Recording equipment for PC

[johnzo]

Hi,

I really want to start recording some acoustic guitar with vocals... sorta wanting to reproduce a nice live acoustic sound. I have no recording equipment, so i'm looking to get some... under a fairly tight budget.

At the moment i'm look to purchase a Yamaha mixer off a friend and either a SM57 or a condenser mic.

Now my question is, can i get away with just a Soundblaster Live for now... or isit crucial to get a soundcard such as M-Audio Audiophile / M-Audio Delta??

I really would like to keep my existing Soundblaster Live for another year or so.... but trying to weigh the benefits of having a better soundcard.

Isit also possible... to purchase M-Audio Audiophile / M-Audio Delta, and plug your mic straight into it? and if it is possible... which setup would produce a better sound??

1) Yamaha Mixer, SM57 or condenser mic, Soundblaster Live. OR
2) M-Audio Audiophile / M-Audio Delta , SM57 or condenser mic

Thanks guys.

 

[lomarrius]

you should be able to plug the mixing board's outputs directly into the soundblaster's line in and record that way. i have done it exactly that way before. if anything, you might need to get an adapter cable that lets you go from the mixer outputs to the soundblaster;s 1/8" in.

this will be TOTALLY adequate if you are just looking to "capture the moment" type thing and get something down on tape.

if you are, however, trying to have sound quality like Jewel or R.E.M., you will need a better soundcard and professional mic

the m-audio setup will undoubtably sound WAY better than the soundblaster setup. but, perhaps the soundblaster setup is all you need on your budget. it would be nice if you could it try it. i haven't read the specs on the soundcards you are talking about, but i have an M-Audio MobilePre on my laptop, and it lets me plug 2 condensor mics, or 2 line ins (or 1 of each) simultaneously. it was $91 on ebay

 

[manning1]

johnzo. the live will do for now. however if you want very good quality maybe get something better later on. myself - ive been saving for an RME but these are very expensive. but have very fine convertors for the type of acoustic work your considering. one thing you might find interesting is if you want to do multi part vocal harmonies , the new version of powertracks
(pgmusic.com) has a TC helicon feature built in. it will also let you record
48 tracks and mix to cd and is very inexpensive. talk to users on the pg forums who are very happy with the live/powertracks combination.
many on there also use the powertracks/delta sound card combo as well
with good results.
and try the demo sometime. ive been a happy user for years.
also it has many vocal and guitar effects built in thus saving you a pile of money. a drum machine is built in as well. peace.

 

[noisedude]

The problem is that you need a preamp. You can't plug your mic straight into a soundcard. So you should get the mic (SP B1 for my money) and mixer (Yamaha MG10/2) and then pick up an Audiophile asap. They've come down in price massively - I paid almost £200 for my Delta 44 and now they're closer to £100 two years later!

 

[johnzo]

The problem is that you need a preamp. You can't plug your mic straight into a soundcard. So you should get the mic (SP B1 for my money) and mixer (Yamaha MG10/2) and then pick up an Audiophile asap. They've come down in price massively - I paid almost £200 for my Delta 44 and now they're closer to £100 two years later!

Can't i plug the mic's into a mixer and mixer into soundcard? How big a difference does a preamp make? Is it crucial to get the preamp for a good sound?

 

[jay1232]

Can't i plug the mic's into a mixer and mixer into soundcard? How big a difference does a preamp make? Is it crucial to get the preamp for a good sound?

...and...what kind of a preamp is needed to plug in to the computer. i mean, i understand what a preamp does, sort of, but is there a difference in what preamp you choose for recording on a computer. can you get a cheap radio shack type one, or does it greatly affect the sound? currently im using a tascam four track, the cheapest one they make, so im looking to go the computer route and i figure anything will be a step up from cassette.

not to take away from jonzo's thread, but i think we have to same question...

 

[Rokket]

...and...what kind of a preamp is needed to plug in to the computer. i mean, i understand what a preamp does, sort of, but is there a difference in what preamp you choose for recording on a computer. can you get a cheap radio shack type one, or does it greatly affect the sound? currently im using a tascam four track, the cheapest one they make, so im looking to go the computer route and i figure anything will be a step up from cassette.

not to take away from jonzo's thread, but i think we have to same question...

The mixer has pretty good pre amps built in. What Noisedude was saying is that you can't plug the mics straight into your soundcard. You need a pre amp, and that's in the mixer.

 

[noisedude]

Yup! Are you saying you already have a mixer? If so then the 'gain' control is the 'head' or 'microphone' amp known as the pre-amp. You pretty much get what you pay for, but the Yamaha MG ones are extremely good for the money.

All a preamp does is turn a tiny microphone output signal into a 'line level' (bigger) one so that you actually have a signal worth hearing. Of course, how well it does that as regards introduction of noise and its tonal quality depends on how much you spent on it

 

[jay1232]

All a preamp does is turn a tiny microphone output signal into a 'line level' (bigger) one so that you actually have a signal worth hearing. Of course, how well it does that as regards introduction of noise and its tonal quality depends on how much you spent on it [/QUOTE]

i hear you...but what about getting a new sound card like say an audiophile 2496..would that by-pass the need for any pre amp?

hell, can i plug my mic into my stereo and then plug the stereo line-outs into my current stock soundcard? wouldn't my stereo reciever have a mic preamp there? maybe not a good one with good noise control, like noisedude just sadi, but it would perhaps make it work? am i in danger of ruining my soundcard then?

 

[notbradsohner]

no, your stereo does not have a preamp, you will have to buy one, there is no way getting around it. Get a little yamaha mg series mixer.

 

[noisedude]

He's right!! A standard pc soundcard can be ok to start with ... you need a preamp, like it or no!!

 

[Ibrow]

Some soundcards have pre-amps built-in. Your Live does. That is the Mic-in jack. It'll sound like crap, but it will work. Other NICE M-Audio cards have built-in pre's too.

The 2496 DOESN'T have a pre-amp.

The BEST way to go, I feel, is to get an affordable mixer with "good" pre's (all within the $ amount you are going to spend of course) and just use your SB Live line-in for now. You will use the mixer for years to come.

When buying music gear NEVER think of the now. Never. ALWAYS look to the future. Try to think of what you are PLANNING on doing eventually. You just don't want stuff sitting around taking up space that you will never use again when you could have spent, say, $50-$100 more and had a future-usuable piece of equipment in your chain.

The old adage, "Buy crap, buy twice." is right on and is an expensive lesson.

You already have the SB card, and it will work, to record 1 track at a time. You know this needs upgrading, but it's not necessarily a "requirement" right now. Spend your money on a quality mixer, with quality pre's, to go with your 57. Think of how many in's and out's from that mixer you "could" see yourself using in the future and buy accordingly.

Hope that helps.

 

[johnzo]

Guys... don't know how to thank you all for helping this newbie out! very much appreciated... and huge thanks! especially Noisedude... thanks mate. Hopefully i can write some nice stuff and then record something i'll be happy with!

 

[noisedude]

Well thank you very much!

Are you sorted now then? Hope so, if not, keep asking!!

I would make one edit to 'buy cheap, buy twice'. It's definitely, 'buy wrong, buy twice'. The Audiophile is a good card, the MGs are good mixers. The 57 is (sigh .. I suppose) a good mic. So are the others mentioned.

Just don't go buy a Behringer mixer or mic, or pick up some crappy soundcard that doesn't do what you want it to. And if you're not sure precisely what to buy ... you know where we are!!!

Enjoy!