TOTAL BEGINNER
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Posted on Jun 25, 2007 09:25 am
Georgette
Member Since: Jun 25, 2007
I would like to start recording my voice at home but have absolutely no clue where to start.
I have a good computer and some money to spend. obviously i need a microphone - can i connect this directly to my computer? do i need anything else? This really is the poor state of my knowledge.
I really just want to start out with the absolute basics - any info *greatly* appreciated.
Thanks,
G.
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pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Jun 25, 2007 10:18 am Hey G, welcome to HRC.
Some basic questions:
How good do you want it to be? Nashville studio, or pretty decent, or demo / fun quality. They, of course, have their own price tags to go along with.
Will you be doing only voice? Voice talent work? or maybe a vocalist, maybe some others may play instruments.
What will you be doing with your end product? making CDs? Just playing back files for yourself? Moving the tracks to other people via email/ftp/internet?
Now to some options:
You can get USB plug in microphones, which are pretty decent, from what I've heard. They are sometimes geared as Pod-Cast kits, where spoken word is the only signal you're tracking. I would be hesitant to use them for singing vocals, but I bet they aren't bad.
Next up, regular microphones. They can be condensor mic, which are usually more detailed, and articulate in their recording. They can be dynamic, usually more robust, and take more high sound levels, but often not so clean and detailed.
There's others, but the two above are the main two kinds.
Somewhere in line, you'll need a preamp. The usb microphones have one built in, but the other two kinds don't. You'll need one of some type. You can use a mixer for it's preamps, but I don't think that'd be the way to go if you're just doing vocals. I'd think a standalone preamp would be good, maybe in the 200-300$ range, if you're recording singing vocals. Less, if you're just doing spoken word.
After that, you need some sort of software, to accept your signal, and write it to the Hard drive.
Some are free, like kristal, or audacity. Some are lightly expensive, some are real expensive, and add a ton of features. Kristal seems a good place to start, as it's free, and pretty easy to get used to.
If you're going to be doing anything more than voice, you'll probably want a somewhat better sound card (audio interface) than what comes on your PC as the default. The built-in sound card aren't made for recording, and introduce problems you don't want.
Add-in cards for recording can be had for around 100$ and offer good performance, stable recording and good sound. Better than the built-in one will provide.
Also, don't buy a sound-blaster type card, if you're getting into recording. Those aren't really built for recording either, more for gameplay.
Post up more questions if you want some detailed ideas.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Jun 25, 2007 10:22 am Oh yeah, if you're tracking over other sounds, like backup music, you'll want headphones, so the backing tracks don't get recording into your vocals tracks.
If you're just doing voice, then you can probably use computer speakers to hear what you've recorded.
Herb U. on here has done a fair amount of vocal work, ( i think ), so he can probably get you some more detailed ideas, and routes that work.
Jun 25, 2007 10:34 am Thank you so much for getting back to me!
in answer to your questions - i probably want to be somewhere between pretty decent and fun quality. i dont need top of the range but i have saved up a bit of money and would like the equipment to last me a while.
As for the end product - it will basically be to play back to myself. I only want to record for my own training and confidence as opposed to making cds, sending demos etc...
as for the vocals - they will be just me. I am thinking about buying a digital piano as well so i guess actually i would probably want to go for equipment that would allow me to record that too...
ALso, a sound card and audio interface are the same thing? good to know! Ive been getting really confused seeing them both everywhere!
Thanks again for your help - really appreciated.
G
Jun 25, 2007 12:07 pm there's some pretty interesting keyboard/audio interfaces out there with built in mic preamps and bundled recording software...this might be a fitting solution for you, all you'd need is that and a mic and you're up and running....what's your budget and what kind of music are you dooin'? do you plan on recording more than one source at a time?.....i'll try to dig up a link for a keyboard like i was talking about.
...ahh yes, here we are...
www.zzounds.com.../item--MDOOZONE
i'm sure they make others with more keys aswell.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Jun 25, 2007 12:11 pm no prob, those ideas you just mentioned, will pare down the possibilities a lot, and make it easier for others to kick in ideas.
Sounds like you're going to be singing, so on a little budget, the USB mics will do pretty well, but if you're looking for somewhat decent, then I'd go with a preamp, and a microphone.
Pretty decent consumer quality can be had there for under 200$ for each piece: preamp and microphone. If you're singing vocals, I'd recommend a condensor. Actually, a large diaphragm condensor.
