Capturing sound some distance away

MartinR wrote:
Ryan,
In the picture, the rectangular box looks like the receiver, and it mounts on the hot shoe on your camcorder. The mic looks like a regular sized mic that would fit in a mic stand.

Here is a link to some more info on this mic - B&H Photo. Note what they say:

Hi Martin,

From your B&H Photo link, can you please click "more images" & select "Left-Side View".

From there, it looks like the transmitter (mic) has a "belt clip" for us to clip onto our pocket or belt. How to attach this "belt clip" to mount onto a mic stand ? Is there an adapter where we can buy ?

Also when you click "more images" & select "Left-Side View", you will see a hole on the top, what is this hole for ? For us to insert a handheld microphone ?

Thanks for your help.

MartinR wrote:
Ryan -


Mics - there are loads of them to choose from. You want a vocal mic, not an instrument mic, and make sure it has an XLR cable connection (not 1/4", TRS, RCA or 1/8"). For starters, take a look at the Shure SM58, it's a rock solid mic with a great reputation, been around for many years. You should be able to find used ones for $25-$50 USD.

Hi Martin,

May I know how do I know whether the mic is a vocal mic or an instrument mic ?

Thanks

MartinR wrote:
Sheesh, Ryan, almost every microphone description tells you what use it's designed for.

Very first line of the description of the SM58 linked above:

+"The legendary Shure vocal mic is tuned to accentuate the warmth and clarity of lead and back-up vocals. "+

Hi Martin,

Let me clarify the question, what I meant was, if I just look at the mic based on visual, how will I know whether it is a vocal mic or instrument mic ?

I asked because when I went to the shop this afternoon, the sales guy show me a mic without any box & he said it is a vocal mic. I am not sure whether he is telling me the truth or not ?

Thanks

MartinR wrote:

Mics - there are loads of them to choose from. You want a vocal mic, not an instrument mic, and make sure it has an XLR cable connection (not 1/4", TRS, RCA or 1/8"). For starters, take a look at the Shure SM58, it's a rock solid mic with a great reputation, been around for many years. You should be able to find used ones for $25-$50 USD.

Yes, the many of the established shops I went to recommended the Shure SM58. So, I more or less decided this is the mic to buy.

One of the salesman told me if I buy 2 of this Shure SM58, I need to buy a mixer to get stereo sound ?

Is that true ?

Y-adapter - XLR-to-1/8" stereo male Plug 1 mic into each XLR end, plug the 1/8" stereo plug into your camcorder's mic input.

Will this Y-adapter sufficient instead of getting a mixer because a mixer is quite expensive, right ? After all, I do not have other equipments like guitar, piano, keyboard .... etc to record ... I only record a group of people singing ...

On a side note, do I need "something" to boost up the signal of SM58 before it goes to the computer ? In this video, the guy said (some where at 2:10) that the signal that comes out from the SM58 is too low go into the computer & need a mixer to boost up the signal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1n1TAxZhHs

What is the cheapest mixer that is required for the purpose ?

I intend to plug the SM58 straight into the laptop to record the voice, is that the correct way ?

Thanks

Can some kind soul help me on this one, please ?

Thank you very much ...

Cheers

RyanManUtd wrote:

MartinR wrote:

Mics - there are loads of them to choose from. You want a vocal mic, not an instrument mic, and make sure it has an XLR cable connection (not 1/4", TRS, RCA or 1/8"). For starters, take a look at the Shure SM58, it's a rock solid mic with a great reputation, been around for many years. You should be able to find used ones for $25-$50 USD.

Yes, the many of the established shops I went to recommended the Shure SM58. So, I more or less decided this is the mic to buy.

One of the salesman told me if I buy 2 of this Shure SM58, I need to buy a mixer to get stereo sound ?

Is that true ?

Y-adapter - XLR-to-1/8" stereo male Plug 1 mic into each XLR end, plug the 1/8" stereo plug into your camcorder's mic input.

Will this Y-adapter sufficient instead of getting a mixer because a mixer is quite expensive, right ? After all, I do not have other equipments like guitar, piano, keyboard .... etc to record ... I only record a group of people singing ...

On a side note, do I need "something" to boost up the signal of SM58 before it goes to the computer ? In this video, the guy said (some where at 2:10) that the signal that comes out from the SM58 is too low go into the computer & need a mixer to boost up the signal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1n1TAxZhHs

What is the cheapest mixer that is required for the purpose ?

I intend to plug the SM58 straight into the laptop to record the voice, is that the correct way ?

Thanks

David Harbsmeier wrote:

I intend to plug the SM58 straight into the laptop to record the voice, is that the correct way ?

No, that is the wrong way. Most mics will neeed a preamp, which is what a mixer will provide - each input channel of the mixer has its own preamp.

-DH

Thanks David.

In my case, I will have only 2 mics to be recorded into the laptop.

So, do I need a preamp or mixer or both ?

What is the cheapest preamp I can get ?

Thanks

David Harbsmeier wrote:
I guess you didn't read my post thoroughly; a mixer will have a built-in preamp for each channel. You can get a cheap mixer for about $99.00 (USD): http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Peavey-PV6-Mixer?sku=631366

You should also be able to easily find used mixers available in your area.

-DH

Thanks David for your reply & info.

Actually, I did notice that you earlier said that " ... most mics will neeed a preamp, which is what a mixer will provide - each input channel of the mixer has its own preamp ..."

I think I did not make myself quite clear. The question that I was trying to ask was this:

1. Can I get away without a mixer because I have nothing to mix, I have no guitar, no keyboard ... etc ....to mix. I only want to record the voice (singing) from two Shure SM58 microphone.

I was trying to find out whether firstly there is such a thing as a preamp without mixer ? My intention is to boost the mic signal using a preamp and record the voice separately as a file in the laptop.

Then place this file in a voice track in FCE with the background music on a separate track in FCE (meaning separate track for voice and separate track for background music).

2. Is my understanding of this connection correct, mic ---> preamp/mixer ---> laptop ?

3. I do not have a Mac laptop so I intend to use a WIndows based laptop to record the voice. I thought of capturing the voice using WIndows Movie Maker. So, will this work:

mic ---> preamp/mixer ----> laptop (Windows Movie Maker)

Thank you very much

Can someone help me on this, please ?

Thanks a milion ...

RyanManUtd wrote:

David Harbsmeier wrote:
I guess you didn't read my post thoroughly; a mixer will have a built-in preamp for each channel. You can get a cheap mixer for about $99.00 (USD): http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Peavey-PV6-Mixer?sku=631366

You should also be able to easily find used mixers available in your area.

-DH

Thanks David for your reply & info.

Actually, I did notice that you earlier said that " ... most mics will neeed a preamp, which is what a mixer will provide - each input channel of the mixer has its own preamp ..."

I think I did not make myself quite clear. The question that I was trying to ask was this:

1. Can I get away without a mixer because I have nothing to mix, I have no guitar, no keyboard ... etc ....to mix. I only want to record the voice (singing) from two Shure SM58 microphone.

I was trying to find out whether firstly there is such a thing as a preamp without mixer ? My intention is to boost the mic signal using a preamp and record the voice separately as a file in the laptop.

Then place this file in a voice track in FCE with the background music on a separate track in FCE (meaning separate track for voice and separate track for background music).

2. Is my understanding of this connection correct, mic ---> preamp/mixer ---> laptop ?

3. I do not have a Mac laptop so I intend to use a WIndows based laptop to record the voice. I thought of capturing the voice using WIndows Movie Maker. So, will this work:

mic ---> preamp/mixer ----> laptop (Windows Movie Maker)

Thank you very much