Home recording question

[killfile]

Hey guys,

I'm going to try to record some music I've written (guitar and vocals so far), and I've armed myself with Audacity and a Shure SM58 that my band uses for vocals. Now, I've tried to record vocals and guitar, and found that the mic is really quiet - barely satisfactory with vocals and way too quiet when I mic my guitar amp (Fender FM212R - i've put the mic right up against it and its still too quiet). I know I can raise the volume of the recording in the program and then eliminate the hiss, but the quality goes to **** after I do that. I've made sure the mic in volume in Audacity and in Windows is at max volume, I've tried it with a line in and with Cood Edit Pro (with same results). My tiny $5 computer mic delivers louder sound.
Is it fruitless trying to record with a vocal microphone like the Shure SM58 or is there somethin I can do? Also, should I try plugging my amp directly into my computer and recording like that, or is the sound just terrible? My amp doesnt have a headphones out, only a Preamp Out, would that work?

[Guitarpunk82]

hummm...I 'm not sure about this one, but here are some suggestions if you haven't already tried them:

1) For recording the guitar, try placing the mic next to the amp and then running the mic into it's own amp and taking the line out from the amp to the line in of the sound card.

To me, and I could be way off, but to me it sounds like you need something between the mic and the computer to give the incoming signal to the computer some "kick". By pluging the mic into its own amp and then run a line from the amp to the pc you are amping up the signal so that it will be stronger (aka louder) when it hits your sound card. This way you can set the mic volume on the pc to a resonable level and then begin to adjust the actual mic settings (volume, bass, etc.) through the amps EQ. Kinda like haveing a mixer board in a way I guess you could say.

Also make sure that the problem isn't with your lines or even the mic its self. You already stated that the program works fine with a $5 pc mic so we know the programs and sound card are good. It can be a long process trying to figure out what is wrong especially when you starting getting five to six mics up with a bunch of lines and amps all over the place.

So try the amp idea first. Plug the mic into an amp, test it to make sure you can hear it loud and clear, run a standard guitar chord (you will need a 1/4 to 1/8 converter for one end) to your pc from the mic amp and then set the mic up next to the guitar amp and have at it. Well, good luck with that and let us know how it works out for you.

PS>> Personal pref when it comes to mic'in the amp or running it strait into the pc. I run it strait into the pc, just keep the amp volume down to a reasonable level as well as you sound card. Also they say plug it in from your amp to your "line in" slot and not the "mic in" of your sound card.

You can find a lot more help on your mic issue here:
Mic Anwsers (http://shure.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/shure.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?p_prod_lvl1=2&p_search_text=SM58)

[moaner]

You're on the right lines with "somehting to give it some kick".

you need a mic pre-amp, as found in mixers, or seperately, and most usb interfaces. Behirnger make a mxier with a mic pre-amp in it for £30 odd, and you can get a tube mic pre-amp (which will give nice results) for £40.

[moaner]

oh, and never run a mic into a normal guitar amp without the knowledge "It will melt the amp within a few months"

[XemoXmoshXpitX]

You may have to set your computer mic to mono or stereo and do vocals separate from guitar. I only use studio freeware, so I am not familiar with Cool Edit.

[virll]

all you need is a mixer inline

run the mic in channel 1
guitar in to channel 2
then run your main out, tape out or aux out to your pc

adjust your volumes to your liking throught the mixer

[moaner]

all you need is a mixer inline

run the mic in channel 1
guitar in to channel 2
then run your main out, tape out or aux out to your pc

adjust your volumes to your liking throught the mixer

does nobody read anyone elses replies first anymore?

[virll]

i read it

I just explained it a little different