More Recording

[aahhhxchoo]

I didn't know whether to reply to existing recording topics or just start a new one... and since I'm not looking for EXACTLY what others are... I just started a new thread.

I'm looking to record some songs (classical and contemporary) for my grandparents too. I've been playing around with the mics that I already have (digital camera, MP3 player), and I'm thinking about getting a better one for better quality.

I want something cheap (under $100 --$50 would be even better) that will just get rid of the raspy sound and pick up on some dynamics... and has the best overall quality for the price. Which brand/model is best for this? Should I use a dynamic or a condenser mic? I prefer one that I can easily transfer to the computer, so I can eventually burn the songs onto a CD.

I just got a grand over the summer, and I've read that placing the mic a few feet above middle c is the best position for recording. What do you guys think?

Thanks.

[dan101]

I like Shure brand (perhaps the SM94). That seems to do the trick for me economically.

[lazlo]

sennheiser, audio-technica, azden in that order are the mics I'd look at. All make a wide range of mics of high quality.

[quantum]

Behringer perhaps?  They have pair of SDC's for under $100 (never tried them).

Have you considered your preamp?  Are you using a mixer with built in pre's?  What are you going to use to edit your tracks?  Do you need an audio interface for your computer?

[richard black]

There's a lot more to making a half-decent recording than just the mics. You need some sort of preamp (that at least needn't be expensive) and a recording device with decent frequency response and MANUAL GAIN CONTROL. If you record with anything that has automatic gain (level) control, the sound will never be any good at all. ALC is designed for recording speech to dictation-machine quality, nothing more.

Behringer kit offers astounding bang for the buck, as cheap stuff goes. None of their stuff is top quality but I've never found a bit that didn't do pretty much what it says on the box. You could do worse than Behringer mics, Behringer preamp, and a sound-to-computer interface such as those made by M-Audio. Maybe Behringer also does that kind of thing these days too. It's a cheap option and can be perfectly respectable quality.

As for microphone positioning, in a domestic room I'd put the mic anywhere except in the piano. I get quite decent results recording my Bechstein grand with the lid shut (completely shut) and the mic pretty much anywhere in the room. Not great recordings, obviously, but clearly piano-ish which is about as much as you can hope for. Mic in the piano is strictly for when you want to make the Elton John extra-bright-on-stage sound.

[lazlo]

Yes there's a lot more too it, but a mic is a great start... I mean, if you want to outfit him with a 40k studio or something, that would be ideal wouldn't it... But a microphone is good place to start. You don't really need to get a really expensive DAT recorder or mixer or any of that stuff. If you want that, then just rent out a studio and get the whole deal.

[aahhhxchoo]

I'm not really looking to make a huge production out of this... my grandparents are nearly deaf anyway. Maybe in a few years when I have more free time, I'll get top of the line equipment and go all out, but right now I'm just trying to get a couple steps up from the computer mic.

I was planing on using something simple to record like audacity. (Free = good  ) There's a way to get the mic directly connected to a laptop right?

Thanks... I'll look into all the brands you guys mentioned. Condensers are better over dynamic right?

[quantum]

Yes condensers are great, and as said earlier there are some cheap ones that will give you acceptable sound.  You have to have a way of connecting these condensers to your computer.  They can't just plug into an ordinary laptop 1/8" mic jack. 

Condensers need a power source - what is called Phantom Power which supplies 48v to the mic.  A preamp would do this, and as well have the XLR jacks to connect those condenser mics.  You can get audio interfaces (USB or Firewire) with built in preamps.  These interfaces then connect to your computer, from which you can use Audacity to record. 

So a basic chain would look like this:

MIC > Interface (with preamp) > Computer > Audacity (software)


There are a number of inexpensive interfaces out there now.  Mbox was mentioned, I have and Edirol UA-25.  You would want one with a minimum of 2 inputs, and preamps with Phantom Power.  Physical gain knobs are preferrable (as stated earlier).