Freesound Forums

I want to start some recording on microphone but I'm a bit confused about what I should get to make this all come together. I want to get clean recordings as past stuff has too much interference when I've recorded straight to computer.

So do I need a

1) Mic (obviously)
2) Pre Amp(boost mic volume in recordings?)
3) External Recording device like a mini disc(I'm guessing to avoid the noise of computer fans)

Is this right? I've also been told that I just really need a "external audio interface device" instead of a Pre Amp and an external recording device.

Just confused about how much and what I really need.

Any recommended set ups would be appreciated.(Acclivity, thanks for aleady mentioning your set up in my other thread.) Trying to keep the total under $200...

the only thing i can talk about here is what i personally have. being a student on a budget, i got a sony mic (usually £35) for £10 off ebay [ECM-DS70P] and i have a minidisc . that seems to work fine.

Another way around, on the cheap side, if you already have a digital camera (that also takes movies). I record with a Sony CyberShot P-32, and use Audacity to record the audio while the .mpeg is playing on the PC. From there you can boost the level if it's too low (and add other effects). That's how I recorded 90% of my sounds.

Oh wow, I think that's even more ghetto than the old labtec headset microphone I used to use...

If you really really want to record on the cheap you can get away with a camera or something you already have, but your sound quality will inevitably suffer as a result. I'm only now getting to the point when I can notice fidelity to a degree, and the Canon GL-2 internal microphone that is my preference now is definitely a step up from the junk I was using before.

Anyway, it sounds like soundhead has already tried something like this and wants to get a better system.

My wife has asked for a digital recorder for Xmas to make notes to herself while driving. Now I have been hankering for a digital recorder ever since we had a peak cicada population here a couple of years ago. I think about it fairly often. My children are musicians and Macophiles who would love to be able to record their sounds as mp3s and import them into a Mac.
The MicroTrack 24/96 looks really cool but is, I suspect, way more machine than we greenhorns need, and I really shouldn't spent that much $$. However I might rationalize that away because I like good tools except for one key reason; there doesn't seem to be a built in speaker on the MicroTrack. So I can't really justify the purchase as a recorder/playback device for my wife.
Would anyone please give me some ideas on very portable digital recorders or information sources that: 1) record mp3s and 2) have a playback speaker built in? The ability to record 2 tracks and use an external mic would be nice but not required and I realize my criteria is clashing.
Thanks for any specific or general ideas anyone has.

dcfox
My wife has asked for a digital recorder for Xmas to make notes to herself while driving. Now I have been hankering for a digital recorder ever since we had a peak cicada population here a couple of years ago. I think about it fairly often. My children are musicians and Macophiles who would love to be able to record their sounds as mp3s and import them into a Mac.
The MicroTrack 24/96 looks really cool but is, I suspect, way more machine than we greenhorns need, and I really shouldn't spent that much $$. However I might rationalize that away because I like good tools except for one key reason; there doesn't seem to be a built in speaker on the MicroTrack. So I can't really justify the purchase as a recorder/playback device for my wife.
Would anyone please give me some ideas on very portable digital recorders or information sources that: 1) record mp3s and 2) have a playback speaker built in? The ability to record 2 tracks and use an external mic would be nice but not required and I realize my criteria is clashing.
Thanks for any specific or general ideas anyone has.

If I were you, I'd probably go for two separate recorders to suit your needs. You could find an inexpensive digital voice recorder for your wife for $30 to $40 dollars since you don't really need high fidelity recordings for making notes. However, for the kids and cicada recordings, you might go the route that I am going which is with a Minidisc setup with an external mic. This doesn't really allow for direct transfer of mp3 files, but getting the files into mp3 format is not too difficult and the cost is fairly low.

soundhead
I want to start some recording on microphone but I'm a bit confused about what I should get to make this all come together. I want to get clean recordings as past stuff has too much interference when I've recorded straight to computer.

So do I need a

1) Mic (obviously)
2) Pre Amp(boost mic volume in recordings?)
3) External Recording device like a mini disc(I'm guessing to avoid the noise of computer fans)

Is this right? I've also been told that I just really need a "external audio interface device" instead of a Pre Amp and an external recording device.

Just confused about how much and what I really need.

Any recommended set ups would be appreciated.(Acclivity, thanks for aleady mentioning your set up in my other thread.) Trying to keep the total under $200...

