rypeters5 wrote: I am trying to start a simple set up with my computer and mic. I first bought a cheap $5 adapter to directly attach a fairly old mic to my computer and was able to record a song using Calkwalk Music Creater Pro 9. I found however that I have to blast my keyboard and vocals (until my voice is hoarse) to get a final product that is somewhat the right volume to listen to. I later asked a guy at Daddy's Junky Music Store about this and he said that it wasn't a good idea to directly record into a computer and that I need a preamp to get a better sound quality and volume. If this is the case what do you think the cheapest preamp is? I am also curious about the imic because it says I can just hook up a mic and record using it and its pretty cheap. I know very little about recording equipment and would appreciate any information... Thanks in advance!

Ryan

I wouldn't go any lower than the Tascam US-122 in your situation.

There are cheaper preamps, but this is a complete interface and is the cheapest that has MIDI, XLR inputs, inputs for your line-level instruments, and monitoring.

MadTiger3000 speaks the truth.

However, I'm a little confused as to why you could not obtain enough level for recording? If you are using your computers built in Blaster type soundcard, you may not understand the operation of how to manipulate the built into the operating system Microsoft Windows mixer? It sounds to me that you may be trying to adjust the "monitor/playback" mixer and not the "recording/input" mixer? Your sound card manufacturer may have bundled a mixer program that might be more confusing to use in comparison to the built in Microsoft mixer? You can adjust your recording volumes by going to your start menu, then Programs, Accessories, Entertainment and select "Volume Control". That will bring up the Microsoft playback/monitor mixer. You must then go to the "options" drop-down menu and select "Properties". You will then be presented with another menu box and you can then select "Recording" and then OK. You will then be presented with the Microsoft Recording mixer. It will probably be displaying any/all of the available input sources. You will be Recording by selecting the check box. You may also find a selection for "Stereo Mix"? That selection allows you to record what ever you have selected in the previous Playback/Monitor mixer. You can use that but I recommend that you select the individual sources you wish to record in the Recording Mixer, since selecting "Stereo Mix" can present more noise and sources you do not want as part of your recording. "Stereo Mix" is only useful for recording multiple selections of sources, simultaneously, which is generally counterproductive to multitrack recording. So until you get that new audio recording interface like MadTiger3000 recommended as I do, this may give you at least some understanding of how to better manipulate your recording sources into your computer?

Thinking inside the computer box with very little $
Ms. Remy Ann David

It worked! Thank you very much... my recording volume was only halfway. I'll try recording again. Thanks again!!