Mic to Computer

Wally Little · **Voice Talent** Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 4

I'm as green as green can get wink und grin

and just got into this business after hearing over and over comments about my voice. I did some looking around, found Voice 123 and bought a Shure mic, a new sound card for my PC, downloaded Audacity and here I am - I'm not been hired yet but . . . . here I am. Anyway, a common problem I seem to have is low recording levels into my software. I always have to 'amplify' the signal after it's recorded even after adding a +20db boost on the mic thru the software - and then I go thru the routine of 'removing the noise' and 'normalizing' so I don't sound like R2D2 or something. I'm thinking I may need a high to lo impendance adapter for my mic jack, since it's a 1/4 inch jack and not the normal XLR. Money is tight (which is why I'm trying to do this as well) Any suggestions? hilfe

I did order the DVD the other day and hopefully it will help me as well.

Chip Hinshaw · **Voice Talent** Joined: 23 Feb 2006 Posts: 65

What kind of Shure mic did you get? You probably want some sort of pre-amp to your interface, or at least an interface that can act as a pre-amp.

I've used the Edirol USB and Firewire interfaces for my portable work and love them. Not completely trouble-free, but enough so that it isn't bothersome.

Mackie reportedly has good interface devices (though I've never used them).

Freddie Molina · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006, 04:35 (GMT) Post subject:

Chip is right, a pre amp USB device will be the piece that you are missing, M-Audio has some really good ones.

Wally Little · **Voice Talent** Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 4

It was a standard uni-directional mic. The cord is XLR at the mic but needed a 1/4 inch to use going into sound card (actually needed to even convert that to a mini plug). My brother who has always worked with bands and shows says that for the money that Shure was good. I saw a preamp at the music store but it was more than the mic and sound card put together mega eek

BIG John Small · **Voice Talent** Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 3

At Guitar Center they have a Behringer mixer for about $50. (XENYX 802) It's not the best on the market, but it's small, it's cheap and it will give you a boost, at least your voice. It also has built in "phantom" power, so you can still use it when you graduate to your next microphone.

It's a great wat to get started without going broke.

BIG John Small
www.GreatRadioAds.com

Chris Holcombe · **Voice Talent** Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Posts: 22

Man I wish I knew that about the pre-amp. Spent 150$ for a M-Audio MOBILE_PRE USB with a AKG Preception 100 mic. I have plenty of volume control and phantom power, but I may have spent to much. Total was over 300$. Now I did not purchase a different sound card, and wonder if that would give me improved sound quality.

Any suggestions on the best bang for the buck sound card that would squelch noise or improve quality?

Thanks in advance for your imput.

Chris. Wink

Nikki Saco · **Voice Talent** Joined: 25 Aug 2006 Posts: 465

Definitely a preamp would help you get more power to your mic. I had an M-Audio preamp, usb, but I didn't like that because it bypassed my sound card controls. You may like that.

I returned the M-Audio within the week and bought a Behringer Eurorack UB1002FX which I love. The Behringer is really a portable mixer with phantom power if you need it (my Shure SM7B doesn't require it). Also, I don't have to have a computer to use the Eurorack. This is great if you ever have to do live voice overs for industrial shows, some DJ work at a party and similar live performances. It's also great because the UB1002FX model (FX) comes with 100 preset sound FX, reverb, chorus, flanger, delay, pitch shifter, etc. and you can still get it for about $100. The manuals can be downloaded at this site: http://www.behringer.com/UB1002FX/index.cfm?lang=ENG, and the link for "additional information" includes a list of the SFX presets. You'll have a blast playing with them. You can do the voice of the demon in the Exorcist for Halloween without scraping your vocal cords. Cheap thrills.

Of course, you don't want to do your dry recordings with any of the SFX engaged. Keep your recordings clean and add FX at the mix and master stage. I would only use the SFX for live stuff.

Now, I will say that for a while I was having power fluctuations forcing me to adjust my recording levels at least once a day. I don't think it was the mixer. We had a lot of brown-outs in my area until the power company repaired a main line a week ago. I don't know if that resolved it because I decided to take my mixer off the surge protector and put it directly on my battery backup. This appears to have stabilized power, though it still fluctuates a bit. I'm actually thinking of getting it its own battery backup. The one I have for the computer may be reaching the recycle stage anyway.

At a minimum, put everything on surge protectors and use well-shielded sound cables. I even have my cables hanging from velcro ties not touching computers, walls or other cables; this has really cut line noise and I seldom have to run my stuff through a noise filter. I also lower my fans during recording, since I have a 1.5 Ghz processor which gives me plenty of juice without a lot of heat or noise. I toyed with upgrading but my PC is so solid. My only upgrade lately has been to replace my CMOS battery on the mobo and the chipset fan and there's no lag for me at all.

