BBBucka wrote: is there a way to limit the vocals to keep the volume from varying?

Have you tried a Limiter? :wink:

Same question. Different thread. Should be helpful:

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thx :oops:

Drop the face thing, not knowing about compressors is pale in the shadow of what I did when I was new...

No less than routing the output from a 500W amp into a laptop line in.

Also, if you want more information on compressors, check the search function for "vocal compression". Should return a few different takes, and remember there is no magic setting.

"No less than routing the output from a 500W amp into a laptop line in."

Oh please do elaborate. :P

500W amp -> adapter -> laptop mic in in fact, wasn't even a line in.

Rather than use the line level outputs or the Rec out from the top of it... I take 4 completely gainless mic signals, mix them at badly crafted levels so that the LED ladder barely lights, and then turn down the mono out, and the laptop's rec volume in, until the clipping is only about 20% as bad as it was.

Surprisingly, nothing caught fire and the laptop sound card still works. Since then I've learned a bit more about amplifiers and their purpose, and where better to tap the feed from.

I guess that kinda makes it pathetic that nothing got damaged.

That's gold.

As long as you live and learn.
Though you must be blessed to have not blown the soundcard.

It's not my laptop :P and the guy who owns it hates it.
With 192MB ram and a 500MHz CPU so would I.

What would be a good pre amp to use, And how do i use it??

You take your mic, plug an XLR cable (about 1" wide, circular 3-pin connector, in case you didn't know) from the mic into the preamp input, then a cable from the preamp output to your interface. Turn up the preamp until the microphone is at the desired level.

I know that much, But do u have a good preamp in mind? And within a resonable price range?

You asked how to use it.

No I don't. Decide what is a reasonable price range, and search for "preamp $XXX". There should be dozens of threads on preamps within certain budgets kicking around in there.

Im not tryn to be annoing, it seems im getting on ur nerves, but one last question and i will not bother you any more. I have a TAPCO D.I. BOX
used for limiting and evenibg out instermnts, would this work temporarly, untill i can afford a preamp??

No, it's not a preamp and can't be used as such.

Also, it shouldn't even out instruments.
My understanding is, a DI box contains a transformer. Basically it transfers the guitar signal from one circuit (guitar + input side) to the other circuit (output side + interface/mixer). In doing so, it allows the input to be at guitar level and the output at line level.
There WILL be a limiter in it, to prevent the signal going over a certain value which will overload the electronics, but you should be trying to dodge that.

Guitar signals are at a higher voltage than microphones which is why it doesn't work as a preamp.

I personally do compression after the recording, mainly because I don't have a hardware compressor but also because computers allow non-destructive editing. If you're happy to use software, find a free VST compressor (there are plenty), there are also a million limiters and EQs and reverbs and ... you get the picture.
That could save you getting a hardware compressor unless you have to work in realtime (eg live sound).