Recording vocals at home...

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KID_Tragic

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First off... I've narrowed my choices down to these four mics...
Audio-Technica AT2035..... AKG PERCEPTION 220... Samson C01UCWK1 ... 1 Samson C03U Microphone Bundle

And my budget for everything I need would to be around $250. Now I thought all I would need would be a mic, pop filter, stand, shockmount, and cables. But I'm confused on how the recording part really works. I thought you just had to buy cables that you could plug right to your computer and record. But as I go around I'm seeing stuff about pre amps and how you need them to record. So do you really need a pre amp to record? They seem to be pretty expensive and I dont know if I need them. Like I said I like where my budget was now after getting all of the equipment I thought I need... being below $200 even. For the record I'm doing this for hip hop.. as a hobby.. as of right now I'm not trying to be completely professional. I'm just a beginner and want to build to being more professional in years time maybe. Sorry if this is considered to be posted in the wrong area... but this is all very noobish IMO ^^. What equipment do u actually NEED to record?
 
To record a microphone into your computer you need something to boost the very low signal generated by a mic capsule to a usable level, then something to convert it to a digital signal that a computer can work with. The "booster" part is the pre-amp and the conversion is an audio interface, sometimes called a sound card. Many/most interfaces have a built in pre-amp but some purists like to use an external one.

Two of the microphones you list (the Samson ones) have pre-amps and interfaces built in so you can simply take a USB lead from the mic to the computer. However, I cannot in good faith recommend you go this route. You need only to search this forum to see how many people regret buying USB mics--they're prone to driver issue, monitoring problems and, because the pre-amp and converter sections are cheap afterthoughts, the quality suffers. It also means that you can't simply buy a different mic when you decide you want to change the sound, you can't move farther than a USB cable from your computer if you pick up disk and fan noise--and you certainly couldn't use the mic in a live situation if you ever get into that.

If it was me, I'd go with the AT or the AKG and budget in a basic sound interface with built in pre-amp. It might cost slightly more but either would be a better "building block" for the future and is also likely to be more trouble free in terms of driver and monitoring issues.

Bob
 
I've got the AKG and have only used it minimally so far, but like the sound.
As Bobbsy says, you need an Audio Interface (one with phantom power, if you are going to use a condensor mic like the AKG). For example, the M-Audio Fast Track Pro.. Of course, you need to set your budget accordingly and pick an interface that will give you the number of channels (simultaneous outputs) you will want to record at one time in the future (not just now).
 
M-Audio Fast Track 2 MKII USB Audio Interface is the cheapest interface i can think of with 48v for a mic input i know this is half your budget gone but you cant even start thinking about condenser mics without this... you could always go for something cheaper on the mic area like the behringer B-1 which even tho people dis their stuff its really going to perform the same as most of the mics you have looked at, and for sure if you plug it into a cheap pre-amp.
 
To keep it simple, your computer has a sound card which is fairly useless for recording. You need an interface, which acts as your soundcard, but allows you to plug in mics, guitars etc. Remember, interface is now your soundcard. There are lots available, but at a minimum you require:
- phantom power - 48 v
- preamp built in
- USB or firewire connection depending on your computer.
Have a look at Sweetwater or similar to find what you need.
Good luck
 
Ok so I'm probably going to annoy you all with my lack of knowledge with this stuff lol, sorry. But I now picked with mic I want... the audio technica. So off of amazon I am getting the mic, stand, shockmount, and pop filter for I think it was like $143.
So now I have to understand all this other stuff. In order to record on my computer and upload it to music sites, I'm going to need JUST a pre amp? Because Ive been to different sites with them saying pre amp, interface, and some just said all I need is a few cheap cords and thats it. I think I'm just confusing myself with all of this stuff. Budget wise, I'd probably go up to around $100-125 more for extra equipment stuff.

So I will have
-mic
-pop filter
-stand
-shockmount

Ill NEED
-cables
- Reccomended pre amp?
- Do I also need some interface?
 
Give us your computer specs.

Yes you need an interface, with buit in preamp, probably $100-$200
 
Do yourself a BIG favor and stay away from usb mics and adapters.
They are basically made for PODCASTING (radio chat shows), not music recording.

The analog-to-digital converters in their mini-soundcard are mediocre for music.
The poor monitoring in them will give you fits trying to overdub new tracks.
The short cords will introduce a LOT of computer fan noise.

