Need mic help starting cheap home acoustic guitar recording

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harrylentil

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I want to get started recording my acoustic guitar to mix with tracks on my PC & laptop. This is just an at-home hobby and my budget is small. I only have a Windows PC and laptop and an old-school hi-fi (and a practice amp for the electric guiter).
I thought I would get a large-diaphragm cardioid condenser microphone for the dynamic range, but I would need a power source, phantom or not. Maybe a Behringer C-3 or Samson C01, both at £50. What else would I need to buy, apart from a stand? The phantom power seems an issue. Maybe I should just get a dynamic mic?

edit: didn't realise this is an American forum - duh! for £50 think ~$80.
 
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You also need a way to get the audio signal into your computer. An audio interface is the solution - it will provide the needed mic preamp and phantom power for your mic.
 
mjbphotos said:
You also need a way to get the audio signal into your computer. An audio interface is the solution - it will provide the needed mic preamp and phantom power for your mic.
Click to expand...

So far it's just me, so I'll only need to record one instrument at a time. I expect I could just plug low-power analog output into the sound card. That's what I do with the electric guitar. So I need a mic preamp with phantom power?
 
Correct. You oculd buy just a 'preamp' that has phantom power, but then you are relying on the soundcard's A-D converters - and you also have way to have low or zero-latency monitoring this way. Read this thread and this thread before buying anything (more).
 
BTW, this forum is based in France...Just for what it's worth.
Kind of an international flavor here. People from all over Europe, Asia, parts of Africa and South America, lots of Ozzers and Kiwis and a handful of Canadians to go with all us Merkans.
 
Take a look at the focusrite Scarlett solo studio pack...

About 120 quid. But the mic will be of at least a similar quality (if not higher) than the Behringer/Samson mics you're looking at... It (the interface) only has 1 mic pre though (I think they still do a 2i2 studio pack - guessing around 150 quid)

If you prefer to shop separately then the Audio Technica AT2020 is probably the best 'cheap' mic on the market at 70ish quid.
 
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mjbphotos said:
Correct. You oculd buy just a 'preamp' that has phantom power, but then you are relying on the soundcard's A-D converters - and you also have way to have low or zero-latency monitoring this way. Read this thread and this thread before buying anything (more).
Click to expand...

Thanks. That 1st link was necessary. If I want to stack my vocals or another acoustic instrumental performance onto a multi-track recording I will need minimal latency monitoring? Say I get a simple pre-amp with phantom power and analog out (for plugging into the mic input of the Creative Soundblaster card). Then I can record one acoustic performance at a time. Am I right so far?
What do I need to do with the computer and headphones to get the monitoring I would need for making track 2? That would be the recorded tracks and the realtime mic pickup both playing in the headphones and silence from speakers, yes? (God, I know nothing)
 
save your self a few bucks until you get a feel of the recording process and get a dynamic mic. no 48v phantom required. i've recorded some pretty good sounding acoustic tracks with a sennheiser 835. 80us dollars. also have a large mxl svg6 condenser mic . about 90 us dollars . they are both pretty good mics for under a hundred dollars
 
"For what you would spend on a "simple pre-amp with phantom power", you're money would be better spent on a USB audio interface which will do a better job than your SB card and as well have the facilities for monitoring with headphones.

This is a budget interface that I see recommended occasionally around here...
Amazon.com: Alesis IO2 Express 24-Bit USB Recording Interface: Musical Instruments "

+1 to this ^ I would also suggest a Small Diaphragm Capacitor mic for acoustic guitar.

PM me friend and I can loan you my iO2 for a month.

Dave.
 
I can also recommend the Alesis IO2 as a good entry level interface...indeed it punches above its weight and will last you a lot longer than entry level. I used one about ten minutes ago recording a voice over on a professional basis and the client is very happy. It's 99 Euro/77 pounds at Thomann.

I also personally prefer a small diaphragm condenser for acoustic guitar but you might have trouble finding a decent one within your stated budget. If you can stretch the money a bit, have a look at the sE1A...excellent on acoustic.
 
