What do you put between your mic and the PC when you record?

[Marinblues]

Re: What do you put between your mic and the PC when you record?

Do the tubes really work in there Marin? Is the gain as good as it should be?
I did read through your article about recording before I posted this thread.

Thanks

yes, the tubes work in there. The idea is that the pre-amp brings the microphone level to a Line-in (soundcard) level. A tube amp supposedly does this in a "smoother" and warmer fashion which we guitarists like.

Of course, if you need a new soundcard, you might consider a soundcard with a microphone preamp in it, like the Tascam which was recommended already.

M.

 

[Voxman]

Re: What do you put between your mic and the PC when you record?

you mean this: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Focusrite-TrakMaster-Pro-Channel-Strip?sku=188228

That's not too expensive in comparison with the tascam I guess...

I would hate to go into digging for this stuff. It took me about a year to learn the basics about amps, I d hate to go into the same process for pre amps! hehe...

Yes,that`s the one Naaa,it`s not too expencive...but it`s goooood !
There`s a lot of basic stuff to learn in the world of studio gear,i`v just started the long trip
Here`s some questions to come : what vocal mic to buy
waht guitar mic to buy besides a 57
how do i get a good drum sound
and so on.....hahaha
ROck on

 

[fingerace]

Re: What do you put between your mic and the PC when you record?

Marin, my sound card was one of the best 2-3 years ago when I made the PC, I don't think I ll get a new sound card since I will get a laptop before I go to university next year. It's not worth it...

I thought the tascam was just a mic pre amp? Is it a sound card by it self?

Voxman, oh brother... it's too much for me at this period of time hehe! I think I ll go to the local guitar shop now and try out some guitars to cool off and relax!

I hate too many options! I want to plug and play, but I guess this is the musician's curse isn't it?

 

[Marinblues]

Re: What do you put between your mic and the PC when you record?

Marin, my sound card was one of the best 2-3 years ago when I made the PC, I don't think I ll get a new sound card since I will get a laptop before I go to university next year. It's not worth it...

thats good. which soundcard did you get?

I thought the tascam was just a mic pre amp? Is it a sound card by it self?

it is a soundcard.


M.

 

[fingerace]

Re: What do you put between your mic and the PC when you record?

I have a Sound Max card. I was into computer gaming then so I got the one with some extra features for better gaming sounds:

Sensaura 3D Positional Audio (3DPA)
EAX and DirectSound 3D Support

I have no idea how that is different from ordinary cards, but I remember chosing this one after it has been suggested by my employer at the computer/tech shop I was working at.

btw I am searching MF right now and I found 12 potential pre amps!

 

[Marinblues]

Re: What do you put between your mic and the PC when you record?

I have a Sound Max card. I was into computer gaming then so I got the one with some extra features for better gaming sounds:

Sensaura 3D Positional Audio (3DPA)
EAX and DirectSound 3D Support

I have no idea how that is different from ordinary cards, but I remember chosing this one after it has been suggested by my employer at the computer/tech shop I was working at.

btw I am searching MF right now and I found 12 potential pre amps!

It probably a good sound card to begin with but perhaps, on the long run, you might want to consider a proper recording sound card. Commercial, inbuilt sound cards are more geared towards listening audio and gaming and not home recording. Just consider: how important in a pc game is the quality or latancy of the recording?

However, I wouldn't bang my head against the wall because of it and I would take things in steps (in order not to overspend all at once).

Remember: "Good" is what sounds good to you...everything else is marketing.

M.

 

[fingerace]

Re: What do you put between your mic and the PC when you record?

It probably a good sound card to begin with but perhaps, on the long run, you might want to consider a proper recording sound card. Commercial, inbuilt sound cards are more geared towards listening audio and gaming and not home recording. Just consider: how important in a pc game is the quality or latancy of the recording?

However, I wouldn't bang my head against the wall because of it and I would take things in steps (in order not to overspend all at once).

Remember: "Good" is what sounds good to you...everything else is marketing.

M.

Yeap, small steps are a must on these things... Besides that, I have all the experience from all you guys to guide me through!

 

[Mephis]

Re: What do you put between your mic and the PC when you record?

audacity is a software right? Does your soundcard have a build-in mic pre amp?? does it make a difference if connect to a USB rather than the 1/8 jack?

