Tell me what I'm missing, recording vocals.

[mate112]

Hi there.
I'm currently reading Home Recording for Musicians as recommended by one of the posters. Im getting some very good info and just wanted to double check with you professionals.

I want to work on the laptop mainly. I was in the process of buying one anyways, so adding couple hundered to it to make it audio friendly wont be a problem.

Software that I'll install on the computer will include (or should) a mixer, recorder etc?

From what I've read in the book I understand that I'll need a large-diaphragm consender mic (vocals only). Then I connect that to an interface which goes to the laptop?

Couple questions:
Where does a preamp go? Do I need one for just the mic?
Headphones-I'll be plugging them in the interface, correct?


I could also use opintions on type of interface. Fireware interface or an USB one? If everything (mic, headphones) is plugged in to an interface, there wont be anything going to the soundcard inself?


Thanks in advance, and sorry for newbie questions.

 

[bouldersoundguy]

The DAW software will be both recorder and mixer.

You'll need whatever mic(s) sound good on your sources. I'd rather have a variety of decent mics than one super expensive one. It connects the the interface which connects to the computer.

Most smaller (2 channel) interfaces have preamps built in. The headphones plug into the interface as well. Make sure the interface has hardware monitoring. Most do.

The interface essentially takes the place of the soundcard for any critical inputs and outputs. If you just need to record one or two tracks at a time a USB interface will be more than adequate. There are USB units that will do more. Firewire may have more capacity, but if you get into that level of recording I'd suggest a desktop computer with a PCI based hardware solution.