My First Setup

[sureno]

Hi Fi speakers often colour the sound by Eq'ing them to sound sweeter, the idea of studio monitors is to offer the listener a true sound ideal for mixing your track so it sounds great on a hi fi system. now you will only get a really true sound if your room has been treated to avoid any misleading sounds, treating a room usually involves bass traps, reflectors and absorbers (also bass traps) i have been asking about this alot myself recently.

you would get acoustic treatment to fully utilize your studio monitors

[rsnuk]

Originally Posted by sureno

I only need to record 1 audio signal at a time, but wish to listen two separate audio signals at the same time, i was at first curious if a mixer could provide for separating vocal and audio signals from the one output channel I've got on the audiophile.

Now i can see that's not possible right?

I need a new interface with at least 2 outputs and 1 input that needs to have a powerful enough preamp to support whichever microphone i choose. you really only need min 2 outputs, they will be for your monitors/speakers you ideally route the output of your D.A.S to what you want to hear, it essentially is your virtual mixer.

It's pretty simple in reaper, i have two sound cards and can direct output either easy enough, the other is a SB Live Value, now i really want one with 1/4 or 3/8 inch jacks(is there a standard or most common jack plug size?) and xlr's.

Originally Posted by sureno

word of advice do not record and monitor vocals via your monitor speakers it can cause feedback, use headphones to listen to the music while the singer sings, you may want to listen to vocals and music the singer may want the same but at different levels or just the music. this can all be done inside of the D.A.S

No lol, especially not with a condenser, that can damage it right?

That was one of the two purposes i need two signal outputs, the other is to listen to vocals played back after recording, Listen to the sound in as many ways as possible i guess..

Originally Posted by sureno

this may be ideal for you

It's not bad i guess, at first glance it seems as if it was designed for protools?
I'd want more of a omni-applicable system, unbiased.

I think something similar would be great and i'll certainly consider this one, have any other suggestions?

Originally Posted by sureno

A Preamp is the same as a phantom power source correct? no

Is a phantom power source, not just plugging your mic into a wall socket?
NO!!! it is often a little button/switch next to the XLR in on the mixer/audio interface

there no way of directly supplying power to a condenser microphone then?

Phantom power needs to come from an Amp?

Is that because Amp supply an power in a certain way?

Thanks your an amazing help

rsn

[TrevCircleStudios]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dazzathedrummer
The biggest problem that i've noticed with USB mic's is that they all convert analogue to digital at 16bit resolution - so they are all kind of 'low quality' even if the microphone that its built around has good specs (weakest link in the chain )
Does this happen will USB Audio Interfaces? External USB soundcards?

Odd that the manufacturers haven't corrected this.

How many bit resolution to condenser microphones usually record at 24-bit? Do they record in higher than 24-bit, or is that up to the sound card to interpret the signal and decide however many bits it want to process it as?

Thanks,

rsn

analogue mics don't record in bits. They are analogue. A digital respresentation is essentially sampled at a given bit rate. The higher the bit rate, the better the quality. usb mics have onboard pres and converters. They are built to a pricepoint. That doesnt allow for great pres and converters.

[Dazzathedrummer]

Originally Posted by rsnuk

Does this happen will USB Audio Interfaces? External USB soundcards?

Odd that the manufacturers haven't corrected this.

How many bit resolution to condenser microphones usually record at 24-bit? Do they record in higher than 24-bit, or is that up to the sound card to interpret the signal and decide however many bits it want to process it as?

Thanks,

rsn

OK - An analogue microphone is an analogue microphone - condenser mics are more sensitive than dynamic mics because they work on the basis that sound is 'recognised' by a fluctuation in a constant 47 volt current.

The current that powers a condenser mic is called 'phantom power' - its called this because the voltage travels from the source to the mic through the same lead as the sound does - so phantom power makes the mic work.

you plug you mic into an audio interface - the job of the audio interface is to convert the sound from the mic into binary - binary has different levels of resolution, usually multiples of 8. 8'bit' is too low for music, 16 bit is ok, but not enough headroom for 'busy' recordings, 24 bit is the current norm for recording you can go higher, but then you start using up more resources such as disk space and CPU usueage.

Once the audio interface has converted to digital it then sends the signal to your DAW which will record it onto your hardrive. The recording resolution is determined by how many 'cycles' a second your daw is set up to read and record the data. 44.1mhz is said to be the minimum acceptable 'sample rate' as 44.1mhz is double top end of the average human hearing range and therefore your creating enough headroom for the top harmonics not to be squashed.