Hi, look

If you like to start recording from a microphone under US$200.00 i think i can help you about:

1- microphone ( Samson vocal mic or any Shure under $39.99 )
2- Sound Card or USB/Firewire pc /mac interface
3- try a Alesis, Alto, Beringher , etc.. 4 channel mixer console is cheap price about $80.00
4- 2 guitar cable Mono to plug in your computer
5- patience and read some

i would look into ebay or some other auction site.

first off $200 for a mic and recorder is pretty tight budget. I am afraid if you buy everything new you won't really be happy with the audio quality you may be looking for...

if you still want to record straight to your computer (which would omit several potential transfer and cost issues) I would get an audio card that uses the ASIO standard. Pretty much any audio company that makes sound cards will be cool in this department. for example. M-audio makes a great 4in 4 out audio card called the Delta 44 (looks like you can get one on ebay for under $100 with shipping) . This doesn't have preamps, so you would need to get something like a behringer UB802 ( ebay, under $40 with shipping) or some other small mixing board with mic preamps.

I mention the Delta 44 and the behringer set up because that is that i used while in school (and on a budget). I am now recording on a laptop to an M-audio Fast Track Pro (which I love).

As far as mics go. looks like i left you about $60 after the new sound card and mixer. Once again. you are a bit limited. but you could probably find a used shure or akg or sennheiser mic in that range. at that price you are probably going to want to stick with dynamic mics.

I personally swear by my AKG C 3000 mic. It is a large Diaphragm condenser (so you will need phantom power), but I have used it on so many recordings that it isn't even funny (i think everything I have on freesound has been recorded with that mic).

I can give you a better idea of what you might want to look into if you post more specifically what sort of things you plan on recording.

hope this helps.

neonaeon
i would look into ebay or some other auction site.

first off $200 for a mic and recorder is pretty tight budget. I am afraid if you buy everything new you won't really be happy with the audio quality you may be looking for...

if you still want to record straight to your computer (which would omit several potential transfer and cost issues) I would get an audio card that uses the ASIO standard. Pretty much any audio company that makes sound cards will be cool in this department. for example. M-audio makes a great 4in 4 out audio card called the Delta 44 (looks like you can get one on ebay for under $100 with shipping) . This doesn't have preamps, so you would need to get something like a behringer UB802 ( ebay, under $40 with shipping) or some other small mixing board with mic preamps.

I mention the Delta 44 and the behringer set up because that is that i used while in school (and on a budget). I am now recording on a laptop to an M-audio Fast Track Pro (which I love).

As far as mics go. looks like i left you about $60 after the new sound card and mixer. Once again. you are a bit limited. but you could probably find a used shure or akg or sennheiser mic in that range. at that price you are probably going to want to stick with dynamic mics.

I personally swear by my AKG C 3000 mic. It is a large Diaphragm condenser (so you will need phantom power), but I have used it on so many recordings that it isn't even funny (i think everything I have on freesound has been recorded with that mic).

I can give you a better idea of what you might want to look into if you post more specifically what sort of things you plan on recording.

hope this helps.

Delta 44 is good Sound Card, but have much letancy some times, need to be on good PC and about 768 MB of Memory, i Use Delta 10/10 in 1 of my studio rooms and the other is a E-Mu0404 very cheap price and excelent sound , AKG 3000 Mic, i live , simple great and not Expensive , remember to add a pop filter , About console the Yamaha MG12/4 is good or MG16/4 not expensive and great results..

George

Blackheart

neonaeon
i would look into ebay or some other auction site.

first off $200 for a mic and recorder is pretty tight budget. I am afraid if you buy everything new you won't really be happy with the audio quality you may be looking for...

if you still want to record straight to your computer (which would omit several potential transfer and cost issues) I would get an audio card that uses the ASIO standard. Pretty much any audio company that makes sound cards will be cool in this department. for example. M-audio makes a great 4in 4 out audio card called the Delta 44 (looks like you can get one on ebay for under $100 with shipping) . This doesn't have preamps, so you would need to get something like a behringer UB802 ( ebay, under $40 with shipping) or some other small mixing board with mic preamps.

I mention the Delta 44 and the behringer set up because that is that i used while in school (and on a budget). I am now recording on a laptop to an M-audio Fast Track Pro (which I love).

As far as mics go. looks like i left you about $60 after the new sound card and mixer. Once again. you are a bit limited. but you could probably find a used shure or akg or sennheiser mic in that range. at that price you are probably going to want to stick with dynamic mics.

