Audio/Recording Geeks!

[revnja]

Hey everyone. I have a few friends that I like to play music with, and we'd like to lay down some vocal tracks, etc and play with them on the computer. I've been looking to get a decent mic setup (i dont want it sounding like ass), but I wanted to get something that's about $100-120 total. I've been checking out the following things at Musician's Friend:

The Microphone

and

This Preamp

Now for you geeks out there, you will probably think this is bad equipment compared to what you have. Keep in mind that I'd like to use this microphone mostly for vocals, and spoken word (I've been thinking of Podcasting). Sure, we might record an acoustic guitar, but nothing really intense.

My editing machine will be my Apple powerbook and what's available as far as audio in, is a TRS audio in jack. I've noticed they sell XLR to TRS cables, and was thinking about connecting it directly in to the powerbook. Would that work? If not, that's where that pre-amp comes in. I guess it will take the XLR output from the mic and turn it into TRS input to my Powerbook's audio-in jack.

I come to you all asking for help. I know almost nothing about this stuff anymore, and definitely need some help picking out a decent microphone/pre-amp for about $100. Would I be okay with this mic and pre-amp or am I missing something?

Thanks!
Adam

 

[KLin]

Shure

Any of those would be a great choice.

 

[revnja]

I used to own an SM58 and it was one of the best mics I had ever heard. But my problem is that it's going into a computer. Will I need a pre-amp like the one listed above, or will it be okay plugged directly into the computer?

 

[amcdonald]

I use an sm58 with a homemade pop filter and my computer, with a 4-track to convert the xlr to my soundcard and compress it, and an equalizer also.

 

[revnja]

A 4-track what? Recorder? Mixer? If I can get away with plugging it directly into the computer, it'd be neat, but I will buy a pre-amp if it comes down to it.

(Excuse the ignorance, I'm just trying to make a somewhat informed decision.)

 

[Evadman]

Paging Trygve to ATOT, your assistance is required STAT!

 

[amcdonald]

recorder.. i guess just buy a preamp if it's cheap.. i'd go for a cheap compressor though.

 

[revnja]

Yeah, the pre-amp is $49 and the mic set is $60 which is exactly where I want to be price-wise (sans cables, but those are cheap).

 

[CptObvious]

I haven't tried either product...actually, I remember buying the MXL990 as a package deal at Guitar Center but sold it on eBay.

From hanging around recording forums, the consensus seems to be that the M-Audio Audio Buddy ($80) is the best pre-amp under $100. I had one for my first pre and it was good for the price. The only downside is that some true condenser mics require the full 48V of phantom power and the AB doesn't put out that much. But it shouldn't be a problem for most mics in your price range. The AB also has two channels vs. one on the ART.

I'd go with the 990 and AB to start out with.

 

[Ornery]

My editing machine will be my Apple powerbook and what's available as far as audio in, is a TRS audio in jack.

I'd like to hear an example of the best that can be achieved from that setup.

 

[amcdonald]

Originally posted by: Ornery
My editing machine will be my Apple powerbook and what's available as far as audio in, is a TRS audio in jack.

I'd like to hear an example of the best that can be achieved from that setup.

I doubt it's the best that can be achieved.. but I've gotten relatively good at recording my stuff over the last few months.
I have a similar setup to what he will have.
sm58 running through a preamp/compressor into a nvidia onboard soundcard.
Guitars and vox recorded with the sm58, bass/keyboard is direct in through an equalizer.
I recorded this with a very basic understanding of adobe audition. I know barely anything about tweaking frequencies/mastering.

 

[Ornery]

Thanks Alex, that sounds perfect. No noise, and it's crisp. I like it! :thumbsup:

 

[amcdonald]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Thanks Alex, that sounds perfect. No noise, and it's crisp. I like it! :thumbsup:

Thanks!

 

[misle]

If you want simple, cheap and good quality, I would go with a Shure SM-57 (will work on vocals quite well along with snares and guitar cabs) and a M-Audio Audio Buddy. This will put you closer to the $150 range though.

It's a good setup though. When I first started recording bands (and before I dropped $3k on recording equipment) this was the setup I used.

Check my sig, the songs on the Cannot Robot site were done with a 57 and Audio Buddy. Everything except bass drum and overheads.

 

[Trygve]

Originally posted by: Evadman
Paging Trygve to ATOT, your assistance is required STAT!

Wow {blush} -- I have to admit that I've got no experience with inexpensive condenser microphones. Like everybody else, I've got some SM58s, and most of the location sound I do is with boom-mounted shotgun microphones hooked to portable DAT decks or, on one movie we were just shooting, a DVX-100a MiniDV camera. I've used condenser mikes for studio work, but those have been Neumanns, which are a little more pricey.

Taking a quick look at the products mentioned, they're probably fine (especially considering the cost) and the preamp does provide phantom power, which I'm guessing the microphone will require, even though it doesn't say. (Some can run off an internal battery instead of phantom power, but they'd probably indicate this if it were so.)

 

[revnja]

I've found a different pre-amp for a little more that seems to be a lot less cheap (as in flimsy cheap). It provides Phantom power and everything else like that. I'm thinking maybe I should just spend a little more and get a SM58 because I know those are good. I get a general consensus that recording straight to my audio in isn't a great idea. What could I do to ensure what I'm getting is good quality?

 

[NL5]

Originally posted by: adambooth
What could I do to ensure what I'm getting is good quality?

Well, it will be a little tough on $150 bucks.

I would suggest as a bare minumum a MXL V67G and a M-Audio DMP-3. Not great, but very usable. Eventually I would invest in some sort of A/D conversion besides your on board one.

 

[CptObvious]

Personally, I think you'll get better results with a cheap condenser rather than a dynamic mic like the SM57 or 58. The 57/58 are good all-purpose mics, but for recording vocals a condenser has a clearer and more detailed sound.

Recording straight into the soundcard is the way to go, as long as you have a pre-amp between the soundcard and the mic. If you find your soundcard adds too much noise to your recording, you could probably add an external interface later.

 

[MWWInc]

I recently purchased a Studio Projects B1 mic and VTB1 preamp off of eBay for ~$165. I was pretty much in the same situation - I'm not an audiophile, I just wanted to record some vocals/guitar/djembe and play around with it in GarageBand and have it sound decent. You might want give those a look.