Karaoke Forums

Sorry about the confusion Matt. I wasn't aware of the MP3+, having only seen the Audigy and Extigy devices - my assumption was wrong. The Extigy got rave reviews when it came out (also a USB 1.1 device) a couple years ago and has always surprised me with the quality. From what I've read the MP3+ is very similar and appears to have comparable results based on your experiences.

Crystal, We believe the 'hiss' you're hearing is the result of an incredibly low signal to noise ratio being amplified. This is typical of what happens when you take a low signal from a microphone and amplify it in a noisy amplifier or have noise along with the mic signal that is approaching the same level as the mic in signal voltage. By moving to a mixer and using the line in on the sound card you'll be using a much large signal into the sound card allowing the mic preamplifiers to do their job before you amplify the signal or record the signal on the computer. I agree with the others in that I've move to the mixer and a decent mic first and then if I was still having problems go to the sound card. If your experiences are anything like mine you'll find the noise gone and your recordings easier to produce with the the external mixer.

Sorry to come in so late. I'd like to add my two cents.

It seems agreed that the hiss is caused by the poor quality audio of the computer's built-in sound. However, it might not be just the mic input with this problem: I've gotten hiss with line in and even headphone out. A mixer would be some improvement and people usually get good results (especially for live performance). There still could be hiss problems with the line-in of the onboard sound though, even when using the mixer.

Matt's suggestion of the SoundBlaster USB is a good balance IMO. That's probably the best bang for your buck, and it works for him. The next step up would probably be the Alesis 8USB mixer, which can do straight digital in to the computer. Then there's no low-quality consumer audio components involved in the chain to add hiss. There are fancier digital studio-style audio interfaces like MortenN mentioned, but that would probably be overkill for you.

I just remembered another product worth mentioning. Turtle Beach makes good quality sound cards with low-noise amplifiers. Their $50 PCI cards are a worthwhile upgrade, and probably better at eliminating hiss than even a SoundBlaster.

And Canada uses the same power, TV, and telephone area codes as the US. They aren't the same as Europe, they just spell and vote like it.

The hiss sound you're talking about is due to the audio card that has DC offsets not being zero. Even with the cheepest soundcard, you can make great (not professional) recordings. On the other hand, the higher priced and quality soundcards, have been calibrated for a DC offset of zero. Some soundcards do actually come with DC Offset calibration tools (software).

To eliminate the hiss, record silence for a couple of seconds
Sample the silence (hiss in this case) and once done recording, run the hiss sample as a noise reduction sample through the recording. The DC offsets become absolute 0, and you have a crystal clear recording.

But just remember that adding a mixer will give you more cables, knobs, and slidey things to play with!

Sorry, couldn't resist after all your posts in the home studio thread...

Crystal,

so what did you do??

Morten

bought a new external Pro Audio soundcard with XLR connectors
Tascam US-122

and a new microphone (that I COULDN'T be happier with)
Shure SM58

my sound is a bajillion times better! thanks SO much for yer help!
a mixer is on the shopping list too either an Alesis (sp?) or Soundcraft. Whatcha think?

thanks again
Crystal

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I like the soundcraft, but I'm biased - I own one.

Only real drawback to the Soundcraft is a lack of internal effects and aux send/returns for external effects.

You'll need 1/4" TRS (balanced) -> XLR connectors to hook up the Soundcraft mixer to your new soundcard. You can get them at most professional audio stores.

I'm glad to see you finally got a better Mic than your Wal-Mart special Crystal .

Crystal,

since you have a pro audio sound card with XLR input you don't really _need_ a mixer for recording. The sound card should provide you real time monitoring.

Where the mixer might come in handy is if you want to do a little karaoke at home: Computer-mixer-amp-speakers and you have nice little pro-sounding karaoke setup. For that I would get a mixer with the following specs:

- Couple of mic channels for duets etc. If you ever want to record musical instruments it is also nice to have a couple of extra channels so you can do a stereo recording with some ambiance mics.

- Couple of line level channels for the stereo backing music (computer into 2 channels), perhaps an extra set for an external cd player etc.

- Internal effects such as reverb, delay so you don't have to buy an external effects box.

- Stereo output bus, because your backing is in stereo.