Get yourself a real audio interface and regular mics. Here's a good guide:
Audio Interfaces and Soundcards

(you'll want to bookmark and read through ALL of Tweak's Guide...)

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My obligatory standard reply-for-newbies that I keep in Wordpad so this is just a paste (I don't want to re-type this all the time):

First off, immediately get a good beginner recording book (spend $20 before spending hundred$/thousand$) that shows you what you need to get started and how to hook everything up in your studio:
Home Recording for Musicians by Jeff Strong - $15
Amazon.com: Home Recording For Musicians For Dummies (9780470385425): Jeff Strong: Books
(Wish I'd had that when I started; would have saved me lots of money and time and grief)
You can also pick up this book in most any Borders or Barnes&Noble in the Music Books section!

Another good one is: Recording Guitar and Bass by Huw Price
Amazon.com: Recording Guitar and Bass: Getting a Great Sound Every Time You Record (9780879307301): Huw Price: Books
(I got my copy at a place called Half-Price Books for $6!!)

And you can get a FREE subscription to TapeOp magazine at Tape Op Magazine

Barnes&Noble or Borders are great places to start --- they have recording books and you can go get a snack or coffee and read them for FREE! Don't pass by a good recording book --- this is a VERY technical hobby and you REALLY want to start a reference library!!!

Good Newbie guides that also explains all the basics and have good tips:
Tweak's Guide to the Home and Project Studio
Free beginner PDFs | Computer Music | MusicRadar.com
The #1 online community for musicians | Harmony Central
Tips & Techniques - Gearslutz.com

21 Ways To Assemble a Recording Rig: How to Configure a Recording Studio Rig

Also Good Info: Directory - The Project Studio Handbook - Digital Audio, Compression, Mixing, Monitoring, Microphones

Other recording books: Music Books Plus - Home Recording

Still using a built-in soundcard?? Unfortunately, those are made with less than $1 worth of chips for beeps, boops and light gaming (not to mention cheapness for the manufacturer) and NOT quality music production. Even the cheapest $50 usb asio card will be a huge improvement.
#1 Rule of Recording: You MUST replace the built-in soundcard.
Here's a good guide and user-tested suggestions that work: The Best Audio Interfaces for your Home Studio by TweakHeadz Lab
(you'll want to bookmark and read through all of Tweak's Guide while you're there...)
Another good article: Choosing an audio interface - Choosing An Audio Interface


Plenty of software around to record for FREE to start out on:

Sony ACID Express (free 10-track sequencer): ACIDplanet.com: Free Downloads: ACID Xpress
Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net (multi-track with VST support)
Wavosaur: Wavosaur free audio editor with VST and ASIO support (a stereo audio file editor with VST support)\
Kristal: KRISTAL Audio Engine
Other freebies and shareware: Music Software - Computer Music Resources - Shareware Music Machine

Another great option is REAPER at REAPER | Audio Production Without Limits (It's $50 but runs for free until you get guilty enough to pay for it...)
I use Reaper and highly reccomend it...

Music Notation and MIDI recording: Melody Assistant ($25) and Harmony Assistant ($80) have the power of $600 notation packages - Myriad: Music Notation Software and much more... / Myriad : logiciels de musique, et bien plus...
Demo you can try on the website.

And you can go out to any Barnes&Noble or Borders and pick up "Computer Music" magazine - they have a full FREE studio suite in every issue's DVD, including sequencers, plugins and tons of audio samples. (November 2006 they gave away a full copy of SamplitudeV8SE worth $150, November 2007-on the racks Dec in the US- they gave away SamplitudeV9SE and July 2009 issue they put out Samplitude10SE, November 2010 SamplitudeSilver. FREE. It pays to watch 'em for giveaways...)

'Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he'll eat forever...'
 
For just vocals, you're not going to need much. The mic package that you already have ordered will work fine. For an interface with built-in mic pre, look here:

USB Audio Interfaces | Sweetwater.com

I suggest something like the Lexicon Alpha to keep your costs down, but there are some interfaces in the $100+ range that might have more features that you might want. Also look for units that come with a DAW program like Cubase.

You'll also need headphones:
Headphones | Sweetwater.com

Look for a closed-back design.

have fun.
 
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