Voice only, home pc, need clarification

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danboy777

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I need volume...

Hi, I have spent the last several hours trying to get the scoop by reading between the lines. I have a PC 2.5ghz, 128mb ram with an onboard realtek soundcard. I am recording audio only "spoken word". I have tried both an older ev dynamic mic (no preamp, my mobile dj mic) plugged directly into my soundcard. I have also tried a new sm57 the same way (no pre-amp). The 15 year old EV Mic sounds much brighter, hotter. I am recording in my basement, home office. Here is the problem...

Using sound forge, which I like, I am getting vocals but nothing near the level I need. I have to process it, by amplifying with effects processor on Sound Forge to get them to a decent level. I just feel I shouldn't have to amplify it so much. When I do burn it after processing it at 150% (amplification) it still needs to be jacked way up on volume on the cd player to be heard. This is the part that is unacceptable as these will be sold in stores. Note: I have tried 2 other recording programs but the levels were still an issue.

Please answer:
Would a mic pre-amp solve the problem or would an inexpensive sb live do the trick or both?

I am definitely after quality but my budget is real tight. I'd rather not spend more than another $150.00 total. The idea of a pre-amp is foreign to me because for years (15) I have always just plugged my microphone into my dj mixing board and wham... it worked great. I was unaware that it would need a pre-amp.

Also, would I use SF for my compression or would the mic pre-amp do the job.

Please inform with equipment recommendations.

Whew... thanks!
 
danboy777 said:
I have always just plugged my microphone into my dj mixing board and wham... it worked great.
Click to expand...
The reason it worked great is that your dj mixing board has a mic preamp in it. If you can figure out how to press this into service, you won't need to spend anymore money. Maybe your dj mixer has a preamp output? The thing you DON'T want to do is plug any kind of powered output straight into your computer...

And the only reason not to amplify something hugely in Sound Forge is if the resulting file is very noisy or hissy - and you only complain of low level. Don't be afraid of stepping on the gas in Sound Forge. As far as the overall level of the CD being low, I can't help you there --- maybe you didn't amplify the file enough in SF?
 
is their a quality problem in amping too much

amping too much... you mentioned it could create hiss and that is why I figured too much processing and I'd add noise... NO, on the mixer thing. No out that will work.
 
pre-amp...

COuldn't I plug the mic into the pre-amp and then the preamp into the sound card? I figured that is how it would have to work. I would fear I'd blow out the board or something if I did that???? But the forums seem to hint that people do it all the time? I thought the soundcard had a pre-amp already and that plugging another into it would be a bad thing..........
 
You could buy one of these, but it may or may not solve your problem.

Or you could get one of these and solve your problem for sure.
 
danboy777 said:
COuldn't I plug the mic into the pre-amp and then the preamp into the sound card? I figured that is how it would have to work. I would fear I'd blow out the board or something if I did that???? But the forums seem to hint that people do it all the time? I thought the soundcard had a pre-amp already and that plugging another into it would be a bad thing..........
Click to expand...

As ssscientist has suggested, your DJ mixer has a built in mic preamp. If it has a "line out" on it, you can connect it to the "line in" on your soundcard (with an appropriate adapter). You will not blow anything up connecting a line-level output to a line-level input.

You should not, however, connect anything to the "mic in" on your soundcard (that one is made for those cheap PC mics and the sound quality of the preamp on the card is terrible).

Eventually, you may want to upgrade to a good mic, preamp, and soundcard dedicated to music recording. There is plenty of info on this board about that if you use the search function.

Good luck.
 
OK... sscientist

Now, I have spent hours researching the m-audio stuff thanks to your wonderful insight. Heres the latest issue... what's better, the Lexicon Omega, the M-audio USB or the tascam us 122? These units would seemingly solve all my problems.
 
danboy777 said:
Now, I have spent hours researching the m-audio stuff thanks to your wonderful insight. Heres the latest issue... what's better, the Lexicon Omega, the M-audio USB or the tascam us 122? These units would seemingly solve all my problems.
Click to expand...

I think any of those devices will work for you. If you are doing primarily voice work, you don't necessarily need all the inputs that the Lexicon offers. The Tascam 122 is what I use for recordings and it works fine for me. The preamps are clean and quiet. You can pick it up for $169, new here.
 
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