What am I doing wrong?
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Posted on Apr 12, 2006 10:39 pm
insyne
Loser
Member Since: Apr 12, 2006
Hey,
I I'm gonna first off start by telling what I got. I'm using Magix music studio, I think version 9. Anywho. My mic is a Sure PG48. Thats all I'm using. I have my music in mp3 or wav format, and I record vocals over that.
I know my mic is crap. It's a pg48, which I've been told is crap. What am I missing? What do you recommend over the pg48?
Secondly, in magix, I recorded a rock-style song, with a few mellow moments, then an intense chorus. However, it all came out crap. There's singing, then rap, then practically screaming hook. The rap sounds decent. The singing and the hook need to be taken out back and shot. I can't master the sound right? Anyone a crackshot at magix that can help me at least tweak to the fullest, what plugins to use, what effects to set, etc? That can give me a good "rock" sound. Thanx.
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HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Apr 13, 2006 11:04 am A great place to start with your tweaking(in any audio program) is with eq'ing .
www.homerecordingconnecti...tory&id=154
Also, I didn't notice any mic pre-amp in your profile . You may want to look into something that will get your recorded signal up to snuff before it gets to the media .
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Apr 14, 2006 01:43 pm seems to me that you may be overloading your preamp (or whatever device is after the mic). Or you may be overloading the mic itself. I'd guess the preamp first though, as they're easier to overload if you're not setting the gain correctly.
Your statement 'the rap sounds decent' lets me think that the actual signal chain can be worked with, because it's working in one way. So you would need to figure out ways to make them all work.
You may need to overdub some of the screamy parts with alot less gain, so you don't overload or clip the signal.
Clipping the signal in the digital world sounds very bad, and it may be what you're hearing.
********
I just read in your profile (and Hue's post) that you're plugging your mic directly into the PC. If that's the case, then you're probably using the built in sound card with the PC. And if you are, then you're using the crappy preamp that's built in to the sound card in the PC. These are not very good at all for music recording. Ok for IRC chat, and such, but they're poopy for real audio music type recording. They will probably clip and overload very easily.
I'd recommend purchasing a standalone preamp, like an M-audio audio buddy, or something like that. This will give you much better control over the signal levels going into your PC, and give you a better signal to send to your PC. Plug the output of a preamp into the line in on your sound card, as you wouldn't need to preamp the signal twice.
If you're serious about staying at this, then a real recording sound card/ interface should be on the top of your list. This will give you much better analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion. Plus you'll have better control over what to do with the sound, and it'll be sending out better signal to listen to.
I wouldn't worry about the PG48 yet, it's probably better sound quality than the built-in sound card.
insyneLoserMember
Since: Apr 12, 2006
Apr 14, 2006 09:32 pm You got any suggestions on a poor man's pre-amp? or studio oriented sound card?
DID a little research. What about:
M-Audio Delta 1010 LT PCI Digital Audio System
or
M-Audio Audiophile 2496 PCI Digital Audio Card
I saw those at guitarcenter.com. The second one's about 70 bucks, the first is around 200. I'm hoping this is what I need, and if all else fails, get a new mic afterwards.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Apr 14, 2006 10:38 pm Of the 10/10's 10 inputs, only 2 are preamped. And another 2 are S/PDIF I think.
The 24/96 has 2 inputs and 2 outputs, neither of the inputs are preamped.
There are several people here that use the 1010LT, and I think the main issue is getting preamps for all of those other inputs. Seems to be a good quality card, just a bit of a pain to interface with.
It'd still be a good idea to invest in either a 1 or 2 channel stand-alone preamp, or a small mixer to get you off the ground, whichever card you choose. A mixer with direct outs or at least channel inserts would be a good interface for that 1010LT.
A 2-channel stand-alone preamp like an M-Audio DMP3 or Audiobuddy would be a good interface for the 24/96
insyneLoserMember
Since: Apr 12, 2006
Apr 15, 2006 11:47 am ok, I checked out pre-amps. Now, I'm looking for external preamps with two channels at least, right? How bout this?
ART Blem Tube MP Professional Mic Preamp/Processor
or
Behringer TUBE ULTRAGAIN MIC100 Preamp
Both are about 50 bucks or so.
I never heard of ART. heard of behringer. I might go ahead and get that if thats what I need, and if it's decent.
Oh, theres also
ART Tube MP Project Series Tube Microphone/Instrument Preamp
or
Rolls MP13 Mini-Mic Preamp
those first two got bad reviews, saying there was a bad humming sound, and stuff.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 15, 2006 05:06 pm The bad reviews were from the first release of the units. Those problems have been addressed and solved now. Wither one is a great starter pre amp, and very budget minded. The Rolls unit is far below either of the other units you mention.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Apr 15, 2006 08:09 pm I have an ART Tube MP Studio, and I wouldn't recommend it. It tends to steal the high end out of anything you run thru it. Makes a great bass DI but recording vocals or guitar thru it tends to make for a track lacking hi-freq definition.
The Behri Ultragain tries the same starved plate preamp tube design and from recordings I've heard using one, it doesn't sound much different than the ART tube.
The Audiobuddy and DMP3 I mentioned both ditch the fake-tube preamp trick and just do it solid-state, and from what I read they give a pretty clear signal path. Not stellar but clean.
I have a Yamaha MG series mixer and its preamps are pretty good too. Clean but certainly not stellar either.
Anyways thats my 2 pennies...internet opinions aren't worth a whole lot so the best advice is to go try them out at a local music store. Or take advantage of internet retaillers' money back guarantees and keep sending units back until you find "yours".
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 15, 2006 08:33 pm I keep an Audio Buddy on hand as well. Use it for bass, electro acoustic and the like. Dont use it much for mic's. But as Tad stated, it is a pretty clean signal and works real well for the price.
RigsbyUltra MagnusMember
Since: Nov 13, 2004
Apr 16, 2006 02:11 am I used a DBX mini-pre a couple of months ago on kick, i was really surprised by how clean and transparent it sounded. Might be worth a look, they're £80-90.
Yeah, and totally don't consider any of the cheap tube stuff unless you just want a little glowing light to look at, at these prices that's pretty much all the tube does.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 16, 2006 01:42 pm Gotta agree, the cheap end of the pre's with the glowing tube are just that, only glowing. So it really isnt worth that extra few dollars for a gake tube pre. The lower end solid state units work out very well. That little DBX unit Rigsby mentioned is very clean indeed. Very worth the money.
insyneLoserMember
Since: Apr 12, 2006
Apr 16, 2006 11:23 pm yeah, actually, internet opinions do count, in my eyes. Thats like asking a bunch of friends how a movie was, and they all say it sucked. It's probably bad. Of course, I'll probably see it anyway, just to say I did. However, you'll get that few in the group that says it was a good movie, etc. Thats what kinda happened here, I threw a few products out there, and you all said a few opinions on em. It really helped. So from what I learned from yall, I need a pre-amp. I probably don't need a new mic. And, I can also go for a budget pre-amp. I'll prolly get one this week, it's payday. lol