What is your opinion Bobbs of the AKG Perception 170 please? If favourable it also has the advantage of a 20dB pad and so can be used for close voice work which will help with ambient noise and room effects.

As the OP is in UK he could get the i02 from GAK, Gear4music or Andertons for £69.

Dave.
 
Afraid I've never tried the Perception 170 so can't offer an opinion. I've liked most AKG SDCs (the 451 and 391 being particular favourites but in a different price bracket).
 
Bobbsy said:
Afraid I've never tried the Perception 170 so can't offer an opinion. I've liked most AKG SDCs (the 451 and 391 being particular favourites but in a different price bracket).
Click to expand...

Grrr! Quote worked this time! Didn't 20mins ago. I also have to click Refresh to send a post. Do not need to do this at SoS or Fretboard.

Anyhoos...Ta Bob. I am no judge but I am working on the theory that despite being a £70 microphone the P170 is going to be pretty good for a top company like AKG to put their name on it? They are of course made in China.

I used the same logic when I bought my Tannoy 5As.

Dave.
 
Can't edit my post now either to tell you that the last one just sat there after I had clicked it and di not appear until I hit Refresh.

I suppose I could try things in Chrome but that gives me other issues and I really don't see why IE11 should be the problem when I don't have any trouble with other forums?

Dave.
 
I'm in Chrome and not having any problems here or elsewhere--but I've just about stopped looking for logic and consistency in software!

Your logic about AKG quality is probably okay but they HAVE made the odd stinker. Their C1000S gets my nomination for worst, most over-hyped mic ever made (unless you get down to some of the toys on eBay).
 
Bobbsy said:
I'm in Chrome and not having any problems here or elsewhere

Yeah right! I can live with it.

There is a well respected studio chap over at SoS who LOVES his C1000s! The other guys constantly rib him about it!

Dave.
Click to expand...
 
Well, there's always one!

For me the top end is so harsh as to be almost painful!

(I did have a friend...a composer/musician who wrote TV music and jingles) who also liked his. It turned out he'd developed a hearing problem and wasn't getting much above about 8kHz!)
 
"(I did have a friend...a composer/musician who wrote TV music and jingles) who also liked his. It turned out he'd developed a hearing problem and wasn't getting much above about 8kHz!) " (I'll do it this way)

Now, my son quite likes the sound of the P150 (same mic as the 170 but 10 not 20dB pad) but actually prefers an SM57 on acoustic guitar! Mind you, that is using a ZED 10 as the pre amp. The i02 is good but I think it might struggle for noise free gain on ac-git with a dynamic? The KA6 is fine but needs to be maxed out. Then again I am talking finger picking on a Turner acoustic. Lovely guitar action and intonation wise (son says) but not terribly loud.

Jusfort. The 170 with its pad could be good on guitar cabs? Might try that if son comes home next weekend as promised.

Dave.
 
Dunno. I'm a confirmed SDC user for acoustic guitar (almost always with two mics) and can't recall the last time I tried a dynamic. I never find that they have enough detail for my tastes.

The iO2 (well, my M Track but they're identical with different badges) can handle voice over stuff with low output dynamics with enough clean gain. I know that's not the same but...
 
arcaxis said:
For what you would spend on a "simple pre-amp with phantom power", you're money would be better spent on a USB audio interface which will do a better job than your SB card and as well have the facilities for monitoring with headphones.

This is a budget interface that I see recommended occasionally around here...
Amazon.com: Alesis IO2 Express 24-Bit USB Recording Interface: Musical Instruments
Click to expand...

The Alesis-IO2-Express and other interfaces I checked (Focusrite, M-Audio) are USB powered. IS USB power really adequate for 1 or 2 x phantom power + line out + processing?

Do all audio interfaces let you hear what you will be recording onto (I.E. the mix saved on the PC) and also monitor what you're playing, both in the headphones?
 
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