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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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OP
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I really want to be able to record audio in BIAB and/or RB. The punch-in feature is awesome. I'm recording a fiddle using a Kremona VV-3 bridge pickup so that I can playback through my speakers at normal volume while recording (no headset needed). I plug the pickup directly into the front mic input on my computer.
So far, though, my recordings sound very bright and "tinny". I can record into other applications or devices (phone, tablet, etc.) and the recording sounds more like my fiddle sounds naturally to the ear. Is there anything I can do to correct this?
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Maybe get a better Audio Interface .. which will handle the digital audio recording of your fiddle (digitizing it) much better than plugging into the front mic input of your computer.
Using other devices (phone, tablet, etc.) is also using a different interface/driver.
Especially if you judge the playback quality on the same device.
The front mic input on a computer is not the best way to record audio ..
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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This adaptor will bypass the computer mic input and input directly through the USB. It's simple and inexpensive. 1/4" to USB Adaptor For a few dollars more, this unit will give you more recording options such as using a microphone .
Behringer U-Phoria UM2 USB audio interface
BIAB 2026:RB 2026, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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OP
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Thank you, I will be looking for an interface.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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OP
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Thanks, I'll check out both of these!
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So how does the fiddle pickup sound run through an amp or mixer? Does it require EQ?
I agree on the interface. Get a good one and record it to a DAW that lets you use FX in the channels and busses. I'm partial to the Focusrite interfaces since they have very nice audio preamps built in to them. I run that into Sonar and use my FX as needed to EQ things.
Another option is to use headphones and a nice condenser mic on the fiddle. Certain types of mics can impart a warmer sound to the fiddle. I often use this now days to record my guitar... both electric and acoustic.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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OP
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Yes, I can EQ some in Real Band, but I was hoping to record a more natural sound from the fiddle. As I mentioned, when I record to my phone or tablet, there is a warmer tone to the music. Real Band seems to push the treble much too high and there doesn't seem to be in way to control the tone in RB or in Windows on the input side.
I elected not to go with a condenser mic, but a bridge pickup instead, so that 1. I wouldn't have to wear headphones when recording and worry about whether the washing machine is running! and 2. to eliminate feedback issues when performing live.
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Yes, I can EQ some in Real Band, but I was hoping to record a more natural sound from the fiddle. As I mentioned, when I record to my phone or tablet, there is a warmer tone to the music. Real Band seems to push the treble much too high and there doesn't seem to be in way to control the tone in RB or in Windows on the input side.
I elected not to go with a condenser mic, but a bridge pickup instead, so that 1. I wouldn't have to wear headphones when recording and worry about whether the washing machine is running! and 2. to eliminate feedback issues when performing live. Generally, the program or the DAW has no influence on the tonal quality of the recorded sound. A while back in a different forum on recording, this topic was discussed and experiments were conducted to see if there was a sound quality difference between digital platforms. Conclusion.... non scientific.....the difference was not discernible. If there is a difference, it has to originate in some other link in the recording chain. I've never been a fan of the pickups used on instruments. They lack a natural sound. Pizeo crystal pickups especially have this issue. As far as controlling the tone... a DAW lets you control the tone easily. I've been able to change the tonal characteristics of mic'd instruments as needed.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Expert
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I agree. Try miking the fiddle.
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If the built in 'mic' on your phone/tablet sounds better than when you try to use the pickup .. that's probably telling you something.
My guess is if the recording in RB used the pickup .. and the other devices just used their native sound input (built in mic), and sounded better .. either the pickup is the issue, or you don't have a good preamp to boost the pickup sound properly.
That's at least three of us now now pretty much saying the same thing.
It's likely the pickup that is the issue.
A pickup like that needs a preamp (it has very low volume/power on its own).
Feeding that level signal to a built in computer mic input is usually a mismatch, resulting in feeble results.
Just my experience.
A basic Focusrite unit would likely make things much better.
If it doesn't make the pickup sound better (and it likely will), it will allow you the option to mic the thing and get a decent sound.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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OP
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Thank you. I wasn't very clear about recording on my phone/tablet. I am able to plug my pickup into the mic/earphone jack of the recording device.
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Journeyman
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On my PC I have a PreSonus AudioBox that allows for the use of a microphone or plugging directly in with a pickup. There are other companies that manufacture similar products. I have one of these for use with my iPhone: Shure MVI Works basically as the PreSonus Audio box - either plug in your pickup or a microphone. And, again, there are other manufacturers. These are just my choices. ...Deb
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Gary,
The Kremona VV-3 bridge pickup is a piezo contact pickup. Piezo pickups have a natural boost at around 1,500 Hertz. You may also be experiencing an impedance mismatch. The VV-3 has an impedance of 1,500 Ω while dynamic microphones typically have an impedance of 200 Ω to 600 Ω.
Have you tried using a regular microphone for comparison? Unfortunately, the computer manufacturer likely does not provide the impedance specification for the computer microphone jack so it will be difficult for you to know if there is a mismatch other than by how it sounds.
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Thank you. I wasn't very clear about recording on my phone/tablet. I am able to plug my pickup into the mic/earphone jack of the recording device. You really should be using a dedicated interface and not doing it the way you are currently.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Jun 2018
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OP
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Thanks, everyone...I'm now using an audio interface. I've also tweaked the settings in Real Band (making sure the sample rate in RB matches Win 10, and forcing RB to record in mono even though it's receiving a stereo signal from the interface).
Jim Fogle, thanks for the tip about the piezo pickups at 1,500 Hz. I'm EQing out some around 2,000 Hz and that helped a lot. I also read (on a fiddle forum") that "bow rumble" comes in around 200 Hz.
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Gary524,
Thanks for the update. I'm looking forward to hearing a song in the User Showcase.
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