See if you can get your hands on a decent condenser mic....and NOT one of the USB mics.... Get a "real" mic.

The Fast Track Pro is a decent interface and it has phantom power. I think my mic recordings became effortless what I finally picked up a condenser mic. Dynamics work fine in many circumstances but the condenser really shines in a studio situation.

Go buy a good condenser and try it at home for a few weeks. See if that makes a difference.

I have a Shure SM-58 and man does it sound good on a stage, plugged into a PA. In the studio, it's just OK for voice...and totally miserable for acoustic guitars.

I also own a Rode NT2A. The difference is like day and night. I now use the Rode 99% of the time for my recordings. Vocals, acoustic guitar, and even electric.

You don't have to dump a ton of money to get a good condenser.... just ask around and see what mics people are using.

I can't 100% guarantee it, but I think you will see a huge difference in the signal level you get into the tracks as well as a huge increase in the quality of what you are capturing when you have a better condenser mic on the end of that cable. It took me a few days to get used to my Rode. Partially because it was like going from a TV with a picture tube with an OK picture that everyone was used to... to suddenly having a high definition flat screen where you can see such amazing detail and sharpness in the picture. Just flip that to audio....and I was hearing things I had missed before, and that's not always a good thing initially. "Do I really sound like that?"

All other things aside.... try the condenser mic.... buy one or borrow one.

You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
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