- XLR outs so you have balanced connections to your amplifer. I prefer XLR over 1/4" TRS for the more sturdy feeling.

- Direct outs from all channels so you can record each voice/instrument separately.

- Insert jacks for each channel so you can use compressors if you later feel like it.

- Phantom power so you can drive that condenser mic if you later decide to get one.

- Headphone jack

- VU meter is very nice. I have mine gain structure set up (w. pink noise) so that the mixing board, the electronic crossover and my amplifier (bass) clips at the same time. This provides me the full range of all components and I know by looking at the board that as long as I stay away from the top LED I probably won't clip anything.

I believe in buying the best stuff I can find for the money I am willing to spend. Later on you might find that the extra capabilities comes in handy. I have a Carvin C1644 ( http://www.carvin.com/products/mixer.ph ... mber=C1644 ) which is a 16 channel - 4 bus - 6 AUX send mixer. Way more than I need right now, but a lot of the capabilities have already come in handy.

Morten

BTW. that looks like a coool sound card. Congratulations!!!!

Now you are making me envious.

On the mic side. The SM58 is a standard live mic. Been used all over the place. Very sturdy. I have two of them. Compared to your old stuff it is way better. Now you have a very good recording setup -- probably as good as or better than most people here.

As your recordings develop you might find a desire to add some other mics also. At least I did. The SM58 is not the cleanest sounding mic. Recently, I added an Audix OM5 and at least on my voice it is much clearer. The SM58 seems muddy compared to the Audix. That is however individual...

Looking forward to hearing some excellent recordings from you!!! A little hiss, ha, it is amazing what a pile of money can do, isn't it???

Morten

wow MortenN thanks for all that info

My hubby really does want to get a "pro-sounding karaoke setup"

He just bought a guitar yesterday (which he plans to put a pick-up in) and I own a keyboard (that I should dig outta my parents house) so it's gonna be a lot of fun recording the instruments and vocals, etc... so yep! Looks like we're gettin a mixer.

you should see him.... he's getting so excited about this stuff! !

Thanks again!

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I also use the Audix OM5 mic and love it's clean sound for a stage mic.

yes... another mic will definately be in the future also.....
Audix OM5.... ok.... what price range are we talking?

now I just saw Atomic talking about the Shure Beta 58A.... what do you two know about that one? the site says $300 American. Worth it? I paid $130 Canadian for my SM58

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The OM5 and the Sure Beta 58a both can be had for $159.00 U.S. , the OM5 is concidered by many to be cleaner sounding than the Beta 58 and more on Par to the Beta 87 which cost $90.00 U.S. more.
Myself I will some day get a Audix OM6 or OM7. They say if you don't like the sound of your own voice don't get a OM5, OM6 or OM7 as they all reproduce your voice without clouding it or muddying it.

excellent! thanks for the advice Bowfishn

Looks like the OM5 is winning the race.....

btw... I got your PM. Thanks a bunch!

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Just on a side note, condenser mics are also fun. Because of the much lighter diaphragm they have much better transient repsonse. They are usually also very sensitive. At some point in time I would like to get like a Shure KSM44 or something similar.

Again, Crystal with all your plans I think you should go a little further than just the simple mixers we were discussing. Many good mixers out there: Mackie, Carvin, Yamaha, Alesis, Soundcraft etc. If I were you I would look at what you want and what you might want in the future. Look at how much you want to spend and then make a decission based on that. Don't be too tied into any particular brand.

Morten

and I second bowfishn. From what I have heard the OM5 is a better mic than the beta58a. However, as I also said what you really should do is find a mic that suits _your_ voice, which might not be the same mic as what suits mine.

Morten

MortenN someday as well I would also like to purchase a really good Studio quality Mic .
That's when you can expect to lay out some serious coin anywhere from $500.00 to $2500.00 .
I have looked at the KSM44 in the past but have never tried one, the thing about mics is it seems the more your willing to spend the better the sound seems to get, even when the mic you have seems great to you at the time.

bowfishn,

my understanding, though, is that you really need a sound-proof room for a large diaphragm conderser. Otherwise you will hear a lot of ambient noises on the recordings. Issues you never had with a dynamic mic (much less sensitive).

Morten