Singing as a Hobby: a Specific Problem

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VulpesOpaca

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I love to sing. I really want to become better at in and would love to record myself doing some covers to (perhaps) put up on youtube. However...it's really just a hobby. I don't think I'll ever go anywhere with it and to be serious, I wouldn't really want it to. I think it'd be fun to (eventually) go on some singing competition not to win, but to just see how far I could get.

So now that you see what singing is to me, now I'll pose my problem:
What exactly should I do since it's just a hobby?

I've perused the forum trying to find answers and while I've found some, all the answers seem to point to putting a great deal of money into something big. I can't spend much at all and since I'm not planning on going anywhere with this (just looking to get better for my own enjoyment) I don't know what I should get.

I know I need a microphone, but what is the best for under $100? From what I've looked at on this website and other FAQs I have 3 advised to me: Shure SM57/SM58, Marshall MXLV67, or Studio Projects B1. Obviously I'm a newbie and I don't know much about all this so it would be awesome to have more advice on this subject.

I would love to simply use my Macbook for recording and I don't know anything about cables. Also, any advice for recording software?

Lastly I want to know: is there anything else I need since I would only be doing this as a hobby?

Any response would be greatly appreciated!
-V
(P.S. - I keep having this feeling I'm insulting people by simply stating that singing is only a hobby to me... I really hope that isn't the case.)
 
For a hobby of sing just for the joy of it and recording - I would suggest getting a USB microphone.
 
If you have Macbook already you probably have garageband on it already. Thats all you need. I'm not for sure on Mac if you need a computer interface or not. A computer interface is simply an external sound card designed for music. Pretty much all of them are good and will work for you. You can spend $30 or $300 or more. Get what works for you. I use the Tascam US-144 mkII and it works great. No problems with it. They have cheaper ones. The US-122 should work well as well. Check craigslist and you can often times get things cheaper there. Otherwise go to musicians friend or guitar center. Don't overlook Amazon.com either. You can buy pretty much anything there and it's reasonably priced. I bought mine on Amazon. Also have purchased a mic there as well. You would probably want a condenser mic to record with. So make sure your computer interface has a phantom power setting. If not you can buy a pre-amp for a condenser mic for $30. If you don't have garageband on your computer then take a look at Mixcraft 5. It's often called garageband for windows.

Good luck with your endeavors.
 
Apart from singing, do you play any instruments ? What do you plan to actually record ? I presume you're not thinking in terms of accapella. Or are you ?
 
USB mic is the go Samson do a good one cheap otherwise you will need interface to connect if you are just going to use it for practice there are numerous audio program's free like Audacity. And you won't require a lot off effects because that would give you a false reading of how good you really are maybe...a touch of compression and reverb. You could load backing tracks on and who knows you could become a legend
 
It can be a hobby.... most hobbies involve the outlay of some cash and the investment of some time. This is no different.

But don't make the "what's the best mic for under $100?" mistake - answer some of the questions that people are asking and you'll get some advice - minimum you probably need to do a half decent job is mic, interface, cables, DAW... the question about what exactly you're going to sing to needs to be answered.
 
For some people. golf is just a hobby. They, like you, are realistic, and are not setting about achieving the pinnacle of their craft.

But even a hobby can be expensive . . . the most unambitious hacker is still going to have to fork out considerable sums of money to equip himself and get out onto the fairway. Recording is no different.
 
gecko zzed said:
For some people. golf is just a hobby. They, like you, are realistic, and are not setting about achieving the pinnacle of their craft.

But even a hobby can be expensive . . . the most unambitious hacker is still going to have to fork out considerable sums of money to equip himself and get out onto the fairway. Recording is no different.
Click to expand...

Well stated....
 
VulpesOpaca said:
I love to sing. ... What exactly should I do since it's just a hobby?...
Click to expand...

It's been said well already, but "just a hobby" is not the way to think about it. I bought my first guitar 10 years ago, and quickly realised I was never going to be brilliant. I became fairly despondent and pretty much gave up after a few months of not trying very hard.

I recently decided that I really did want to be able to play, and 10 years older and wiser re-started with different expectations. Three weeks on I'm playing better than I ever did before because I'm playing for at least an hour a day, and have relaxed! It's crazy in some ways, but taking the pressure off myself has allowed me to progress.

And no, I'll never be heard in public I hope to be able to play for a sing-along with family and friends. I'm getting into home recording because that's fun too, and it helps to hear the good and bad of what I'm doing. I expect this is even more true for a vocalist.

Anyway, there you go - no answer to your actual question, but I hope you have loads of fun singing for the shear enjoyment of it.
 
Whaleblue said:
It's been said well already, but "just a hobby" is not the way to think about it. I bought my first guitar 10 years ago, and quickly realised I was never going to be brilliant. I became fairly despondent and pretty much gave up after a few months of not trying very hard.

I recently decided that I really did want to be able to play, and 10 years older and wiser re-started with different expectations. Three weeks on I'm playing better than I ever did before because I'm playing for at least an hour a day, and have relaxed! It's crazy in some ways, but taking the pressure off myself has allowed me to progress.

And no, I'll never be heard in public I hope to be able to play for a sing-along with family and friends. I'm getting into home recording because that's fun too, and it helps to hear the good and bad of what I'm doing. I expect this is even more true for a vocalist.

Anyway, there you go - no answer to your actual question, but I hope you have loads of fun singing for the shear enjoyment of it.
Click to expand...

I already like you dood. Great perspective. :)
 
I had a band ask me to manage them. When I laid out the plan it was more than they expected. Their response was, "We don't want to rule the world, we just want more gigs."

I said, "How easy do you think it would be to rule the worlld if you were actually trying to do so? It would take a whole lot more work than what I have laid out for you. If you want more gigs, I have told you what you need to do to get them. Don't believe for a second that fame and fortune are accidentally going to fall into your lap. If you want more gigs, this is what you have to do. If you really wanted to rule the world, you have an awful lot more to do"

It came to mind as I was reading your post and it appears as though you lack self-confidence. It's only a hobby because you don't feel comfortable enough to take it seriously and yet you would like to take part in a competition. If you are good at singing, then give it everything you've got. You have nothing to lose if you are expecting to lose anyway. But you COULD discover that you have something special and I would personally like to hear what you've got. There are a lot of people here who can advise you on equipment and technique. If you aim high, you are very likely, in the music world, to miss the mark by a long shot. But you will get up a few more rungs than if you stay hidden behind the hobby banner. Don't be afraid of not being good enough. Just do your best
 
Damn hobbyists !
Hang on, I'm one of them !!
 
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