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RealBand
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Joined: Apr 2002
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What's the consensus on a decent USB microphone for fairly inexpensive? I'm not even sure how these work. I take it that they have their own pre-amp? This would be for recording vocals into RB and/or BIAB?
Band-in-a-Box® for Windows
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RealBand 2026 (4)
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RealBand
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Aren't you already using one USB Audio Device for your guitar?
I'd be hesitant to use another audio device in the USB if that is the case.
Because the two would have different clocks and the sync may suffer.
I'd recommend a full-featured sound device made for recording, even if it has to be USB input.
Something like the M-Audio USB series, which have built in mic preamps.
That way, you might be able to connect a Line Output from the guitar device to the Line Input of the M-Audio, which would mean that all tracks would be recorded and played back thru that device, using its internal clock source.
--Mac
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RealBand
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Joined: Apr 2002
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OP
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I was hoping to swap out the Line 6 for the microphone to record vocals, no?
Band-in-a-Box® for Windows
Version 2026 (1237)
64 bit application
RealBand 2026 (4)
Windows 11 Home
Intel(R) Core(TM) 5 120U (1.40 GHz)
12.0 GB (11.7 GB usable)
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RealBand
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Joined: Aug 2007
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then how would you record your guitar? mic'd? even if that's the case what are you going to use for output? your onboard soundcard?
I do not like USB mics at all for recording because of the reason mac said - they are considered a separate soundcard. so if you used only the USB mic and the onboard soundcard you still have 2 soundcards with different clocks.
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RealBand
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 694
Journeyman
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OP
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I'm obviously going to need to record guitar and vocals at different times. My Line 6 pedal already acts as a soundcard, where I monitor the recording with headphones through the Line 6 board. I can't unplug the Line 6 pedal and plug in the USB mic?
Band-in-a-Box® for Windows
Version 2026 (1237)
64 bit application
RealBand 2026 (4)
Windows 11 Home
Intel(R) Core(TM) 5 120U (1.40 GHz)
12.0 GB (11.7 GB usable)
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RealBand
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Joined: Aug 2007
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yes, you can. but you're missing the point. a USB mic is a soundcard, but it's only ONE WAY. you'll still have to have some way to HEAR what you're recording or your backing tracks. there's no output on the USB mic so how are you going to hear what you're recording?
answer: your onboard soundcard OR your line 6. either way, that's a SECOND soundcard and you'll likely have SYNC problems because they have 2 different clocks and one of them has to be the master but the other is not designed to slave to that master.
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RealBand
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,992
Expert
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Expert
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,992 |
frankly i stay away from usb mic's.
seen too many probs with them.
unless things have improved recently.
best bet...
get a proper sound interface.
then mic (xlr)>>mic pre (eg art tube mp, or studio projects)>>
line in of sound interface.
ruff tunes 9 n 10 on my motagator site in my sig..
used AT mic >>cheapo tube mp>>roland ua interface.
another way is if useing a line 6 interface.
mic>>mic pre>>line 6 line in.
check the line 6 pedal has a proper external
line input. n run a test.
mebe try that.
Last edited by manning1; 01/17/11 09:38 AM.
retired puter engr....powertracks on amd......NICE !
"what is the black art of audio engineering ?"
my silly songs...motagator.com/bmanning
see my tips in the tips section.
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RealBand
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Joined: Jan 2002
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Quote:
yes, you can. but you're missing the point. a USB mic is a soundcard, but it's only ONE WAY. you'll still have to have some way to HEAR what you're recording or your backing tracks. there's no output on the USB mic so how are you going to hear what you're recording?
answer: your onboard soundcard OR your line 6. either way, that's a SECOND soundcard and you'll likely have SYNC problems because they have 2 different clocks and one of them has to be the master but the other is not designed to slave to that master.
Beagle, the first point is not completely correct. Several of the USB mics have monitoring capability as well for headphone playback:
http://www.sweetwater.com/c981--USB_Microphones
You'll see about 1/3 to 1/2 of the offerings are 2-way - with headphone monitoring available on the mic.
The first models on the market were as you say, only an input device, but it seems the industry did a self-administered dope-slap to the head and realized people wanted a bi-directional device disguised as a mic.
-Scott
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RealBand
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Joined: Aug 2007
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that's good if they're starting to do that. but not all of them do. I knew the samson g-track did, but wasn't aware that anyone else had made one.
however, I would still be wary of them unless they have improved their drivers. initially they only worked in MME driver mode and so they were very high latency.
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RealBand
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Beagle - your experience with USB microphones basically mirrors the development of USB audio interfaces in general. Things have come a LONG way. An alternative for folks that might already have mics is the Shure X2U, which is an interface you plug onto the end of a mic with an XLR connector. Headphone monitoring and the whole nine yards. http://www.shure.com/americas/products/a...-signal-adapter
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