Recording
sustainedia
Posts: 112
I have a guitar. I have an amp. I have a shure mic with xlr plugs. I have cakewalk guitar tracks 2. how do i get the best sound possible when recording, and what do i need to get the great sound of a shure mic into my computer's soundcard. it is a new computer, so the equipment is good, i just don't want to buy any hardware. thanks.
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Well, the unfortunate thing is that you need some hardware.
Microphones put out a fairly weak signal compared to most audio gear. What you need is a microphone preamplifier (mic preamp) that will raise the signal strength. This can be as simple as getting an outboard mic preamp:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/484020/
Or a small mixer with a mic pre:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=live/search/detail/base_pid/631239/
Either of these will take a mic signal on the XLR connector, raise it to Line Level, and you can plug that directly into your computer's sound card (line-input).
You can also get a small USB interface with a built-in mic pre:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/701368/
This will take the mic signal, preamp it, and then convert it to digital and send it to the computer via USB connection.
The other option is to get a hi-Z microphone, like Radio Shack sells. It's not as good as a Shure mic, but it doesn't require a mic preamp, you can just plug it into your computer's soundcard (mic-input). The mic input on your soundcard won't work with a professional lo-Z mic, just the cheap hi-Z ones.
You can also skip the amp and just plug your guitar (with or without stompboxes) into an instrument interface, like this:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/701368/
It takes your signal, uses emulation technology to give it an "amp-like" sound, and records it.
http://www.radioshack.com/category.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F007%5F002%5F007%5F001&Page=1
The ones that use a 1/4" plug are hi-Z. Anything using an XLR cable is lo-Z. Lo-Z is definitely better quality... so between the two options, I'd get some form of preamp and use your Shure mic. But the RadioShack mics are much cheaper options, so if you're pressed for cash, go that route. You'll also need an adapter (probably $5), because those mics use a 1/4" plug, and your computer's sound card uses a mini 1/8" plug. The folks at RadioShack should be able to tell you what to get.
The ones on that page that would work are:
33-3018, 33-3021, and 33-3019 (catalog numbers).