General Music Chat

What kind of mic and cable are you guys using for PC recording?

I don't have a good soundcard, just integrated sound off the motherboard.

Are you using a regular mic and cable and reducing it down from 1/4" jack to a PC mic input jack?

the wife & I do a fair bit of impromptu quickie recordings for rehearsals etc, & we've had really good luck with Logitech pc mics.
The curent one I have is a USB type which seems to work well.
Here's a small sound byte I did this am.

It's a prerecorded synth with a whistle played into the pc mic(some processing added)

Hey, CelticP,
How about posting some info. (or a link to) that USB mike you mentioned?
And, I've a couple of questions.
- how much volume do you get out of it?
- how much did you boost the volume on that particular recording?
- if it's a condensor mike; does it use line voltage or a battery?
Thanks.
.
I ask, because I hear a hiss in the background, and this is the very thing I need to avoid. It could have many sources, though. Was the hiss mike - induced?

looks like this is the one.

I believe I induced that hiss wit post processing..
from what I can tell.

Thanks, man. I'm checking it out now.

Well, Im not sure how loud of a sound you are recording. We'd be recording a full band at high volumes.

so, if you're recording the whole band into one PC based mic, things might be...difficult..
Best bet there , if you've only go one input(sound card) for multiple sources, would be a mixer with a close eye toward the levels..
mixers are cheap, and you could have a couple of nice condensers giving a stereo mix, but again the level has to be watched like a pot on a stove..

my humble .02

or
I'm completely missing what youre up to...

I'm using a Shure PE35L (my vocal mic) into a Tascam Portastudio 414 multitrack tape machine, bypassing the tape and just running the monitor signal into a plain jane sound blaster card.

You can do basically the same with the right patch cables and a standard cassette recorder, use the line out of the cassette into the line in on your sound card, start and pause the tape recorder in record mode and let audacity record the signal instead of the tape. With my Tascam I don't even have to pause the tape, I never even turn it on, it sends the monitor signal without actually pushing the Record button.

All you would need for a regular tape deck is an impedance adapter for the mic to switch it from the XLR plug to a guitar jack and get the right impedance too. That and a patch cord with 2 RCA jacks to one stereo 1/8" jack.

I've tried a couple of standard computer mics, wasn't happy with them, way too much treble and too noisy. I have a couple others I need to try but I rarely get a chance to record around here, kids, dogs, boom boxes...and I can hear you talking to your friend if you walk down the street, that's how bad this place is...way too much outside noise, I got the recording on my profile at 3AM. I'm not often up to trying to record at that time of night...but that night I happened to be up and playing a bit so I hooked up the mic.

A lot of options here. Many have been mentioned. Glad you got audacity fastfret! I use a beringer 4 channel mixer with eq, a radio shack 4 channel mixer w/o eq, and or like Paleopete I use a tascam 4 track with eq as simply a mixer. Depending on the number of mics I use I Run them in a line or just one. Then out of the last mixer into the stock sound card on my pc. The key to getting a good sound is a great mix as you can't adjust levels after it's on the computer. The key to getting a great mix is sound check, sound check, sound check. If you are going to record the whole band. Try a kick drum mic, 2 overhead mics, try to separate the kit as much as possible. I've even used a mattress to make a sound wall. If you can pan the 2 overhead drum mics you can get a rich stereo sound. Run a sound check (record a bit), make sure nothing is peaking (into the red on your audacity levels.) Listen to it. Get the bands opinion. Tweak and repeat. One mic on the bass amp. Check the levels. Record a sound check with bass and drums. Listen tweak repeat. Mic the guitar amp. If there are two guitarists pan the 2 mics on the mixer to say 8 o'clock and 4 o'clock. Record a sound check with all parts. Listen back for all instruments. Tweak repeat. Once you have a good mix record it!. Add vocals after the fact. Audacity is easy to edit in. These guys on youtube used the mixers, tweak adjust, record with all parts from the get go using audacity. Then the singer added a harmony. I think they got a great sound. My only complaint was the guys pronunciations of his "R's". I posted a comment about it . Good luck!!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LVu_ERzXfmI

Thanks guys... Thats alot of good info. I was going to it totally the wrong way.

Were going to buy a Zoom H2 and get a quick demo and then use the audacity later to hopefully get a more pro sound. If not, I have a friend that will record us for $100 a song and he does an awesome job.