Audacity is software. Freeware

Soundcard? Mic-preamp? It's just a cable plugging into one of the many USB ports on my computer. Big long green cable with an XLR plug on one end and a USB plug on the other, no box in it or nothing like that.

Yes it does, the 1/8th jack is much noiser and doesn't sound even half as good.

I did a lot of research and asked a lot of people if I needed a preamp and I got competely mixed opinions. The guy who sold me this cable said I only needed a preamp if I wanted to add effects or change EQ, he said it wouldn't make the recordings sound any better.

 

[fingerace]

Re: What do you put between your mic and the PC when you record?

I did a lot of research and asked a lot of people if I needed a preamp and I got competely mixed opinions. The guy who sold me this cable said I only needed a preamp if I wanted to add effects or change EQ, he said it wouldn't make the recordings sound any better.

I thought that a mic has a very low output and needs to be increased before it reaches the sound card?

 

[Marinblues]

Re: What do you put between your mic and the PC when you record?

Mephis,

are you referring to this cable?:

http://www.soundtech.com/lightsnake/xlr10.asp

Its really interesting. THe S/N ration is not the best but I immagine the pro's are the simplicity and the cost (how much did you pay?).

The only other issue may be latency, but I have read that they are working on an ASIO low latency driver.

M.

 

[Marinblues]

Re: What do you put between your mic and the PC when you record?

Actually, it looks like you can use the ASIO4ALL driver with it:


http://www.soundtech.com/discuss/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=949

Mephis, what the sound quality like?


M.

 

[fingerace]

Re: What do you put between your mic and the PC when you record?

So it actually has a built-in sound card. hm...

 

[doveman]

Re: What do you put between your mic and the PC when you record?

Believe it or not, I use a Fender Acoustasonic amp ...

Not a cheap way to go if you don't already have one ... but if you have an acoustic amp already, it does great.

 

[Marinblues]

Re: What do you put between your mic and the PC when you record?

Actually, talking about "souncard in a cable" solutions, has anyone tried the Stealthplug? http://www.stealthplug.com/

It pretty cheap (99$ or 99€) and I've read some good reviews.

 

[fingerace]

Re: What do you put between your mic and the PC when you record?

If it had a mic XLR input additional to all that so that you can record an actual amp with that it would be UNBEATABLE!

 

[Fender_Punk]

Re: What do you put between your mic and the PC when you record?

guitar > Eurorack 1604A > iMic USB > Apple Garageband (in a Poer PC Mac Mini). NO PC. No hassle!

 

[Mephis]

Re: What do you put between your mic and the PC when you record?

Mephis,

are you referring to this cable?:

http://www.soundtech.com/lightsnake/xlr10.asp

Its really interesting. THe S/N ration is not the best but I immagine the pro's are the simplicity and the cost (how much did you pay?).

The only other issue may be latency, but I have read that they are working on an ASIO low latency driver.

M.

Yep, exactly what I'm using. The driver has a booster or something I can turn on and off. It was $30 after I made GC discount it for having tore up packaging.

Audio quality seems great. I'm waiting on a shure SM57, i'll be able to better judge after that.

 

[fingerace]

Re: What do you put between your mic and the PC when you record?

From what I understand, the pre amp depends only on your budget. There are so many options, it's just a matter of choosing what price range you think is worth it for your recording needs and then choosing the correct pre amp from that range.

Like any other type of gear :doh: :smack:

 

[MesaDCLP]

Re: What do you put between your mic and the PC when you record?

Record with a good (pro audio not gaming/soundblaster) sound card that supports 24 bit recording, and you shouldn't need a pre to get good levels. Even if the levels are low, you just increase the gain in the software, assuming it supports 24 bit as well. After that latency becomes the issue when overdubbing, so get a good card $$$.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: What do you put between your mic and the PC when you record?

Record with a good (pro audio not gaming/soundblaster) sound card that supports 24 bit recording, and you shouldn't need a pre to get good levels. Even if the levels are low, you just increase the gain in the software, assuming it supports 24 bit as well. After that latency becomes the issue when overdubbing, so get a good card $$$.

I'm sorry, but this is bad advice ... unless you mean the good audio hardware has a mic pre built in (a lot of them do).

24 bit or not, you should never use the software to provide gain. Okay, maybe if you have a really hot signal and a really powerful mic ... maybe you can get away with it. In 95% of cases you will be pushing that fader so high that you won't have anywhere to go once it's time to mix, which leads to the dreaded digital clipping.