Newbie to tha real stuff here, Need help...

[FLiPzOfLoW]

I tried audio recording, got a lil knowledge on adobe audition, and since tha first im only hooking the mic on the Mic input of my soundcard... I want to advance now, any advices what should i get first step by step so i wont lose track? im confused with the Mixer and Pre-amp thing for the mic.. But i know its Microphone > Mixer/Preamp > soundcard "Line In" ryt? i run windows xp, got 2.0 usb, 512 ddr, 2.8GHz Pentium 4, but i only got a cheap soundcard. its a creative soundblaster, i read it before that soundblasters are not that good when it comes to recording.. are there any such thing that i could save money by not buying a new soundcard and just hookin the recording external hardware to my usb and record? what are the disadvantages and advantages of hookin equipments up on a soundcard and on a USB.. I'm not a pro, i just want to advance and do some digital recording, step by step.. so anyone? drop names for me so i could look at the hardware's specs on tha net.. tnx.. peace..

 

[crazydoc]

Simplest and cheapest - plug a mic into the usb:
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=40039&Category=Microphones
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=31459&Category=Microphones

The mic>preamp>soundcard route will be at least $300 for minimal quality:
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=7587&Category=Audio_Interfaces

http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=10658&Category=Audio_Processors
or
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=10268&Category=Audio_Processors

There are many mic choices in the $100 range, depending on what you are going to record.

Then there's this:
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=27765&Category=Audio_Interfaces
which I know nothing about, but it interfaces an instrument or mic (but no phantom power, so most condensers are out) to your computer via usb. Maybe others have had experience with this - there may be latency and monitoring issues.

 

[TimOBrien]

All about recording soundcards:

http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm

 

[crazydoc]

Here's another USB interface for $150 - that and a mic will probably get you into the computer in pretty good shape, but the preamp>soundcard route will give you more versatility in the long run.

http://www.samash.com/catalog/showi...rase=&Contains=&Search_Type=SEARCH&GroupCode=

 

[FLiPzOfLoW]

Plannin to get Audiophile USB

I'm plannin to get Audiophile USB what do you think? is it suitable for me as a newbie on digital recording? i could spend below $250.. i got an Shure SM58 mic already.. any other alternatives that you know that's $250 or below that could be better than the Audiophile USB? tnx..

 

[Innovations]

I'm plannin to get Audiophile USB what do you think? is it suitable for me as a newbie on digital recording? i could spend below $250.. i got an Shure SM58 mic already.. any other alternatives that you know that's $250 or below that could be better than the Audiophile USB? tnx..

For less money you could get the mobilepre or the fastrax if you are only recording one input at a time.

Frankly recording to the line-in of a soundblaster is not that bad. It is the mic-in that is the crappy one. So in my opinion all you really need is a decent preamp and then you can start thinking about a better mic. An acceptable beginner preamp would be the audiobuddy and mid-range would be a DMP3.

I usually don't recommend USB devices unless you are dealing with a laptop, in which case it is usually the only choice.

 

[FLiPzOfLoW]

i run a lil community here, not that good.. but we dont record in one place, we usually record in different spots.. so that means i'll be bringing my equipments with me, do u think tha preamps will be good on some cheap soundcards? some computers here only got built in soundcards, yknow, tha sound thats built in with the motherboard.. im tha only one who got a pci soundcard, and its a cheap creative soundblaster.. worth $20 in my place.. So is it still advisable for me to use the mic>preamp>soundcard route? or its better i use the mic>usb interface>usb? i just want to make the vocals sound good.. i dont record using any instruments like drums or guitar, i just use instrumental beats.. so what matters for me will be just the vocals.. so whats advisable?

 

[2lim]

For now, use the mic-preamp-soundcard. You are not gonna get prop results with any of the methods in your range, but this one will allow you to conitinue to use your old equipment once you decide to upgrade.

Also, why don't you just get the other ppl to record at your place?(just curious because not everyone will have a decent computer with nice software on it)


Simon

 

[FLiPzOfLoW]

Maybe i'll go for the mic-preamp-soundcard, just pretty confused with the 24bit/96Khz thing, does that depend on my soundcard or depends on the preamp that im using? And just curious, if i stab my mics directly to the line-in of my soundcard, will i still be able to record? like just changing the recording settings from microphone to line-in? just curious..