Noob question - Microphone for home use with audio interface
Hi guys,
I've just got an Alesis iO2 for some home recording and Skype lessons and am looking for an inexpensive microphone for home use. All I want is to plug everything into the interface, so my guitar sound and voice can both be heard by my guitar instructor. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!
cheap thomann 'the t.bone SC 400', 45 quid, great little mic. or redvaudio rv6, etc, both are tidy chinese made large diapragm condensers.Originally Posted by Capelo
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Are we talking acoustic guitar or electric - and do you plan to record voice and guitar together or guitar then vocal? Separately is easier to get a good result, though the feel can be better if done both together.
A few points to note if you are very new to recording:
Any condenser mic for vocals benefits from the use of a mesh filter (or "pop" shield) in front to reduce "popping" noises when you make certain "Plosive" sounds e.g. saying "p". You can buy them, but the toe end of a pair of tights stretched across a bent wire coathanger works just as well.
You don't want your computer speakers on when recording, so unless recording acoustic and vocal at the same time, use some closed back headphones (if you have some) when recrding vocals over a backing track. Closed back give the least spill from teh phones into the mic.
Hanging duvets up behind you and over anything that's very reflective sound wise will help deaden room reverb and general noise pick-up. If you've got a nice sounding room, then it may not be a problem. But sometimes you have to record in a room that's less than ideal, so being able to record quite dry and add ambience in later via reverb and /or delay plug ins is a benefit. Especially recommended if you are trying to record vocals and an acoustic at the same time, as the mic will be a long way from you, so it picks up a lot of noise that your brain normally cancels out so you're not aware of it. Listening back you will be!
I'm assuming that the mic is only for talking to and listening to his instructor so any cheap skype headset should be good enough eg http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006TTCI0...hvptwo=&hvqmt=
D'oh! I skipped the Skype bit. Would a headset mic pick up the guitar though on its own? It won't cover the separate home recording part.
[QUOTE=Wonks;1393584]D'oh! I skipped the Skype bit. Would a headset mic pick up the guitar though on its own? It won't cover the separate home recording part.[/QUOTE
Aren't most Skype headsets usb? If so then you cannot easliy use it with another usb AI AFAIK.
A headset using 1/8" jacks could be adapted but only if the mic was a dynamic since the Alesis will not have the correct energizing voltage for an electret type (and phantom power will wreck it should it get onto the capsule!)
Assuming the Skype system will "see" a usb interface I would go for a pair of SD capacitors if an acoustic guitar and an SDC and 30quid dynamic (the Prodipe gets a good rep) for micing an amp. But then again, if you have to talk/sing/play an electric, getting a balance at an acceptable volume might be tricky and so an SDC for both amp and voice?
Dave.
Hi guys, thanks a lot for your replies. Much appreciated. To clarify my query, I am not looking to recording any vocals (God save us from that!!). The issue is that if I plug the Alesis then to my laptop then the computer mic won't work and I can't use another usb either. I guess I need to find a mic that I can plugin to the Alesis, so both my voice and guitar can be heard by my instructor. Thanks!!
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