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Help!!! Totally out of my element here!

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4/2/1999 12:03 PM

Help!!! Totally out of my element here!

Hi Ya'all

Got a question for all you recording junkies here. I've gotten a few requests for some audio samples of some amp mods of mine and I have virtually no recording gear at all to work with. Don't laugh but here's what I've been trying so far.

I have a Sure PE56D mic. I've tried recording into my cassette deck on my stereo with dismal results. It sounds like I'm playing in a bucket. HORRIBLE!

My next idea is to try to record straight to my PC. I've got a cheap old Creative Labs Sound blaster 16 card. I managed to um....borrow a copy of cooledit pro for the recording and conversion to different formats.

Any and all comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated short of going out and buying some real equipment.

Regards;
Carl
Summit Amps

4/3/1999 6:34 PM

You can record live with CoolEdit.. Plug the mic into the "mic" input on the sound card, or if you want (this may be better) plug the mic into the tape deck, and run the tape out into the "line in" on the soundblaster. Use the record level on the deck to set the level. Go to your control panel, click "multi-media" and then click on "recording" (the microphone icon..) Make sure that your source (mic or line) is checked off or you'll have no level... CoolEdit will run meters (double click on them) when you're not recording. Make sure you don't clip (red bits stay behind after a peak.) Make sure you record 44.1kHz 16bit. Mono is fine. You can set your levels with the machine (same menu as selecting source) or also on the tap deck (or both).
Place the mic up against the grill of the amp about 45 degrees off axis (90 deg would be pointing straight into the speaker). Don't point the mic at the center of the cone. This will give you piercing treble.. point the mic at the side of the speaker. Put your head down by the speaker and set the tone while you're in front of it, not standing above it 5 feet away. You need to hear what the mic will hear to eq properly.
You can download a trial copy of N-Tracks (Harmony Central) to try, and it has a really nice EQ which can clean up your *.wav file. If you want to do a better job, you'll need to blow $100 on an SM57.. Try recording in different rooms too. You'll be amazed. Be patient, don't expect greatness on the first take!
GD LK!

4/5/1999 3:51 PM

Hot diggity!!!!!

Hey this is working great! I recorded straight into the sound card and it sounds terrific. The signal is a little low though. It was recording at almost -20 dB. Even after amplifying the wav file it still sounds super. I have the mic placed at 45 deg on the vertical and the horizontal axis.

I'm getting some strange high frequency artifacts at the moment when I convert the wav's to RA. Cool Edit has a formidable eq built into it. So I may want to try messing with that. Funny, It's not in the wav file though. I guess using the tape deck as a preamp is next thing on the list.

Now all I need is a little refinement and I'll be in business. Thx for the help!

Regards;
Carl
Summit Amps

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