Recording and so on.

[Child Of Norther]

Right guys, i'm building my own home studio. I have some legendary songs written i need to record decently.

My setup consists of Several big recording apps, countless VST plugins and so on.

My question is not with the software but with the hardware.


Currently i have the setup of a Shure SM57, A 6 channel mixer and am buying an Audiophile soundcard and probably a mackie spike.

Now...

My amp is a Marshall AVT 275..not great, i know but i, onver the years have managed to dial in a tone i am seriously happy with.

So, i fired up the shure SM57 into my bog standard soundcard as the new one is on order and isn't here yet.

Not only did i get a hiss (i removed it with a noise gate VST, so no issue there), but the tone sounded distant. I've played the mic in like 30 places, played with high input and the amp on 3 and low input and the amp on 11 but still it sounds distant and bassy.

I've cut the bass and gain right down to 4 each and still get a horribly boomy sound and it sounds like the mic is a mile away.

So, my question is. What do you recomend? Will the breakout box and decent card sort this?

The other question is i have a boss NS2 which i'd like to run between the mic and the box. I know it's a guitar pedal but would it also double as a decent mic noise gate?


Cheers!

[Endrik]

Re: Recording and so on.

you need a mic preamp and a converter

[Child Of Norther]

Re: Recording and so on.

Mic preamp such as the mackie spike?

And converter?

[Endrik]

Re: Recording and so on.

mic pre such as Neve, Api, Avalon etc. good pres cost a lot but they are ESSENTIAL (if not the most important things) in recording. Example http://www.ams-neve.com/html/products/1073.php
Some companies make "reissues" of classic Neve and Api preamps wich are easier to use and cost less, some of them are very good.

If you record your music to the computer then you need a converter because it helps to get the music signal to your pc without any tone loss. If you use a good old 2" tape then you don't need one.
here are some converters
http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/
http://www.rme-audio.com/english/adi/index.htm
you need a A/D or AD/DA converter.

[Newc]

Re: Recording and so on.

I'd say it's something in your Windows Audio settings - like Environmental Effects (EAX) or some crap.

Go to your Audio setting in Control Panel, and hunt for the Environment settings (in XP it might be under Sound Effects Manager).
Disable all Environmental effects you find.

Also, you should be running from the mixer into the PC (if you aren't already). Make sure it's plugged into the Line In of your card, not the Mic In.
I doubt you'd need an A/D converter. I haven't been using one and get excellent sound quality (noise-wise and volume-wise).

[Child Of Norther]

Re: Recording and so on.

Outta morbid curiosity, i ran the mic, direct to soundcard and played with placement and i got it sounded exactly how i want it to sound... but when i buy the good card and stuff, it'll sound infinately better [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] thanks guys..


Also, anyone know about the NS2?

[Brick]

Re: Recording and so on.

yeah i want to record too, but to a less extent. i just want to be able to record my guitar and i don't know what to get but nothing to exspensive. any advise.

[Newc]

Re: Recording and so on.

Line6 Guitar Port?

Even some cheap pedals will work - put a 1/8" adaptor on the end of a cable from your pedals and jack into your soundcard and you're good to go.

[Infernal Death]

Re: Recording and so on.

[ QUOTE ]

I doubt you'd need an A/D converter. I haven't been using one and get excellent sound quality (noise-wise and volume-wise).

[/ QUOTE ]

Well everytime you record onto digital media you have a converter. Your mic signal is analog and no computer can store a analog signal on his harddisk.
A line in of a soundcard basicaly is a A/D converter. It's just that some of the outboard converters are of much higher quality. But even your oldest soundblaster has A/D D/A converters.

Flo