I personally swear by my AKG C 3000 mic. It is a large Diaphragm condenser (so you will need phantom power), but I have used it on so many recordings that it isn't even funny (i think everything I have on freesound has been recorded with that mic).

I can give you a better idea of what you might want to look into if you post more specifically what sort of things you plan on recording.

hope this helps.

Delta 44 is good Sound Card, but have much letancy some times, need to be on good PC and about 768 MB of Memory, i Use Delta 10/10 in 1 of my studio rooms and the other is a E-Mu0404 very cheap price and excelent sound , AKG 3000 Mic, i live , simple great and not Expensive , remember to add a pop filter , About console the Yamaha MG12/4 is good or MG16/4 not expensive and great results..

George

i would site that latency to come primary from running ANY sound card under the mme/directx drivers and not ASIO. an understanding of ASIO protocol is import. ASIO with my Delta 44 on a amd 2100+ processor rendered 17ms of latency. Which isn't noticeable. Plus, it only really matters if you are multitracking and overdubbing.

Well at this point I ended up getting

Pre Amp: Behringer MIC100 TUBE ULTRAGAIN Vacuum Tube Preamplifier with Limiter (mixed reviews)

Mic: Shure SM57(supposedly good)

Now I just need an external recording device. For now I'll have to stick with my computer. My budget has been cut to zero due to circumstances.

Are specific sound cards important for recording quality?

I'm not looking to be a studio recording multiple musicians at once, just recording the samples/pieces and then mixing parts together via an editor like Audacity.

Although I have picked up some devices I have not done any real recording. I just have to focus on other things for now besides recording.

Thanks for all posters advice.

soundhead
Well at this point I ended up getting

Pre Amp: Behringer MIC100 TUBE ULTRAGAIN Vacuum Tube Preamplifier with Limiter (mixed reviews)

Mic: Shure SM57(supposedly good)

Now I just need an external recording device. For now I'll have to stick with my computer. My budget has been cut to zero due to circumstances.

Are specific sound cards important for recording quality?

I'm not looking to be a studio recording multiple musicians at once, just recording the samples/pieces and then mixing parts together via an editor like Audacity.

Although I have picked up some devices I have not done any real recording. I just have to focus on other things for now besides recording.

Thanks for all posters advice.

ok. lets see here.
First I want to address one thing. The tube craze. I know you already bought it, but cheap tube preamps don't sound better than similarly priced solid-state equipment. (actually the solid state stuff will most probably have less self noise. a good thing). So if you JUST bought it, i would return it and get a small mixer.

Second. audio resolution does matter. cd's are mixed to 44.1 khz at 16-bit word length. I would say that is the minimum quality you want to go for.

DVD quality sound is 48Khz at 24-bit word length.

Many recorders now use 96khz at 24-bit (the idea behind this is that it is twice fidelity of DVD audio... thus protecting the digital recordings for the future..somewhat...). With HD-dvd and Bluray the audio fidelity is going to go up as well. 96k/24bit will probably be the norm (correct me if i'm wrong).

thus, to save yourself some grief: get a soundcard meant for recording. your listeners will thank you.

Also. If sound quality is what you are going for on your freesound project uploads , I would upload your samples as FLAC files. They are lossless, yet take up much less space than a WAV file.

soundhead
Well at this point I ended up getting

Pre Amp: Behringer MIC100 TUBE ULTRAGAIN Vacuum Tube Preamplifier with Limiter (mixed reviews)

Mic: Shure SM57(supposedly good)

Now I just need an external recording device. For now I'll have to stick with my computer. My budget has been cut to zero due to circumstances.

Are specific sound cards important for recording quality?

I'm not looking to be a studio recording multiple musicians at once, just recording the samples/pieces and then mixing parts together via an editor like Audacity.

Although I have picked up some devices I have not done any real recording. I just have to focus on other things for now besides recording.

Thanks for all posters advice.

Shure SM57 is very good mic , also you can use to recording some pieces of drums, guitar, bass, etc...
About Sound Card The E-Mu0404 is Compatible Whit ASIO / DIRECTX and the new software Drivers support 192 hz and comes whit Cubase LE and Sonar Home Studio, also is 100% compatible whit Saw Studio, N-track Studio, Adobe Audition etc.... and is very cheap price about 90us$

George
Hellcat Studios