Newb over here. Question on Mic & Preamp in a room with Computer hum

[macgyverspeaks]

I've done some reading on Mics. "Usually a large diaphragm mic is the first thing the pros reach for." is what I read from this post. https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=56685

Great read.

Now I am not in a pro environment, so jumping to a large diaphragm mic may not be a good idea. I have a small hmmm coming from my PC.

I will be recording into Cubase 5. The only other hardware I currently have besides my PC is MBOX 1 from digidesign. I will be recording rap vocals, so what preamp & MIC will work for my setup.

I recorded the song below at a friends home studio. His setup works and has been working for years for everyone who records with him. He has good ears and can mix. I just want to be able to record as clean as possible at my place (since I moved 4 hours away from him). He doesn't have an enclosed booth and I do hear hmm from his PC as well...so being able to achieve something like what I've done at his place I believe is achievable.

Another quick question is do I really need another preamp if the mbox has it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKHZgLf-P74

 

[Klagen]

Hi,
my computer does humm quite a bit too, but my microphone doesnt pick it up. I record about 2½ metres from my computer.
You could also cover your computer with a blanket while recording, that works too

Also no, i dont think you would need a preamp. The Mbox has phantom power if i recall correctly, a preamp would boost the signal of the mic, but i dont think that would be neccesary. it would be benefecial yeah, but i dont think its neccesary. it depends on the mic and the interface tho, the mbox is quite a solid interface i recall so you should be allright
WHats your budget for the mic?

 

[mjbphotos]

Be careful about covering your PC with a blanket - they get hot and you could start a fire!

If you can't move the computer into another room, you need to isolate the mic from the computer somehow - some type of sound barrier, or use a dynamic mic (while you are starting out) with a directional pickup that you can angle accordingly.

 

[Klagen]

Be careful about covering your PC with a blanket - they get hot and you could start a fire!

If you can't move the computer into another room, you need to isolate the mic from the computer somehow - some type of sound barrier, or use a dynamic mic (while you are starting out) with a directional pickup that you can angle accordingly.

That is true about the blanket - you could use some kind of arrangement to put it a few inches above the computer i guess, just make sure that theres an opening in the blanket for some air to reach the computer

the mic thing is a great idea too, pick up a cardiod mic (I believe this is the type? the 1 that only records from 1 direction) and place it facing away from the computer...shouldnt pick up alot of noise from the computer, if any. I use a reflection filter and my mic placed facing away from the computer, and it picks up nothing from the computer...not even the least bit, nothing at all

 

[macgyverspeaks]

Hi,
my computer does humm quite a bit too, but my microphone doesnt pick it up. I record about 2½ metres from my computer.
You could also cover your computer with a blanket while recording, that works too

Also no, i dont think you would need a preamp. The Mbox has phantom power if i recall correctly, a preamp would boost the signal of the mic, but i dont think that would be neccesary. it would be benefecial yeah, but i dont think its neccesary. it depends on the mic and the interface tho, the mbox is quite a solid interface i recall so you should be allright
WHats your budget for the mic?

I was thinking 250 to 500 on a mic. What type of benefits are speaking of in regards to having another preamp?

Thanks for the input guys.

 

[Klagen]

I was thinking 250 to 500 on a mic. What type of benefits are speaking of in regards to having another preamp?

Thanks for the input guys.

Well, a preamp is there to boost the signal of the mic...
Generally speaking, there's audio interface and preamps which kind of go hand in hand. to power a condensor mic you'll need phantom power, which a preamp provides. so you'll want to use the audio interface as the soundcard, then connect a preamp to the audio interface and run the mic through the preamp to finish the chain. but the mbox is a hybrid Preamp / audio interface, so you can skip the preamp thing, unless you need additional power to run through the mic, and with rap vocals i doubt that will be needed

for a mic if you're gonna be recording only vocals i can reccomend the Rode mics, and they are within that price ranged...the rode NT2A is a great mic for vocals - i dont use it myself, but i know alot of rappers who uses it and get a great outcome aswell the Rode NT2A is about $400 i think, and the next step up the Rode chain would be a NT2000 which is about $600'ish

hope it was helpful, if not please ask more

 

