A few questions from a new guy....analog recording
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Posted on May 01, 2006 01:26 am
bobdylansbeard
Member Since: May 01, 2006
Hello,
I just bought a Yamaha MT120 off of ebay and I have a few questions to help get me started. I read through the FAQ's and some of the articles and searched around a bit on the boards but finally realized it would be simpler just to ask you guys. First off, I have a question about preamps. I donwloaded the manual for the MT120 and it says it has gain controls for the mic input. Is this the same as a preamp? From what I've read a preamp is pretty much a must have (or is that just for computer recording?). I also need to know a little about microphones. In the section of the FAQ about preamps it says that you can record just about anything with a good mic and have it sound good. That's good news for me because I'll only be able to afford one mic for a while. The Shure SM75 seems to be popular on the forum and I found a Pyle Audio PDMIK5 on ebay for $17.99 that is advertised as being "BETTER THAN A SHURE SM57 FOR LESS THAN 1/2 PRICE, NEW!". Does anyone know anything about these? I need something that could handle acoustic guitar and vocals mainly, but would love to be able to mic an electric guitar and maybe even some drums. Is is it just wishful thinking to hope to get a microphone that is that versatile at that price? I used to have a Zoom PS04 and just used the built-in condenser mic to record everything but I sold it. Then, I suddenly got the recording bug tonight and ordered the 4 track on an impulse. Turns out I didnt know what I was getting myself into. Anyway, any and all help would be awesome. I'll take anything I can get.
Thanks
Rocky
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May 01, 2006 06:38 am I used to have that same Yamaha unit. While it was years ago, so I can't remember the specifics, I will share a bit of advice. First, the mic, an SM57 is a good choice if you can only afford one, don't get the Pyle knock-off...it might be a fine mic, but then it might not be, with a 57 you can be pretty darn sure of what you are getting.
The Yamaha does have a mic gain, but as I recall, I wouldn't rely on it as a preamps, they ain't much...and in addition to that, for vocals and acoustic instruments you will want a compressor as well.
RigsbyUltra MagnusMember
Since: Nov 13, 2004
May 01, 2006 07:14 am Rocky, put simply, a preamp boosts the volume of the sound you're putting into it to a standard level, a level that matches other things.
For instance, a record player preamp boosts the volume to be the same as a CD player, without it you'll get very little sound. Same with mics, a preamp will boost the volume so that it's audible. That's why you need one to record to tape or a computer or a standalone multi-tracker. The mic inputs on a mixer will also have preamps built in. For the most part though, these will be relatively cheaply made, and not necessarily the best quality. This means a worse signal to noise ratio:
Signal to noise (S2R) is simply how much volume you can get by turning up the pot, knob or fader compared with how much noise (hiss or in extreme cases, hum) you get.
SM57s are ace when used with decent preamps. They're not very high gain mics. This means that you need to turn up the volume a fair bit to get a decent level into your computer or multi-tracker, which with less decent preamps (pres) means more noise.
If you're only going to get one mic, i'd get a large diaphragm condenser mic (LDC). Generally condensers have more inherent gain that dynamics like the SM57. This means that you don't need to turn up the volume on your mixer so much to get a decent volume - meaning less noise. Studio Electronics make some fairly decent for the price stuff at low prices, similarly Behringer and Studio Projects.
With mics you usually get what you pay for, so you're not going to be getting Abbey Rd-level sound, but you'll get to hear your stuff back, which is how it starts for most of us i'm sure.
A fairly decent drum sound by the way with one LDC can be had by facing it three feet from the kit, directed at between the kick drum and the snare. I used to do that a fair bit.
Hope this is helpful, i tried to de-jargon the post as far as possible or reference what abbreviations mean as it can seem like a real mindfield when you first start recording, but in essence it's quite simple, every bit of knowledge leads you to others.
Have fun!
May 01, 2006 12:21 pm Thanks guys! You've both been a lot of help. Cant't wait to get started! See you around.
May 01, 2006 01:07 pm yeah i'd definately look into a LDC for acoustic guitar and vocals, this mic will sound way smoother and crispier than a 57....Rhode makes a really nice one (NT-1A) but if ya can't afford it, MXL, Oktavia, and even Samson make some nice ones in the under $200 range....
what kinda 4 track did ya get? not many ppl use the cassette type recorders anymore, and if ya plan on ending up with a CD, i'd consider recording digitaly from the get go....there's some pretty nice 'all in one' digital units with cd burners built into them out there... tracking and mixing on a cassette then dumping to the computer for makin' a cd is gonna yeald a cd that sounds like a tape (sssssssssss). i've tried alotta noize reduction tools (both DBX analog, and a few programs on a computer) but i have yet to achieve an 'acceptable' amount of noize reduction without really affecting the accual recording sound....usually the highs (cymbals and what not) get muddy pretty fast.
cheers!
wyd
