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I have a MXL 770 Cardioid Condenser mic, and I want to hook it up to my Acer Aspire 5 to start recording music. Is there any extra steps I need to take? Do I need phantom power supplies? Would it be easier to get a usb mic? I'm as noob to this as it can get. I bought this laptop so I could start recording music and have really had no guidance so I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction. I want to record both vocals and acoustic guitar with the microphone if possible.

Comments

Jesse Sat, 11/14/2020 - 19:15

So what would you recommend? I have a $200 limit as of right now, so I could get a lower grade interface or get a mid range usb mic. I was considering getting the NTUSB+ I think it was called. Or is Blue Yeti a decent brand? This is all about entry level recording, I'm sure I'll upgrade my equipment as I go along but for now I need cheap but decent equipment to use on a laptop. I have a friend who lives across the country visiting and was hoping to record with him before he returned to Texas (I'm from Michigan, his home state). Thanks for the quick reply by the way, much appreciated.

Jesse Sat, 11/14/2020 - 21:44

So an interface is the way to go. This has been really enlightening and an experience I could not trade for another. Thank you for being there to guide me. An interface it is. I'll get to looking. Most of interfaces should be compatible? Or no? Is there a specific one I should look for involving the MXL 770 and my Acer 5. I have a $200 budget atm but anything that would work would get me well on my way.

Jesse Sun, 11/15/2020 - 00:00

paulears, post: 466022, member: 47782 wrote: I always ask one question with the USB mic question. Will you EVER want to record two mics at the same time? If so, your USB mic will be useless because the multiple usb input option is stupidly difficult or even impossible to make work. Ordinary mics are a million times more versatile.

^^ Alright well I do have a desire to play at the same time as my friend, it should be easy enough to layer our vocals/instrumemtals from a single mic. I'm not super worried about that from a beginning standpoint. I need to start somewhere. Eventually I hope to have a full studio. Even if I don't do shit myself I want to be a technician and mixer/producer.

Jesse Sun, 11/15/2020 - 00:04

bouldersound, post: 466023, member: 38959 wrote: On a Mac I think using two USB mics is a simple matter of using Aggregate Device, but the one designated slave will be resampled on the way in. On a PC there may be one or two recording programs that can do something similar. But that doesn't solve the monitoring issues, which an interface does solve.

Alright, when I get set up I may have to hit you up to run me through shit and to make sure I'm up to snuff. You seem to know plenty enough to coach me through the starting period. I appreciate you even existing. Maf respect bro. Hit me with your email. (petrichorisreal@gma…) btdubbz Petrichor is the smell of the earth after it rains.

KurtFoster Sun, 11/15/2020 - 08:30

not sure what you mean by that but lol anyways ...... usb mic's for the most part can induce latency when recording and most are limited to 16 bit operation. so for multitrack recording they are a bottom of the barrel choice. you will do far better using the mic you have and getting an interface, keeping your options for the future open. a usb mic is essentially a dead end.

paulears Sun, 11/15/2020 - 13:37

You mention you aim to gradually create a studio. If this is the case, don't buy the USB mic - it limits so much what you can do. Like when somebody says can you lend me a mic, and you discover they have a mixer, or you want to record something from a distance, or something really loud. For a one box shop - plugging a USB mic into your laptop works perfectly well. You've just got no growing room for the future. Most people start with one mic and end up with loads - all for different things, and that's just not happening with USB.

pcrecord Mon, 11/16/2020 - 08:11

Kurt Foster, post: 466028, member: 7836 wrote: usb mic's for the most part can induce latency when recording and most are limited to 16 bit operation

I agree, USB mic are to be avoided if you want to record audio. Even the more expensive are prone to latency and the quality isn't as good as a separate mic and proper audio interface.
Most use the default windows drivers (if you are on windows) and they are far from optimal. Audio interfaces maker design their own drivers and to achieve better performances..

The MXL 770 is a bit harsh on the high frequencies but it is fonctionnal and a great tool to learn mic placement and recording in general.

Welcome to RO Jesse !