Something to Think About (then answer)

[Fyre]

okay seeing as Im not getting the equipment I thought I was to help improve my vocal quality I need serious help.

Now i know im not looking for studio quality recordings I just wont something better then what Im getting. I have this shitty 16 bit comp soundcard (which will be the first thing I get when I get my jobless hands on $100) and a nady sp-1 mic (I plan on upgrading but I need to know some good dynamics around the $50 range if there are any) I have no preamp, I just plug the mic into the line in of the audio card. So now for anyone who has good knowledge this is what Im working with and looking to get in a quick list

Working With
1) Nady Sp-1 (looking to upgrade)
2) 16-bit recording card (upgrading soon)
3) home made pop filter
4) Adobe Audition
5) Tracks 24

I Want
1) Clear Crisp vocals
2) To learn to mix so my vocals sound better on mix basicly (any tips would be helpful)

Okay if you can help me please do
Oh and the imporant part I am recording male hip hop vocals, and my voice is mid pitched (i guess)

If u truly want to hear a sample of my vocal quality you can go to www.soundclick.com/fyre then u may be able to say that with what i have it doesnt get any better.

 

[manning1]

the most rock bottom idea is to plug the nady (using a convertor from xlr)
into a mic pre of a cassette deck (they are thown away all the time),
and then feeding soundcard line input. way better than plugging in direct.
because the mic is at a few mv level and it needs to be boosted to line level of the sound card . just try it !
other than that you will need a mixer. the cheapest is a behringer for about 50 bucks. with a crap sound card theres a trick. in audition after recording a track use the noise reduction feature to clean it up.
peace.

 

[Fyre]

explain a little more what exactly do I need a mixer for if I use auditions onboard mixer for my levels and I use there EQ and everything? and I hate to ask this I know it makes me seem dumb but hey... what exactly do you mean buy cassette deck I mean I have a few tape players like the little boom boxes but none of um have in/outputs the all have headphone ins. So can u tell me that also

 

[manning1]

tis a fact of recording engineering when using a mic you MUST have some way of amplifying the mic signal. cant get away from it.
its like trying to run a car with no engine !
ie: either a mixer or a preamp. you just cant expect it to work going into a sound card line input.
please do lots of resarch on the net or get a book on audio engineering.
this is very basic stuff.

 

[Fyre]

Dynamic mics do need preamps. but i was looking all around and i really want the yamaha mixer that would be really nice for me but like i said i dont have $100 right now so what im askjn is what exactly is a cassette deck with a microphone in and an output i dont think i ever seen one of those. that is unless you mean a tape deck recorder?

 

[manning1]

you MUST use a mic pre with a dynamic mic like the nady. the cassete
tape deck provides that function. you know cassette tape dont you ?
thats what you want. maybe a relative has a used one you can borrow. look for a mic in jack on it. its a quarter inch "hole".
however this trick wont work with a condensor mic needing 48 volt phantom power. just get a yammy mg mixer when you can and it will handle both mic types.
peace.

 

[Fyre]

so let me get this right if i find a cassette deck with a mic in i can plug my mic into it then go from the headphone slot into my soundcard

 

[manning1]

fyre. you would go from line out on back of cassette deck
to line in of sound card.
if the nady - which it prolly does has a 3 pin xlr on it, youll need a adaptor to quarter inch for the mic in of the cassette deck.
OR another idea. is just to get a little behringer ub 802 mixer
for 50 bucks i think they are. has two mic inputs.
its not a neve - but will get you going.

 

[chessrock]

I already know about preamps and all that basic stuff but i didnt know that a dynamic mic needed a preamp or anything like that.

I'm an obnoxious sort sometimes, so forgive me. But that's kind of a funny statement. You might want to erase this thread so as not to embarass yourself a few years down the road. It's just one of those priceless quotes. I'm sorry. I'm kind of an ass. Carry on and don't mind me.