow. tons of great deals on mics too.

ps- you can also go to www.harmony central ,where real people like you and i rate and review all types of gear.

 

[washburn21]

maskedman72

thanks for the reply , Im gonna check out that site you recommended.

washburn21

 

[ambi]

hey.. my tube mp has sounded like garbage since the day i bought it! I didn't want to bring it back cause i just assumed that it was a bad preamp...

Its really noisy, like, i can't record, cause once i get it up to a decent level , its super noisy, and that meter on it NEVER moves, if im driving it really hard it jumps a little bit.

 

[Sklathill]

Demand to be able to return it. If you can't get gain on it, I'd say that's a valid reason for getting an exchange. Doesn't hurt to try.

 

[Emeric]

Man, mine didn't come with a meter, I got ripped!

Changing the tube as Slack suggested can help though. I posted an uninteresting thread ages ago where I tried a bunch of different NOS tubes in the MP. All had different characteristics, but audio is too subjective to describe, so I dont.

 

[Gidge]

the mic input of your current soundcard will work without screaming if the input levels are adjusted properly....it may sound like ass or it may not, but it will work.....

 

[SLuiCe]

I haven't used my Tube MP since I got a pair ov VTB1's, but I never got any meter movement either.

 

[esun127]

Man, mine didn't come with a meter, I got ripped!

Changing the tube as Slack suggested can help though. I posted an uninteresting thread ages ago where I tried a bunch of different NOS tubes in the MP. All had different characteristics, but audio is too subjective to describe, so I dont.

The one with the meter costs 20 bucks more than the one wihtout.

 

[washburn21]

Gidge VS. Slackmaster2k

the mic input of your current soundcard will work without screaming if the input levels are adjusted properly....it may sound like ass or it may not, but it will work.....

VS.

You need a preamp. Your soundcard's mic preamp is designed to work with those little computer mics, which are electret, not dynamic.

Okay, who's right, Anyone know?

Im un-clear on what Gidge is saying about the input levels? Inputs on my computer?

Im lost....
------------------->washburn21

 

[participant]

mmm... I'll go with Slack on this one... (sorry Gidge ) (of course, Gidge could have a preamp in is soundcard )

Yup... an SM57 only produces a tiny electric current (signal) known as "mic level"... that must be brought up to "line level", which is what a preamp does.