Computer recording. Poor vocal sound. Yamaha MT120. And much much more
ZD Waldman
-currently i use a yamaha mt120 4track. unfortunately i have no manual. anyone
have a manual? anyone use the same machine?
-i have problems recording my voice. i'm using mediocre $90 Shure mics. can i
run it through a compressor? or some other type of effect? Basically my voice
just sounds a lot shittier and muddier on tape than when i am actually singing.
any tips?
-i want a good sound card with nice inputs to run my mixer into for computer
multitrack recording. i have a cd-r drive. any advice?
thanks muchly, zack
Eleven Shadows
> Some questions for the gang:
I'm not in a gang, but I'll answer! <g>
> -i have problems recording my voice. i'm using mediocre $90 Shure mics. can i
> run it through a compressor? or some other type of effect?
The answer to both these questions are a definite yes. And a Shure SM 57 is a mic
that costs less than $90, and is not a shitty mic. It's not a great mic for all
purposes, but it's definitely not a shitty mic. I own four of them, and absolutely
love them.
> Basically my voice
> just sounds a lot shittier and muddier on tape than when i am actually singing.
> any tips?
Yes. If you don't have a mic preamp, that will definitely improve your sound. Mic
preamps on four-tracks aren't usually very high quality, and mic preamps are one of
the most important components in the audio chain (the sound source is the most
important, and the microphone is second most important).
> -i want a good sound card with nice inputs to run my mixer into for computer
> multitrack recording. i have a cd-r drive. any advice?
Get a rich girlfriend.
In lieu of that, hop over to http://www.missionrec.com for what is a very helpful
web site. Try and join the PC-DAW mailing list for a wealth of handy info from
people who are some of the most knowledgeable folks of this sort on the entire
internet -- *and* extremely helpful! They've helped me out of quite a few jams!!!
And no, I don't work for Mission Recording and Audio, and no, I don't date any of
their daughters! <g> End of disclaimer!
--
Ken/Eleven Shadows
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eleven Shadows * ES songs on Real Audio * Music Reviews * Travels:
Peru-Ladakh-Kashmir-India-HK * Tibet * Real Audio Radio Shows
http://www.theeleventhhour.com/elevenshadows
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chris Gieseke
Just to add to what Ken said, at the very least get actual XLR-1/4"
transformers not just adapaters. With XLR-1/4" adapters you lose tons
of sound quality because the impedence isn't right. With transformers
they change the impedence of the mic's signal so that is more compatible
with that of the 1/4" inputs of your 4-track (assuming it doesnt already
have XLR inputs). A mic preamp, as Ken suggested, is even a better
improvement. A seperate XLR equipped mixer would work, or if you can't
afford a seperate mixer, one of single channel ART Tube MP mic pres
would also work well. I however recommend the Mackie 1202VLZ which will
give you 4 good quality mic pres and a very versatile mixer section that
you can use for problems you haven't even thought of yet. My little
1202VLZ pretty much is the nerve center of my entire home/project
studio and was probably the single biggest improvement in the sound
quality of my recordings.
As for soundcards, check out that web site Ken mentioned and also do
yourself a favor and sift through some of the older posts on soundcards
on both this newsgroup and rec.audio.pro using DejaNews to search for
those older threads. If its too much info, use the DejaNews Power
search and narrow the date down to just recent posts and/or specific
soundcard brands and models.
Chris G.
Simply Steve
graphic eqaulizer to help shape the tone a little better - at least 10-bands, but 12 is
better. I've used a couple of them (an old Sansui and a newer Pioneer) and even at mic
levels they do a pretty good job. Also usefull for tone-shaping guitar and bass. Of
course you'll have to use adaptors to match the connections, which are RCA type.
SS
Rob Bolling
Mt120 really makes ANY mic sound bad. It is one of the worst recorders I ever
had. My $90 Shure mic, however, sounds like a million bucks thru my Mackie mixer.
I would say the problem lies in Pre amps, Casette format, and probably un
tranformered xlr to 1/4 input. Expectations may need to be lowered a bit also.
All the advice I can give on the 120 is, run it in high speed mode with really
thick/good tape, clean it often and degauss it regularly, dont expect it to sound
like a Studer.
ZD Waldman wrote:
> Some questions for the gang:
>
> -currently i use a yamaha mt120 4track. unfortunately i have no manual. anyone
> have a manual? anyone use the same machine?
>
> -i have problems recording my voice. i'm using mediocre $90 Shure mics. can i
> run it through a compressor? or some other type of effect? Basically my voice
> just sounds a lot shittier and muddier on tape than when i am actually singing.
> any tips?
>
> -i want a good sound card with nice inputs to run my mixer into for computer
> multitrack recording. i have a cd-r drive. any advice?
>
> thanks muchly, zack