Re: Sound Blaster Live - was mini recorder

[Joel Fritz <jfritz666@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Pierre wrote:

>  
> Vern said:
>
> > If your computer doesn't have these capabilities, your cheapest way 
> to get
> > digital recording capability might be to buy the Sound Blaster card with
> the
> > software described.
> >
>
> I have a SoundBlaster Live card and I have tried recording and I get an
> extremely thin sound (only high frequencies). I used both the PC mic 
> and my
> green bullit and its about the same. Initially I used the Mic input and
> since the sound was so bad I tried going through my son's Korg effect
> processor and went in to the PC using the line input and this was no 
> better.
> Has anyone had any experience with the "Live" card? Did you get the 
> similar
> result or better?
>
> Pierre
>
> PS: I am using Windows XP
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Vern Smith" <jevern@xxxxxxx <mailto:jevern@xxxxxxx>>
> To: "Richard Lister" <ric@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> <mailto:ric@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
> Cc: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx <mailto:harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>>
> Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2004 8:38 PM
> Subject: Re: Mini Recorder
>
>
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Richard Lister" <ric@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> <mailto:ric@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
> >
> > > > Anyone got suggestions for a digital mini recorder.  I want to 
> record
> my
> > > > practice and be able to download it to my PC.
> > > >
> > > > Is an MP3 recorder what I need?
> > >
> > > You could always record direct to your PC.
> >
> > You may have the software on your machine to do it already.  The 
> Creative
> > Technologies package that came with my Sound Blaster card has an icon on
> my
> > desktop labelled "shortcut to CT Launcher."  It places a control bar at
> the
> > top of the screen.  Selecting the "Recorder" button places a tape 
> machine
> > type control panel on the screen that allows me to record, play back,
> change
> > volume/recording level, etc.  It even has a little VU meter for getting
> the
> > recording level right.  It creates *.WAV files.
> >
> > I downloaded a program called "InTex MP3 Encoder" that will convert the
> WAV
> > file to MP3 at various sampling rates.
> >
> > Although not very directional, the cheap little electret mics that plug
> into
> > the computer are pretty darn good hi-fi wise.  You can put them in your
> > cupped hands while you play harmonica. They are tiny condenser mics with
> > built-in FET impedance-reducing amplifiers.  I would buy an 
> expensive mic
> > only if I found that after trying it, I was unhappy with the cheapie
> > electret.
> >
> > If your computer doesn't have these capabilities, your cheapest way 
> to get
> > digital recording capability might be to buy the Sound Blaster card with
> the
> > software described.
> >
> > Vern
> >
> > Visit my harmonica website: www.hands-free-chromatic.7p.com 
> <http://www.hands-free-chromatic.7p.com>
> >
> >
> > --
> > Harp-l is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> > Hosted by ValuePricehosting.com, http://www.valuepricehosting.com

The mic input on the sound card is almost guaranteed to give you subpar 
results.  Unfortunately, you need a preamp of some sort to run a mic 
through the line input.  You can get an inexpensive mixer or a mic 
preamp for $30 - $50.  Although....the Korg effects box should put out 
something close to a line level signal, so I'm not sure what's going 
on.  AFAIK, the SB Live card can give acceptable but not studio quality 
results as long as it gets a reasonable line level signal..  Neither the 
green bullet nor the pc mic are ideal recording mics.  I've never tried 
running my harp mics directly to the sound card through my cheapo mixer. 

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