newbie help with 2 channel mic setup

[Rain_dog_lima]

Hi all! I'm new to the board. I've been writing songs for years and finally want to make some professionally sounding recordings with my works. I have a few questions...I have a 24 bit Sound Blaster Live! card and just purchased a pair of Studio Project B1 condenser mics and an M-Audio DMP3 dual mic preamp. I'm looking to just do acoustic recordings...mostly 2-4 track works, depending on lead guitar and harmonica track add-ons. My question is is this pretty much all I will need to do recordings? I have Adobe Audition by the way. I read somewhere that I also need another item to connect between the mic preamp and the sound card. My final question...the M-Audio DMP3 preamp has 2 channels (1 for each mic)...so how would I connect that to my sound card's line in so my software will recognize each channel as a different track? Any help would be appreciated. I look forward to contributing to this nice BBS. - Rain Dog

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

Welcome to the BBS.

If you only have one stereo line in then there's no way of seperating the tracks.

For what you want to do you have a very nice little set up with the exception of the soundcard.

Soundblasters are really not recording quality cards. I would recommend you swap it for an M Audio Audiophile 2496. This will cost you around $99 and will be the final link in a very respectable 2 channel recording chain.

If you want to record harmonica and guitar amps as well I'd also recommend a good quality dynamic microphone like the Shure SM57. You can record harp and amps with a condensor but the dynamic mic will give you much more versatility.

To go from the DMP-3 to the soundcard you'll just need 2 1/4" jack to RCA cables (assuming you get another card like the audiophile).

Good luck with it and I hope this helps.

 

[Rain_dog_lima]

Thanks, man. I'll definitely pick up that card and mic...I've read great things about each. Appreciate it.

 

[gordone]

Actually, if you have a "stereo" in, then it IS two channels (usually left and right), but you should still be able to record two mono tracks at the same time. For example, if you're recording vocals and guitar at the same time (or doing stereo guitar tracks), you just assign the Left input to its own track and the Right input to its own track.

I do agree that you will get better sounding results with a real recording card like the Audiophile. I've been using the Delta 44 for years and it has not let me down. But since you already have the Soundblaster, use that until you get the hang of things.

Good luck!