PC Recording

[kapildebsen]

I have a multimedia PC(Pentium II). I was thinking about recording my vocal performaces(Songs) on the PC.

I would like to know about the kind of software and Microphones that would be required for an excellent recording. I am willing to spend about $100-150 on the Microphone.
Advice about any other equipment that is essential for the recording process would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[ffmada]

I would reccomend getting a nt1, as far as the microphone part goes. You will also have to hev some sort of a preamp, and probably an adapter to get it in you computer. The Art MP is a good inexpensive pre, however you will only be able to record one track at a time if you go that route.
Also you will need recording software. N-Tracks is a good place to start.

Will you just be recording one track at a time?

What type of sound card does your computer have?

How much memory does your computer have?

What is your total budget?

Give some more details and you will get more help

madfadder

 

[kapildebsen]

Thanks ffmada!

Here's more detail about what I have:

I have a 32bit Sound card.

RAM is 128 MB(of which 8 MB is taken up by Graphics card)


Here's what I want to record:

I want to record my voice(vocal song) along with the already available karaoke music in MIDI or other formats.

Thanks alot,
Kapil

 

[trucker dave]

Well, if you got a creative sound blaster live you're in luck. If you don't then i'd get one. It has a two track "wave studio" with it and it works pretty good. Also has some reverbs and sound effects that work good for casual use. As for mikes, it kinda sounds like you just want something to mess around with? A Shure SM 58 dynamic mike works pretty good for vocals. If you can't get a good recording with a SM 58, it ain't the mike and they about a $100 US. Again if you are lucky and your sound card has a switchable boost setting for recording(SB live has) you may can go direct into mini plug on sound card by using a radio shack adapter. If you want to spend a bit more money a little behringer mixer costs less than a hundred bucks. Then you run the mixer outputs into sound card by using adapter. I used this setup(i still use the mixer) for a while before i got better stuff and it produces excellent sound. Cakewalk software is relatively cheap, simple to use, and works pretty good if you need more tracks than 2. There's probably a hundred different ways to do this, this is the one i know.

 

[ffmada]

your sondcard should have a line input, usually a stereo 1/8" mini plug. If it don't, an upgrade is a must. Go with trucker's advice and get a mixer and a cheap (SM58/57) dynamic mic to start. The mixer will be usful forever and the mic will too. I have recently gone back to using my SB Live, because I had to give up my good soundcard(Lexicon Core 2) when my brother moved out. you will be able to get good results with the setup described above, and hopefully you will learn a little

 

[ddavid]

SB Live switchable boost?

Hey Trucker (or anyone else who knows), where is this switchable boost setting you're speaking of? I have Creative SB Live sound card but the signal is not very strong. I'm assuming that boost will make the difference but can't seem to locate it.

 

[Valgrim]

Re: SB Live switchable boost?

The Line In on your card runs at line level opposed to the Mic Input which is high gain. However you should never never never ever use the mic input for anything. It's horrible, beyond horrible actually. If you use it a curse will fall upon your first born! Anyway... While some consumer cards let you mess with the input gain it's best to leave it be. Instead you need a preamp or mixer(which includes preamps) to "cleanly" boost the signal to an acceptable recording level. I suggest am ART MP preamp. $99 at Zzounds.com I believe. If you want a mixer instead go with a Mackie or Behringer. They're fairly high quality and pretty cheap.

If on the other hand you have a preamp and you still can't get a good level then maybe your card is f!cked up. Of course "good level" is a pretty subjective term. Alot of people think that they have to get as close to 0 dB as possible. Digital Clipping is nasty however so I usually shoot for somewhere around -5 or so. *Shrug*

I hope this helps...

-valgrim