Simple Recording Setup Help
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Posted on Dec 03, 2004 07:34 pm
gravytrain
Member Since: Dec 03, 2004
Howdy.
I have a quick question if you all would be so kind to help me out.
I make cartoons and record voices and basic sound effects with a sony ecm ms907:
www.minidisco.com/ecm-ms907.html
plugged directly into the mic-in of my audigy 2nx
www.soundblaster.com/products/audigy2NX/
Now, I'm getting tired of the subtle noise and hissing in all the voice tracks and would like to improve the sound a bit... given my current elite top of the line equipment what do you guys think would be the best solution to make cleaner recordings?
I also record acoustic guitar and keyboard from my little 80's casio.
Thanks for your help!
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Dec 03, 2004 07:59 pm Hey Gravytrain,
Without putting any money into equipment like a microphone pre-amp, noise-gates etc... I think there are still some options here. You could reduce white noise hiss by turing the microphone down lower and bringing your mouth closer to the mic. If you can use a pop screen or have a piece of nylon stocking you can use as a pop screen that should help reduce any plotives. I'm not sure if the program you use supports this, but once you have your audio file you could use a software noise gate that will cancel the sound below a certain db, and that would effectively mute anything between the words spoken. From your statements above I'm guessing your acoustic guitar and keyboard tracks are not too much of a problem as far as noise goes, but some acoustic treatment, like some kind of foam barrier around the area would help I'm sure. Good Luck - Jim
Dec 03, 2004 08:15 pm Thanks for response planet4. I got the whole nylon stocking on a hanger thing goin for the plotives... I use sound forge 5 by the way. I've fiddled with the noise gate a bit but it just seems to do really weird things like make punchy mute on and off sounds.
Perhaps investing in a microphone pre-amp might be a good idea? Could you suggest one and would it work with my sound card okay?
Dec 03, 2004 09:04 pm Yes, I can recommend the Studio Projects VTB1 V Pre-Amp. For the price (about $150 to $200) you get a unit that is only comparable to other brands worth $800 or more. It will work with any sound card provided you get the right cable. It's an XLR cable connection for both IN and OUT, so you'd possibly just need to buy a cable with XLR on one end and whatever you're sound card is on the other. You'll find this to be the case regardless of which pre-amp you go with.
That being said, I don't think the pre-amp will solve all your noise problems though. The problem is usually a combination of microphone and pre-amp. So believe it or not a very good microphone can be aquired at a good price. I highly recommend the Shure SM57. It's an industry and studio standard for recording (every pro studio has one). It's good for micing guitar amps, acoustic guitars and vocals. Now the vocals are usually the backup vocals if used for singers, but for speaking voice overs it's a great mic. It's a very low noise mic. The great news!!! The microphone only costs about $100 US. (I'm in Canada, so I say U.S., aroun here they're $135 or so Canadian). Hard to believe a good mic can be that cheap and still be useful, but it's just a matter of knowing what to buy really, not always about how much you spend. The president of the United States uses that mic when he does press conferences and that's been the case for over 30 years. So it's professional and tried and tested.
Also don't under estimate the noise that comes from cheap cables. You'll want a good cable connecting from the microphone to the pre-amp and also from the pre-amp to the computer sound card. Pro microphones don't usually come with cables, so you'll want to keep that in mind if you don't already know.
As for SoundForge, I use it myself, but not for sound gating, I don't really have a need for sound gates in my setup, but I thought you could change the release and attack to get a more natural in and out of the cut, but I may be thinking of some other software.
Jim
zekthedeadcowEat Spam before it eats YOU!!!Member
Since: May 11, 2002
Dec 03, 2004 09:42 pm hmm... the mic looks to be the weakest point... notice on your link they don't state what the signal to noise ratio is... companies never run out of room to tell you the good things about a product... so if they don't tell you then it's bad :) Plus with a frequency response of 100hz to 15khz I think a Shure SM-57 has a better response (40hz-15khz) and is usful in practically everything... even the mics used by the President(US) for the past 30 years or so are SM57's... and they only cost $80
Then it's a matter of the soundblaster card... which is good for gaming but not recording... a M-Audio Delta 66 or similar should suffice.
Once you get rid of the noise you can start fiddeling with compression and get good results.
Dec 04, 2004 06:44 pm
Okay, thanks again for the responses, you guys are awesome.
I think I may just breakdown and buy a M-Audio Omnistudio (since it's basically a sound card and pre-amp in one, correct?).. that way I don't have to hassle with buying a pre-amp and deal with my cruddy sound card anymore...
and then purchase a shure sm-57.
triproloPslam 34:8Member
Since: Dec 04, 2004
Dec 06, 2004 11:00 am I have used a SM57 for a while, and am not a sound engineer by far but simply a home recorder myself, the SM57 has alot of the airy sound with it too. Then again, I may be having alot of the same problems with volume levels being to high or simply running through a bheringer head into my soundcard (not dure what kinda soundcard). I have went to the SM58 and have gotten much better results.
God bless!
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Dec 06, 2004 02:21 pm I just gotta say, the first thing that struck me was using the mic input. I'd say most hiss and noise would be coming from that (and the attached pre-amp). I have one of the mentioned mics and find it a very good stereo mic. I'd think if you can pre-amp the signal from the mic somewhere else (outboard preamp, small mixer, omni) I think the hiss will leave.
I'd try that first, though you won't regret getting a 57.