All of this happens in reverse when you play your track back - digita->analogue.

so things to consider:

Mic - condenser, diaphragm size - large or small,frequency responce - 20hz to 20mhx
Audio interface - phantom power, low noise, 24bit, number of inputs, at least 2 outputs
Daw - minimum 44.1mhz, popular file types

[TrevCircleStudios]

Originally Posted by rsnuk

there no way of directly supplying power to a condenser microphone then?

Phantom power needs to come from an Amp?

Is that because Amp supply an power in a certain way?

Thanks your an amazing help

rsn

You can get standalone supplies but most interfaces at the budget end come with pres and phantom power so you should need one of these: http://www.dv247.com/invt/42527/

[rsnuk]

The Mbox might be abit overkill even...

Seeing as i only need 2 outputs, i could probably get away with a 24 bit sound card. The i could invest more in other components and avoid latency complication from connecting via USB.

If it doesn't offer XRL output or input, how does one converter RCA or Jack signals into XLR?

Can audio signals be generally converted multiple times through different formats without lose of signal quality?

How is signal quality determined in analog?

Once it's converted from digital to analog by soundcard/digital-analog interface, how would loss of signal quality be quantified? (Noise? Anything else?)

Does converting analog signals between formats cause noise or any other form of signal degradation?

Also as i understand it soundcards don't actually effect the quality of a record much, above 24 bit sample rates, there is also not audible distinction is sound quality, right?

Is it true that the main issue with sounds is the the need for good driver support?

Do issues ever arise between soundcard compatibility with DAS's?

Thanks!

rsn

[Monarch]

Originally Posted by rsnuk

Do issues ever arise between soundcard compatibility with DAS's?

Thanks!

rsn

Not a major issue I think but I don't think it is so minor as to not be wary of it. Sometimes you get driver updates that fix certain issues with certain hosts but if this is a real concern for you then perhpas choosing one of the more well known hosts like Cubase or Sonar (but the cheaper versions) would be better.

Both of these developers offer their own dedicated hardware but that will hit your budget harder most likely.

[rsnuk]

Originally Posted by TrevCircleStudios

You can get standalone supplies but most interfaces at the budget end come with pres and phantom power so you should need one of these: Samson S-Phantom 48 Volt Phantom Power Supply at DV247.COM

Is there a difference between a pre amp and and phantom power supply?

If so what would that be and why is a preamp call a preamp as opposed to an amplifier or vocal amplifier?

Thanks your very helpful lol, this is why i hated school, kept getting in trouble for asking too many questions.

Peace,

RSN.

[sureno]

you can use the pro tools mbox with any audio app,

this way you get pro tools free, which is awesome for audio and when 8 comes out should be great for midi too, it can be a bit awkward at present.
i think the list you have on offer is

cubase
reaper
pro tools
ableton
sonar

out of those i would personally look at

sonar
pro tools
ableton

ableton is excellent and seems to be the current "fashionable" D.A.S
you can also get a 14 day un restricted trial of it which is great, you got to try it



if you bought the Mbox you get PT free with free update to v8 and you can asses ableton to see what you think which only leaves sonar, and Monarch is the man to advice you on that, its packed full of great vst's

if how ever you decide against the mbox look at these

[Dazzathedrummer]

Originally Posted by rsnuk

Is there a difference between a pre amp and and phantom power supply?

If so what would that be and why is a preamp call a preamp as opposed to an amplifier or vocal amplifier?

Thanks your very helpful lol, this is why i hated school, kept getting in trouble for asking too many questions.

Peace,

RSN.

A pre-amp is the bit that 'gets the signal ready' before it goes off to the next stage (ie before the amp).

[sureno]

Is there a difference between a pre amp and and phantom power supply?
yup, pre amp amplifies gain and converts sig on the mic, phantom power powers it

why is a preamp call a preamp as opposed to an amplifier or vocal amplifier?
why care who knows, i don't. all just technicalities

Thanks your very helpful lol, this is why i hated school, kept getting in trouble for asking too many questions.
yes you do ask alot

[rsnuk]

Originally Posted by sureno

Is there a difference between a pre amp and and phantom power supply?
yup, pre amp amplifies gain and converts sig on the mic, phantom power powers it

why is a preamp call a preamp as opposed to an amplifier or vocal amplifier?
why care who knows, i don't. all just technicalities

Okay and preamps often contain phantom power units also, correct?

Originally Posted by sureno

yes you do ask alot

Thanks again.

[sureno]

Originally Posted by rsnuk

Okay and preamps often contain phantom power units also, correct?

yeah more often than not

[TrevCircleStudios]

preamps often contain phantom power units also, correct?

yes they do.

[Dazzathedrummer]

Originally Posted by rsnuk

Okay and preamps often contain phantom power units also, correct?

Technically - Audio interfaces often contain preamps and phantom power.