Audio Technica at2020 comes to mind, as does the Studio projects C1. MXL makes some good beginner stuff, that a few on here use. Behringer has a few LDC offerings for low-$$$ as well. I'd probably steer you towards the AT2020 first though. There's another female on the boards here, that used a AT4040 (i think) with great results, so the AT line may be very good for female vocals.
Preamps I don't know much about, so I'd say maybe some others will kick in some ideas, or you can keep researching around the net. There's certainly lots of info / opinions out there to be had =).
I would advise looking into an audio interface, like a maudio 2496, or a ESI Juli@. Both of those are low-$$$, with 2 inputs and 2 outputs. They've been used quite a lot by people here, so they're tried and true. That way recording and playing back will be better and less prone to troubles.
You may find though, that the more you get into this, the more you want to get more into this, if you know what I mean =).
I'm thinking for 500-600 you could get into a right nice personal studio. It can be done for less, as this is no set-in-stone number, just me throwing out some ideas.
Jun 25, 2007 12:14 pm i just thought how wierd it is to sing into a keyboard that dosn't make any sounds....strange days indeed!
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Jun 25, 2007 12:15 pm actually, WYD just made me think, the Line6 UX keyboard thing may be just the ticket. Two channel, USB connectivity, lots of preamp help, and a keyboard to boot.
www.zzounds.com...item--LINTPKB37
There's the one. It has the preamps built in, so you'd just need a microphone. It will accept condenser mics, as it sports phantom power (necessary for condenser mics).
that'd be a pretty nice option
Jun 25, 2007 12:20 pm wow that thing looks cool! and VU meters to boot!
i've never seen that one before...what's line 6 dooin' with keyboards? hehe a synth emulator, wait synth means synthetic (a copy that tries to mimic the real, but that's also what an emulator does......so it'd be copying an artifical sound)...ok i'm gettin' to deep with this...
good find pjk
Jul 03, 2007 06:47 am that is a great help - sorry ive been slow to reply - my web's been down. Nightmare!
I think id like to invest some $$ to get a good set up - would hate to do it for less than i need to and then find in a while Im wanting more from my set up.
This is all looking much clearer to me now! think im going to look into a large diaphragm condenser - will have a look at the names you mentioned particularly the AT4040.
I think an audio interface also sounds like a good idea... anything that makes recording and playback easier!
I think I am getting into this........
Re a sound card - would it still be an idea to get a better one than the one that came with my computer? (dell insprion)... or will the audio interface mean that is unnecessary? If im going to invest in some equipment i dont want to be let down by my computer not being able to produce the sound im recording....!
Thank you so much for your help again - you have definitely found a new recording devotee!
G.
Jul 03, 2007 07:29 am www.zzounds.com...item--LINTPKB37 is a digital keyboard, sound interface (sounds card, audio interface, whatever you wanna call it) and microphone preamp all in one nice, neat package.
I have one myself, it rocks.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Jul 03, 2007 09:20 am Yes, the onboard soundcard is (often) built with cheap-as-possible in mind. The circuitry that converts the audio sine wave into digital bits and bytes often is very poor quality, only meant for playing back games and music, and computer mic for web chat.
Not what you'd want for recording music.
Pretty much any recording audio-type interface will be a big step up, in lower noise, better converters, lower latency, and better drivers.
JoshidoSound NinjaMember
Since: May 29, 2007
Jul 05, 2007 01:23 am Agreed you really wouldnt want to use any type of "pc sound card" for recording unless it is of professional grade. And the money you would need for that would be better spent on an audio interface or (mixer) Browse around on the net and look for brands like Alesis and Berhinger. Most mixers (around $200-$300)should supply plenty of inputs for what your wanting to do and many throw in free software for you to play around with that will really help you fine tune the quality. If you choose to really get into mixing and mastering you can learn plenty about that here on the forums. I did.
Jul 09, 2007 08:04 am Thanks so much guys... you have no idea how much mroe confident I feel about going out and spending some money on some equipment.
Big help, thanks, G.
cruxTypo SzarMember
Since: Jul 04, 2002
Jul 09, 2007 08:13 am Like what DB said, I have a line 6 KB37, works wonders and really clears up alot of the equipment that I would need to get to get a decent vocal, and it has a keyboard and all the midi functions. Really worth the money for home stuff.
