Please help...newbie

[johnnypraze]

Im just getting into this Computer recording thing. My only real question right now is how to hook up a mic?

Im currently using my pc mic (compaq presario) and I have access to some nice mics (assorted akg mics, C1000, vocal mics etc...) but when I tried them the sound wasnt near as loud/amped as the pc mic. (I had to turn the mic volume up all the way so the music didnt drown out the vocals) Im guessing cuz I went from the mics MIDI to 1/4" jack to 1/8" jack to the mic input in the back of the PC.

Im using cakewalk pro as a multi-track studio.

My sound card is a sound max digital card that came with the computer.

How do I get the nice clean sound from a MIDI type mic?

Im only recording vocals mucis is already down in all cases.

all info is appreciated.

 

[Whoopysnorp]

Well, for starters, those aren't MIDI connectors, they're XLR connectors. And second of all, what you need is a mic preamp, whose output you would connect to the line in on your sound card (the mic inputs on soundcards are universally bad, unless they're pro cards with XLR preamps built in). Depending on what you want to record, you may want to get your preamps in the form of a mixer, or you may want just a preamp. I don't know a lot about this, but the general consensus is that a low-priced preamp worthy of owning is the M-Audio Audio Buddy ($80).

 

[knownuttin]

Off topic, but, Whoopy: please put the kitty picture back. That was so funny!

On topic, Johnny: I might add to the good replies you've already received that most of us who record into a computer use a dedicated audio interface, usually with built in analog-to-digital converters, such as Aardvark's Q10, the Delta 10/10, and others. These provide far superior sound to that possible with the inputs on a consumer sound card. If you're planning to get serious about computer recording with microphones, you may want to look at some of these. There are many more than I mentioned and I'm not endorsing any of them till they pay me to. So, do your homework and don't listen to sales weasels, or put too much faith in magazine reviews. Think in terms of what you want to do. If you want to record a band ever, you'll probably need more than 2 simultaneous inputs. How good does the sound quality need to be for you not to outgrow it in a year and start thinking upgrade again?
-kent

 

[johnnypraze]

Its my boy and I, and we do all hip-hop/R&B and we get the tracks elseware, we dont produce the music.

The pc mic actually doesnt sound bad for what we're looking to do but I know it can get much better. like I said the music is always done and mixed down and put on a track in cakewalk. We then add our vocals/rhymes and back-ups and backround noise effects etc...

Im not looking to spend alot, really anything right now. If all else fails ill use the pc mic. (last resort) I read in a faq somewhere that there should be a joystick port in the soundcard i can get an adapter for to run MIDI devices, IE a microphone will this give me a better sound?

Were work on a non-profit basis so we dont sell our material, for now anyway. so funds are an issue.

 

[Whoopysnorp]

Off topic, but, Whoopy: please put the kitty picture back. That was so funny!

OK, but do you really think people will trust advice more from Uglycat than from my lovely face?

And johnnypraze, I repeat: a microphone is NOT a MIDI device. It is not. It never is. The joystick port adapter is for plugging in keyboards.

 

[johnnypraze]

sorry I read that somwhere on this site...

any connectors that wiil use the joystick port as a mic input?
would I still need a preamp?

What other options do I have? Like I said the pc mic doesnt sound that bad. Ive recorded in studios and other folks' home studios so Im not new to music just to producing and home recording.

 

[Track Rat]

A joy stick port (again) is NOT an audio port of ANY KIND. It will send and recieve data only. The only way into your computer with audio (a microphone) is thru the line or microphone input on the sound card. Your best results will be from a real microphone into a mic preamplifier to the line input on your sound card.

 

[crazydoc]

any connectors that wiil use the joystick port as a mic input?
would I still need a preamp?

As far as I know, none - especially not cheap - you're talking analog to digital conversion.

If the computer mic's ok, then use it for now - it's free. Your next cheapest option is a preamp with phantom power, like the audio buddy. You would gain an order of magnitude in sound quality coupled with the other mics you have, at a price of about $80.

 

[knownuttin]

Whoopy, I speak for myself only, but when I see that cat, I know to listen carefully. The image is hypnotic and strongly suggests good audio advice is being delivered.
-kent

 

[Whoopysnorp]

RROOOWWRRRRR! DON'T POINT YOUR SM57 RIGHT AT THE CENTER OF THE SPEAKER CONE!! MOVE IT OFF AXIS, OR I'LL PULL YOUR TONSILS OUT THROUGH YOUR ASSHOLE!! RRRROOWWWWRRR!!!


















I'm terribly sorry about that. That was Uglycat talking. He knows from what he speaks, though.

 

[selfcase]

..

Hey, I'm also new to recording, I also don't have a goddam pre-amp, but I was wondering, what's the difference between going from a microphone to a pre-amp, to the line-in on the soundcard, and going from the mic straight to the mic jack on the back of the computer, and then using a program like Cool Edit to add lots of gain to the recording?

Also, someone please explain the concept of 'phantom power'.


Finally, can I go directly from the microphone to line-in? I tried it, and I couldn't record anything.. What settings do I need to change on my computer to record from line-in instead of the mic? Is it better to go from mic to mic in, or from mic to line in? (Without any preamp)

 

[TexRoadkill]

Selfcase- Didn't all the other posts pretty much answer the preamp and input question?

Phantom power is required by most condensor microphones and is supplied by the preamp or an inline adapter.

 

[SOUND DIAGNOSIS]

C7SUS:

Last, once you have your mic>pre>soundcard chain you want to use ONLY THE LINE IN ON THE SOUNDCARD! The mic in on soundcards are only for use with cheesey computer mics. Not for recording line level signals to your hard drive.

Is this a valid statement? I made a great vocal track using the mic in on my turtle beach sound card. You mean I should be using the "line in" for better quality??? Is there a significant difference here?? Thanks -----ROB

 

[selfcase]

..

TexRoadKill.. No, you didn't read my question carefully. I learned you need a pre-amp to boost the sound on your microphone, but nobody really explained the difference between using a pre-amp and just adding gain with whatever software you're using.

SoundDiagnosis.. Maybe, but Turtle Beech are amazing soundcards, so chances are your mic in is really really good.

 

[esactun]

Re: ..

TexRoadKill.. No, you didn't read my question carefully. I learned you need a pre-amp to boost the sound on your microphone, but nobody really explained the difference between using a pre-amp and just adding gain with whatever software you're using.

SoundDiagnosis.. Maybe, but Turtle Beech are amazing soundcards, so chances are your mic in is really really good.

The short simple answer is that it's best to track louder as it will sound better than tracking softly and raising the volume digitally.

The REASONS for this are long technical disussions about not using the full bit depth, quantization errors, and all that jazz-- stuff I'm not qualified to explain properly. Sonusman did a largish thread a while back about "Quan errors" and digital processing and such. Try to search for it, it's good stuff. Threads on "24 bit vs. 16 bit" will probably explain bit depth and resolution.

And on soundcards not designed for audio (like a Soundblaster PCI or something), the mic in does have a preamp, albeit a really lousy one. The line ins on those cards are much cleaner, but the signal going in needs to be preamped. I don't know how the Turtle Beach sounds, so this may or may not be a problem for SoundDiagnosis.