Newbie Here - need help with "missing link"

[KevinDrummer]

Hello all,

I'm new here. I know how it goes with this type of thing.... "use the search to find previous related discussions". But I'm so clueless and confused I don't even know what to search for. I'm glad I found the site and plan to contribute, as I do have some knowledge and experience in some related areas. So, I would very much appreciate some help with this......

I play drums primarily and some guitar. I usually record a drum track and then put other stuff over it one track at a time. My setup consists of:

various dynamic mics
Samson S63 mixer amp w/ floor monitors
Semi-Ok computer w/ Windows 98SE
run of the mill regular sound card
Cakewalk home edition 2002

So, I've got all these mics run through the Samson and then I take it out of the samson through the mono 1/4" jack "preamp out" and into a adapter plug into the computer 1/8" "mic in". The quality is kind of sucky, and I have the feeling I'm using a sponge to drive a nail (or a hammer to clean the counter?) using "PA" equipment for recording. How do I split up the two stereo channels on the computer mic input (I assume it's stereo)? What would be the minimal or best bang for the buck to add to (or replace) this equipment to get stereo input/separation (priority 1) and possibly some simultaneous multi-track recording (priority 2)? HELP!

 

[manning1]

you should be going into the line in of the sound card. mic in is terrible.
also would suggest you look for a better sound card . eg..delta
or some folks here seem to like terratec and many others.
stay away from usb.

 

[radiorickm]

negatory big ben.......

How do I split up the two stereo channels on the computer mic input (I assume it's stereo)?

hey kevin

even though it is a stereo plug, it's really not stereo. You see, the cheap mics we use on head sets and stuff are really electret condenser mics, and as such, they require power to work. So the ring on the TRS connector is really a supply voltage for the mic element. it's not a l/r in

They are right. by the way. You will get a much cleaner signal if you go thru the line in on the sound card. I couldn't find a pic of your S63, but you shold have a line out over in the main out section somewhere. The LINE in is a stereo in and you will have to tell the software it's MONO or it will only record on one side.

good luck

 

[KevinDrummer]

hey kevin

even though it is a stereo plug, it's really not stereo. You see, the cheap mics we use on head sets and stuff are really electret condenser mics, and as such, they require power to work. So the ring on the TRS connector is really a supply voltage for the mic element. it's not a l/r in

They are right. by the way. You will get a much cleaner signal if you go thru the line in on the sound card. I couldn't find a pic of your S63, but you shold have a line out over in the main out section somewhere. The LINE in is a stereo in and you will have to tell the software it's MONO or it will only record on one side.

good luck

Thanks, guys. I switched the plug over last night to the line in and it is much better. The signal is not nearly as hot or noisy. Before I had the levels on the mixer WAY down and I had to crank them back up after doing the switch. I also had to pull the 1/4" plug slightly out of adapter to get it to record the mono into both channels of the stereo. I suppose I need the right kind of adapter.

I was thinking of getting a cheap Behringer mixer ($89) OR a Delta1010LT sound card to achieve some true stereo seperation, like the overheads and toms panning from left to right. Which would be the better choice?

 

[manning1]

search under my name on this bbs. lots of info.