[macgyverspeaks]

Well, a preamp is there to boost the signal of the mic...
Generally speaking, there's audio interface and preamps which kind of go hand in hand. to power a condensor mic you'll need phantom power, which a preamp provides. so you'll want to use the audio interface as the soundcard, then connect a preamp to the audio interface and run the mic through the preamp to finish the chain. but the mbox is a hybrid Preamp / audio interface, so you can skip the preamp thing, unless you need additional power to run through the mic, and with rap vocals i doubt that will be needed

for a mic if you're gonna be recording only vocals i can reccomend the Rode mics, and they are within that price ranged...the rode NT2A is a great mic for vocals - i dont use it myself, but i know alot of rappers who uses it and get a great outcome aswell the Rode NT2A is about $400 i think, and the next step up the Rode chain would be a NT2000 which is about $600'ish

hope it was helpful, if not please ask more

Thanks man. After doing more research I come to find out the preamp in the mbox 1 is made from focus rite and its a preamp rappers like to use.

I will look into the mics you suggested. My friend where I used to record suggested the following.

studio projects c1
proception 200 akg

 

[buzzard bass]

Thanks man. After doing more research I come to find out the preamp in the mbox 1 is made from focus rite and its a preamp rappers like to use.

I will look into the mics you suggested. My friend where I used to record suggested the following.

studio projects c1
proception 200 akg

That would prolly be the AKG Perception 220, the 200 hasn't been made for a few years. Right now the 220 is being replaced. so you can get it on (my favorite word folks) clearance.

 

[moresound]

Thanks man. After doing more research I come to find out the preamp in the mbox 1 is made from focus rite and its a preamp rappers like to use.

I will look into the mics you suggested. My friend where I used to record suggested the following.

studio projects c1
proception 200 akg

Other better possibilities in that price range would be the Shure SM7b, the EV RE20, Or take a look at the MXL 2003a if you get any of these you'll stay with in budget. Both the shure and the EV are dynamic and the MXL is a tube.
Oh and I forgot the MXL V67g. Now this one is a LDC.

 

[chessparov]

First $500 I'd get...

1) Studio Projects VTB-1 mic pre (around $120 new)
2) Used Shure SM58 (estimate $60)
3) Real Traps "Personal Vocal Booth" aka PVB ($300)
or GIK Acoustics acoustic panels ($300)

Then when you can allocate more $$ would suggest...

Studio Projects C1 If you DON'T have a sibilance issue (I do)-otherwise fine mic.

For someone like me, the Studio Projects B1 will work better "out of the box",
meaning without heading for the de-esser.

Into old school soul music, however, within your genre your song sounds really good.
Are you singing in any of your other videos? Seems like you have the silky baritone voice the R&B harmony groups used to call a "romantic baritone" (am one of those myself).

Chris

 

[tonesponge]

I found that, without a well isolated studio, compressor mics created a lot of headaches for me. They would pick up everything, from computer hum, to the AC blowing out of the vents, to the fridge kicking in on another floor, to cars out in the street.

I decided to push the easy button and just switch to using dynamic mics for everything. I've since learned that a lot of home recorders do the same thing.

So far, the SM57 and SM58 have been OK to learn on with the M-box preamps. I'm now looking at the SM7B and the RE20 as potential next steps. But I'm putting off purchasing a separate preamp, for now, based on reports that a decent one is going to cost nearly a grand, and offer very little improvement over those built into common interfaces.

If you want a large diaphragm dynamic mic that is good for rap, I think the RE20 is probably worth a look. It's kind of pricey, but you can get them used for $350 or so.

 

[moresound]

I'm now looking at the SM7B and the RE20 as potential next steps. But I'm putting off purchasing a separate preamp, for now, based on reports that a decent one is going to cost nearly a grand, and offer very little improvement over those built into common interfaces.