It's also probably not a good idea to leave sound equipment powered up all the time, when you're not recording. It certainly wastes electricity, but also burns out your units faster.

Louis Tristan · **Voice Talent** Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 266

Sweet! sant's wish list is getting bigger.....
santa claus

Todd Belcher

Hey, Wally, welcome to the pool!

I HIIIIIIIIGHLY recommend the Mobile Pre from M-Audio. It's not very expensive, quite small, easy to take around with you, USB powered (don't have to plug it into the wall). Even though I think your Shure is not a comrpessor mic that needs phantom power, the Mobile Pre is able to provide phantom power in case you ever DO need it.

It takes over and basically becomes your computer's sound card, and is very clean sounding and noise-free. You can use it to boost the gain and solve your problem!

Here BSW's link for it: http://www.bswusa.com/proditem.asp?item=MOBILEPRE

Good luck, and welcome to voiceover-land!

Todd

Stan Davis-Potopa · **Voice Talent** Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Posts: 15

Wally:

You have a great basic setup with your computer and Audacity. What you need to remember is your microphone is the most important piece of equipment you'll buy. And right now, there are TONS of great mics at affordable prices. You said you have a Shure mic; I'll assume it's an SM 57. You can't go wrong with it; it's used in more studios than any other mic in the world. But, MXL, Studio Projects, RODE, Cascade and other have great affordable mics out. Check 'em out at Sweetwater Sound or Musician's Friend.

Your real need is a preamp. Plenty of those out, too. Edirol, M-Audio and others have great units. And, with most of the M-Audio units, you get ProTools LE bundled with it. With all due deference to previous posters, stay away from anything by Behringer or Samson. They're crappy knockoffs. I don't know of a pro studio anywhere that uses either. Check out reviews at http://www.emusician.com. That should help you out.

Nikki Saco · **Voice Talent** Joined: 25 Aug 2006 Posts: 465

Don't be afraid to buy a Behringer Eurorack if you want the versatility I talked about earlier. Behringer has been making sound equipment for a long time and the fact is there are recording studios all over Europe and the Americas using Behringer products; that's not to say everything out of Behringer is solid gold, but these sweeping statements about certain manufacturers could eliminate some excellent choices for all of us.

The Eurorack 1002FX has performed solidly for me. I've gotten work from demos produced with the Eurorack and delivered quality work produced with it. The M-Audio USB preamp is a good choice too but didn't offer me the versatility I wanted.

There are a lot of choices out there and that gets a little overwhelming for some people. In broad terms, we all want affordable and reliable quality. Yes, if we had pro studio budgets, we may opt for something a little fancier than a $100 Behringer preamp. That's true. But if you assume you're working with a home studio budget, consider a few specific things and that will help you eliminate some choices:

What most of us will agree on, is you can find affordable and reliable quality in a preamp for well under $200 and in many cases under $100. That may be the best starting point.

The mic really is the bigger issue. You can opt for a more affordable preamp now and spend the bucks for a better mic. Not all Shures are created equal. SM57, SM58 and SM7b's are very good for voice overs, SM7b being the one I prefer for female voice overs.

Todd Ellis · Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006, 23:03 (GMT) Post subject:

Here's another option if you're looking for something for your home studio - not quite as small and mobile - but not unmanageable either. Check ebay for a lightly used Mackie 1202VLZ mixer which includes the highly touted XDR pre-amps. These pre's are flat - very quiet and the mixer has the option of phantom power if/when you need it.

Sorry for slamming Behringer in another thread - personally, I have not had a good experience - opinions may (and obviously do) vary.

Heather Cooper · **Voice Talent** Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 472

Ok, I've been reading/listening (thank you colin)to peoples comments/suggestions on mics, brands, dynamic or condensed. I am now officially on sensory overload. What I need is simple....
I need a mic, a cheap one, that plugs into my computer. I am using sound forge to record. I can't do a seperate processor right now. I could probably spend between $100 - $125.00 for a mic at the most. As the work starts coming in, I will then buy the processor and eventually a big girl mic!
If I could just get a few suggestions on what I need to buy! I am getting lost in all the tech., jargen. Smile

Thanks,
Heather

Victor Harris

Colin Campbell · Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007, 21:03 (GMT) Post subject:

To the original poster Wally... if you have to get the mic cable all the way down to a 1/8th inch plug you are using a "consumer grade" sound card. Could be impedance mismatch as you suggest but also the sound card is expecting a cheap mic. If you want to keep the sound card you could preamplify the mic to line level and feed it in that way but be advised that thel levels consumer grade and pro grade equipment use at line level are different. Consumer equipment is at -10 db nominal and pro is at +4. In that scenario with an external preamp into line level you will overdrive the card. What is the mic and card you are using by the way?