Tape 4 track newbie question

[Bundle_Of_His]

Years ago I used to record things with on my TASCAM Porta 02 MKII with just a mic plugged straight into it (no idea what the mic was, it was terrible whatever it was.)

I've not recorded properly in years though, so I dusted it off, bought myself an SM57, an XLR to 3.5mm jack cable and a mic stand and tried to just batter straight in with recording. Except I then found the level of sound being picked up was almost nothing.

I did a bit of googling about this and from what I can gather, the problem is that I need a pre-amp to boost the signal to a respectable level, so really my set up should looking like SM57 > cable > Pre-Amp > cable > Four Track.

Am I understanding this right?

Cheers for the help.

 

[Lt. Bob]

Years ago I used to record things with on my TASCAM Porta 02 MKII with just a mic plugged straight into it (no idea what the mic was, it was terrible whatever it was.)

I've not recorded properly in years though, so I dusted it off, bought myself an SM57, an XLR to 3.5mm jack cable and a mic stand and tried to just batter straight in with recording. Except I then found the level of sound being picked up was almost nothing.

I did a bit of googling about this and from what I can gather, the problem is that I need a pre-amp to boost the signal to a respectable level, so really my set up should looking like SM57 > cable > Pre-Amp > cable > Four Track.

Am I understanding this right?

Cheers for the help.

yep and props to ya' for being able to look that up. Most newbies want it spoon fed to them.

You'll need a pre amp ...... you can get them starting as low as around 40 bucks for something from Art.
More money means better of course but I use something like that quite a bit so you don't have to spend a lot.

 

[j.harv]

You dont need a separate preamp for this.YOu should just be able to plug a mic in and go.
The trim knob is the one that will give you the volume boost.That controls the built in preamp.
Also be sure to use typeII cassettes for the best sound quality

 

[Bundle_Of_His]

Awesome, cheers for that man. I'll see if I can borrow a pre-amp to try and figure things out before I drop any more cash on one.

But just from a quick bit of gandering is the Art Tube MP Original the sort of thing you'd recommend? (Apparently I can't link until I've made more than ten posts!)

 

[Bundle_Of_His]

You dont need a separate preamp for this.YOu should just be able to plug a mic in and go.
The trim knob is the one that will give you the volume boost.That controls the built in preamp.
Also be sure to use typeII cassettes for the best sound quality

Hmm, the thing is, I have a BOSS Micro BR and I'm having exactly the same problem with that as well.

 

[j.harv]

Like I posted earlier,you shouldn't really have to use a external pre for this.
But if you decide to get one for extra boost,the tube mp is a good inexpensive choice.
I have a couple myself.

 

[Lt. Bob]

You dont need a separate preamp for this.YOu should just be able to plug a mic in and go.
The trim knob is the one that will give you the volume boost.That controls the built in preamp.
Also be sure to use typeII cassettes for the best sound quality

since there are no xlr inputs on that unit he can't just plug in an SM57 and go.
He could buy a hi/lo XLR to 1/4 transformer/adapter but I think that's not the way to go since it would cost half of what it'd cost to just get a pre-amp and the preamp is something he'll have further use for.

 

[Lt. Bob]

Like I posted earlier,you shouldn't really have to use a external pre for this.
But if you decide to get one for extra boost,the tube mp is a good inexpensive choice.
I have a couple myself.

and you're incorrect ..... there is no XLR jack on that recorder on any of the images I find.
He could buy a cheap piece of crap high impedance mic but why do that since, once again , .... it'd cost as much as just getting the pre.

 

[Lt. Bob]

Awesome, cheers for that man. I'll see if I can borrow a pre-amp to try and figure things out before I drop any more cash on one.

But just from a quick bit of gandering is the Art Tube MP Original the sort of thing you'd recommend? (Apparently I can't link until I've made more than ten posts!)

yeah ..... that'd be fine for a starting point. No need to buy a Neve to record into an old porta studio.

 

[j.harv]

and you're incorrect ..... there is no XLR jack on that recorder on any of the images I find.
He could buy a cheap piece of crap high impedance mic but why do that since, once again , .... it'd cost as much as just getting the pre.

Just going by what I have been doing with my Tascam 246.No xlr's either.But still works.
But yes,no harm in buying a few cheap pre's.

 

[Bundle_Of_His]

Having borrowed a mate's pre-amp that's bang on what the problem was. Cheers for the help.

Dinosaur Jr/Sebadoh knock off album here I come!

 

[Blue Jinn]

I don't have one, but I think the 246 1/4" jacks are mic or line. Was on a bill with a band called Bundle of Hiss once upon a time at the Gorilla Gardens. No relation I suppose?

 

[Lt. Bob]

I don't have one, but I think the 246 1/4" jacks are mic or line. Was on a bill with a band called Bundle of Hiss once upon a time at the Gorilla Gardens. No relation I suppose?

Yes ............. but they'll only take a high impedance mic so you either have to buy a high impedance mic ( generally crap ) or a low to high converter or get a pre.

Since you gotta do one of them it may as well be a pre since the 57 will be better than the vast majority of the high impedance mics you're gonna get plus it can also be used for other stuff like live use, where you'd never use that 1/4" high impedance POS mic.
The pre is sueful for in the future when you've upgraded while the transformer and/or the high impedance mic will end up in a drawer doing nothing.

 

[witzendoz]

Exactly, all this old gear was made for HiZ mics plugged in via a 1/4" jack. LowZ mics (most are now) just don't have enough gain unless you use a LowZ XLR to HiZ Jack inline transformer. Or as suggested just get a mic pre with a line out.

Cheers
Alan.