Recording mics - any suggestions?

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Member Since: Jul 18, 2007

Hi, im pretty new to home recording, I got a copy of sonar a while ago and had a go at doing a few recordings, problem was, they sounded terible and I think the reason is that my method for recording the guitar parts was to run a lead straight from my amps output into my sound card. So Im thinking that the solution to this would be to get a reasonable quality recording mic. Would anyone have any suggestions because I had a quick look on the internet but dont really know what would be good for me. Bearing in mind that my price range is probably about £150-200.

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Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Jul 18, 2007 09:46 am

Welcome to HRC

Another option besides the mic would be direct recording with something like a Line 6 TonePort, POD, Behringer VAmp or something like that...

There are loads of threads here about mics, try searching the site with the Google engine in the upper right corner.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jul 18, 2007 08:24 pm

A good starter mic for using to mic the amp itself is the Shure SM57. That is almost an industry standard for that job.

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Jul 18, 2007 08:46 pm

I whole-heartedly agree with the SM57 suggestion as a first mic. But don't forget to budget for a preamp as well if you don't already have one.

Member
Since: Jul 18, 2007


Jul 21, 2007 07:30 am

thanks for the advice, and I found lots of other stuff which also said that shure SM57 is the mic that I should get. But would i Be right in guessing that I'll need a much more sensitive mic if i wanted to do acoustic stuff coz I remember once trying out recording an acoustic with a friends shure SM58 and unless u were strumming so hard that u were practically breaking the strings it was pretty much inaudible

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jul 22, 2007 03:33 pm

Well, yes and no. A good condenser mic is a nice thing to have for doing acoustic guitar recording, but a 57 can be used with great success if place properly. You just kind of need to move it around until you find a spot that sounds good and then stick to that.

Member
Since: Jul 18, 2007


Jul 30, 2007 04:10 pm

just one more thing, when i try recording anything to my computer the track always comes out really quietly. I dont know anything about recording but I think it may be something to do with me not using a preamp. Tadpui already mentioned this. So would anyone be able to help me with info about any preamps they could recommend/where I could get them from?

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Jul 30, 2007 04:43 pm

yep, you'll need a preamp of some sort.

Some here use a mixer, some use standalone preamps, some use mixing desks.

I use a mixer, as I can route signal around with a little more flexibility.

They can be had for pretty cheap, 60 or so $$.

Also, Art makes a cheap preamp, for around 40 or 50 $$, i think.

A mic signal is very small. The preamp brings the signal level up to 'line' level. Line level is the level that audio gear works with, so yes, you'll need a preamp.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Jul 30, 2007 07:10 pm

preamps make quiet signals louder...you should be using one every time you use a mic.

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