2 Nov
2003
2 Nov
'03
8:21 p.m.
Hello all:
I am looking for advice on using a Shure sm57 microphone directly into the mic
input of a Creative sbawe64 gold soundcard. I am using an impedance matching
XLR to 1/8" adapter and I have raised the "capture" level in the mixer.
To record anything (say using arecord) I have to crank up the mic-in level to
full and the result is that I get a lot of hiss and the signal is still
pretty quiet.
Do I need an external preamplifier to use the sm57? If so where can I go to
find one or schematics to build one?
Or is there a simpler way?
Thank you for any suggestions,
Paul
2 Nov
2 Nov
8:34 p.m.
i dont know if this helps much but i have an sm58 and find i have to
both boost the signal on the mixer and use the preamps on my quattro to
get a good level.....
Paul Berry wrote:
Hello all:
I am looking for advice on using a Shure sm57 microphone directly into the mic
input of a Creative sbawe64 gold soundcard. I am using an impedance matching
XLR to 1/8" adapter and I have raised the "capture" level in the mixer.
To record anything (say using arecord) I have to crank up the mic-in level to
full and the result is that I get a lot of hiss and the signal is still
pretty quiet.
Do I need an external preamplifier to use the sm57? If so where can I go to
find one or schematics to build one?
Or is there a simpler way?
Thank you for any suggestions,
Paul
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3 Nov
3 Nov
2:12 a.m.
On Mon, Nov 03, 2003 at 12:34:06AM +0000, iriXx wrote:
i dont know if this helps much but i have an sm58 and
find i have to
both boost the signal on the mixer and use the preamps on my quattro to
get a good level.....
That's unusual. 57s and 58s have decent output and any reasonable preamp
should provide plenty of gain unless you're recording very quiet sources.
I currently use the Mackie 1202-VLZ-PRO mixer pre's.
>Do I need an external preamplifier to use the
sm57? If so where can I go
>to find one or schematics to build one?
schematics, eh?
Depends what kind, but there's lots of stuff floating around...
http://www.newmex.com/f10/taosamp.html
http://www.waltzingbear.com/Schematics/Schematics.html
http://www.jensen-transformers.com/apps_sc.html
google for "mic preamp schematic" will give you lots more...
--
Paul Winkler
http://www.slinkp.com
Look! Up in the sky! It's THE MINIATURE MONSTER!
(random hero from isometric.spaceninja.com)
12:57 p.m.
Hi,
If you're serious about "professional" grade preamps,
Tape Op published an article describing preamps. It
included schematics and kits for assembly, just in
case you don't want to do all the work. These are
vacume tube solutions that cost about $400.00 US per
channel but are in the quality range of $1,000.00
devices produced by companies like Avalon.
Sorry, I don't recall the title of the article, or the
publishing date. Perhaps you can find it on their
website, www.tapeop.com. Incidentally, Tape Op is an
interesting publication for the DIY types. I mention
this because I've noticed there's a couple DIY'ers on
this list. :)
ron
schematics, eh?
Depends what kind, but there's lots of stuff
floating around...
http://www.newmex.com/f10/taosamp.html
http://www.waltzingbear.com/Schematics/Schematics.html
http://www.jensen-transformers.com/apps_sc.html
google for "mic preamp schematic" will give you lots
more...
--
Paul Winkler
http://www.slinkp.com
Look! Up in the sky! It's THE MINIATURE MONSTER!
(random hero from isometric.spaceninja.com)
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1:30 p.m.
Hi,
If you're serious about "professional" grade preamps,
Tape Op published an article describing preamps. It
included schematics and kits for assembly, just in
case you don't want to do all the work. These are
vacume tube solutions that cost about $400.00 US per
channel but are in the quality range of $1,000.00
devices produced by companies like Avalon.
Sorry, I don't recall the title of the article, or the
publishing date. Perhaps you can find it on their
website, www.tapeop.com. Incidentally, Tape Op is an
interesting publication for the DIY types. I mention
this because I've noticed there's a couple DIY'ers on
this list. :)
ron
Hooray for TapeOp! I personally think this is the best magazine on real
recording of all of them out there. I love it. The only magazine I really
relish.
If you don't receive it, get it. It's free. No reason not too, and you'll
have a great time.
Cheers,
Mark
2:15 p.m.
Hooray for TapeOp!
If you don't receive it, get it. It's
free.
Only in the USA with 3rd-class postage (whatever that means). Outside
the USA it's US $45 for six issues. 
2 Nov
2 Nov
9:07 p.m.
At Sun, 2 Nov 2003 15:21:00 -0900,
Paul Berry wrote:
Do I need an external preamplifier to use the sm57? If
so where can I go to
find one or schematics to build one?
In most cases, I'd say yes. Unless your soundcard happens to have a
very good amplifier system and you're recording something loud (i.e.
a guitar amp on 11), a cheap-o mixer is probably your best bet
(Behringer stufff gives you great bang for the buck). A tube preamp
isn't a bad idea, and you can get the Art OPL for around %60
HTH,
[pb]
--
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of limited resources that it is only employed commonly by small
children and great nations."
-David D. Friedman
3 Nov
3 Nov
6:17 a.m.
On Sun, Nov 02, 2003 at 03:21:00PM -0900, Paul Berry wrote:
Do I need an external preamplifier to use the sm57? If so where can I go to
find one or schematics to build one?
1. Yes. The mic input on soundcards (especially consumer ones) is really
only for voice recording using an electret mic that has quite high
output. Contrary to another answer, I'd say the SM57 is low output,
certainly compared with any condenser mic.
2a. MidiMan (M-Audio?) Audio Buddy is the entry level and gives excellent
results.
2b. As suggested, the mic channels of a Mackie VLZ mixer gives exceptional
bang for buck if you think you'll ever need more than 2 mic channels, or if
you'll ever want proper (48V) phantom power, or have a use for a small
workhorse mixer. The Mackies seem to have lower noise than most mixers
at the low-cost end of the market.
You should then be able to use the line input of your sound card,
connected to the preamp output. On the Mackie mixer use the channel
insert point, which is a TRS jack, tip = send. In fact a standard mono
1/4" jack will do the Right Thing as long as you don't want any mic
signal on the mix bus.
Bear in mind that your sound card line input is stereo, so you can either
connect the preamp to both L and R inputs, or just to one input and take
care to ignore the other one in case it contributes extra noise.
--
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anahata(a)treewind.co.uk Tel: 01638 720444
http://www.treewind.co.uk Mob: 07976 263827
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8 comments
8 participants
participants (8)
-
Anahata -
Daniel James -
iriXx -
Mark Knecht -
Paul Berry -
Paul Winkler -
Peter Bessman -
R Parker