If you want a large diaphragm dynamic mic that is good for rap, I think the RE20 is probably worth a look. It's kind of pricey, but you can get them used for $350 or so.

As for Microphone preamps .....
A nice little micpre worth looking into is the *Golden Age PRE-73* as is the *Really Nice Micpre*.

********* A different approach to this would be to get something along the lines of a Joe Meek TwinQ Not a true Micpre but a duel channel strip. It does have micpres at the front end but also has optical compression, EQ, The Iron button, and best of all it has digital converters in it!!!! It's practically all you need!!!!! *********

 

[chessparov]

Another excellent vocal mic, besides the RE20, is the Electro-Voice RE16.
The RE16 is a hand held mic, like a 58.

The Joe Meek ThreeQ (pre/compressor/EQ) runs about $250, and IMHO would be a good alternative part of the "plan". You could run it through the mbox's insert. Then put the output on -10db to have better signal to noise gain staging BTW (vs. running it balanced out).

There are a number of other cool features, website is www.joemeek.com

Chris

 

[tonesponge]

As for Microphone preamps .....
A nice little micpre worth looking into is the *Golden Age PRE-73* as is the *Really Nice Micpre*.

********* A different approach to this would be to get something along the lines of a Joe Meek TwinQ Not a true Micpre but a duel channel strip. It does have micpres at the front end but also has optical compression, EQ, The Iron button, and best of all it has digital converters in it!!!! It's practically all you need!!!!! *********

I looked into the Golden Age neve clone, and found these shoot out clips at zen pro. I downloded them, conveted them to wav so I could import them into pro tools, and listened on my monitors. Maybe I'm just deaf and stupid, but I really could not tell any difference at all between the neve and the stock golden age, nor the stock golden age and the $300 full "upgrade" that zenpro does. My spouse listened too and agreed. I kept hitting the solo buttons and we couldn't hear any change at all. I really wonder how these would compare to the "neve designed" focusrite pres on my original m-box.

http://www.zenproaudio.com/1073test.aspx

I also listened to some vocal shoot out clips of the re20 and sm7b. We agreed we liked the SM7B better. Then I listed to a vocal shootout of the SM7B versus the SM58, and we couldn't tell much difference at all. My spouse actually liked the SM58 better.

I'm thinking ima save my money and have new respect for my equipment. I'd still be interested in hearing a shootout of the focusrite versus the neve, but I can't seem to find one. If you can find one, please point me to it.

 

[moresound]

So when it comes right down to it your saying just get the clone an be happy right?

 

[tonesponge]

I don't know about getting the clone over the focusrites. I know I'd get the clone over the neve, and pocket $3500. I'd liek to hear the focusrites compared to the neve to see if the difference, if any, is worth $300 to me.

I think I kind of liked the SM7B over the SM58. It seemed "smoother" while the SM58 seemed slightly "harsher." But my spouse thought e SM58 sounded "crisp," while the SM7B sounded "dull." In any event, I think the difference issn't worth $350 to me.

 

[buzzard bass]

Other better possibilities in that price range would be the Shure SM7b, the EV RE20, Or take a look at the MXL 2003a if you get any of these you'll stay with in budget. Both the shure and the EV are dynamic and the MXL is a tube.
Oh and I forgot the MXL V67g. Now this one is a LDC.

Of those 3 the MXL is significantly cheaper. I got mine off Amazon for 169, My SM7b was 350, the EV R20 was closer to 500. There are a couple of reviews of the 7b and R20 by the same dude on Youtube that are pretty detailed. One of the settings on the 7b sounds almost the same as the R20, but you have a choice of 4 setting on the 7b. I'm a huge fan of both EV and Shure, you can't seriously argue that they make anything other than great mics. But for the price diff I went with the Shure. Either way you're good to go.

Now if you go for the MXL, check it carefully. The first mic I got was the 2003. In this case the replacement unit is almost completely different to the discontinued item. Amazon took that one back and specifically hand selected a 2003A as the replacement. Why the mix up in the first place? The 2003A's are in 2003 boxes that have a little sticker that says new and improved 2003A on it.