recording through mic in

  • Thread starter Thread starter LuvMacheen
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LuvMacheen

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I have an out of the box compaq with a soundmax card of some sort... it has the line out, line in, and microphone inputs.... when I record I have been using my SM57 to a cable with the 1/4 in jack input and then converting it to the 1/8 and plugging it into the mic slot... I have been doing vocals, guitar (both acoustic with internal 'mic' and sm57 micing Marshall amp), drums (zoom drum machine with 1/8 in out from phones to 1/8 in in to pc)...

So... should I really be using line in or the mic input? Also I vaguely understand high and low impedance... and a low impedance would be better for the recording right? How can I do that (I emphasize cheaply).... or should I do it???

Thanks in advance...
 
You should be using a mixer (or any mic pre) into the line in. I don't know how you're getting sound through the mic in, the levels are way too low.
 
the mic in appears to work... I mean I even have to lower the db's or i go into the red at times... mainly when i direct plug my bass or guitar into the mic in. I do have one of those cheap radio shack 4 channel mixers... I also have a 300 watt soundtech but that seems like overkill... I could try those.... you think that would help the sound a little?
 
Forget impedence for the time being. A mic signal is MUCH smaller that a line signal. The mic needs a preamp to amplify the signal to a line level signal. The mic in on you computer includes a crappy preamp, but a preamp nontheless, so you can plug your SM57 in and still get sound. Instruments like bass and guitar output a signal somewhere in between line and mic, which is why when you plug into the mic in you have to back way off the gain to avoid clipping. Does your soundtech have a line out? If it does the best way is to plug the mic into the soundtech (use a XLR to XLR cable if possible) and use it's preamps to amplify the mic siganl, and then send the line out to the line in of your computer. It'll sound a lot better.
Now, back to impedences. Passive/magnetic guitar and bass pickups are designed to work into a high impedence input, line and mic inputs are both considered low impedence. To record a guitar or bass direct, you really need a DI box, which converts the high impedence guitar/bass signal into a low impedence mic signal, which you can plug into a mic preamp.
 
Yes I believe the soundtech has a line out... so using the soundtech... do I 'crank' soundtech volume levels and use the -db to bring it down a notch or do I leave the db at 0 and modify levels on the soundtech to make sure I don't go into the 'red'

Thank you for your information this is VERY helpful !!! I did not realize these things...
 
Leave the line in at 0, and control the soundtech preamp gain (sometimes called trim) knob so you don't go into the red.
 
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