I basically don't know much about recording and only want a crash course lesson. I need a way to get my microphone signal to the computer.

Oh and one more thing, I'd like to keep a tube sound as much as possible.

Research Mic Pre
AKA Mic Preamp.
That should enable you to bypass the mixer option for now.

Hey SanQ,
you should have got a kit like the one below when you bought the 460

If you didn't you need the multi pin cord that will plug into the mic as its not a normal XLR. The black box is your 48 volt power supply for the mic and the multi pattern controller. from there you can go with a XLR to a 1/4 cord and put a 1/8th inch connector on, that will plug directly into your PC.
You could also plug into an interface or mixer like you said but the mixer still has to plug into the PC, right.
So assuming that you are ready to go from the multi pattern power supply to the PC, you need an I/O digital interface or sound card that will get you into the PC. examples of a cheep lap to usb in.

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook sound card
this is a cheap way to get into the PC (many will argue the quality because its creative)

There are many, many, many other sound card boxes out there that you can get but none will be as user friendly or have the soft ware that CSB has. Also you will need a small mixer for the one above to plug into.

Another choice may be one like the M-audio

This may be your best stand alone method, not sure how it plugs to a lap top though unless its USB

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Ok you said a recording program.
there are many free ones on line that you can down load. search the forum and goggle free recording programs

leave a post with what you decide but at least search as much as I did for your thread

bwmac....that mic requires something other than a normal xlr cable??? really? are you sure?...forgive me for asking, but how would you proceed to plug the cable into your interface, pre...or whatever else that requires xlr connections?...is there a xlr adapter on the other end or what? -it just makes me question you cause i know most condensor mic (if not all) have the standard xlr connections.

and yeah that M-audio pic you posted does indeed have usb connection...that would be all he needed to get a signal into the computer....if he had the usb interface, he would not need the Sound Blaster card pic you posted.- the interface includes a 24/48 khz sound card, bypassing the computer's crappy stock soundcard.

i'd say the best bang for your buck all in one solution would be the Line 6 Toneport for like $65....assuming it has phantom power...if not, there's some pretty cheap pres out there that you'd plug into first, then into the interface.

Tube mics require a multi-pin XLR from the mic, to the external power supply. From that you would run your 3 pin XLR cable to your interface.

I'm not a cable guy, so I'm unsure what the extra pins are for exactly.

I'm not sure if it's the TonePort that you're thinking. Those typically sell for around $500.

jordy wrote: bwmac....that mic requires something other than a normal xlr cable??? really? are you sure?...forgive me for asking, but how would you proceed to plug the cable into your interface, pre...or whatever else that requires xlr connections?...is there a xlr adapter on the other end or what? -it just makes me question you cause i know most condensor mic (if not all) have the standard xlr connections.

and yeah that M-audio pic you posted does indeed have usb connection...that would be all he needed to get a signal into the computer....if he had the usb interface, he would not need the Sound Blaster card pic you posted.- the interface includes a 24/48 khz sound card, bypassing the computer's crappy stock soundcard.

i'd say the best bang for your buck all in one solution would be the Line 6 Toneport for like $65....assuming it has phantom power...if not, there's some pretty cheap pres out there that you'd plug into first, then into the interface.

Yip I'm sure. 7 pins on the mic and 7 on the power-sups in side. normal XLR out. Look closely at the pic of the black box and you can see the XLR on the left and the multi 7 pin on the right. Thats why I said
{quote} If you didn't you need the multi pin cord that will plug into the mic as its not a normal XLR.)

But the line 6 toneport

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would be another one of the many, many, many other options. thanks for the suggestion

hey sorry...my bad.- i was unaware that tube mics have 7 pins. thanks for clearin that up.

I did indeed get all of that stuff with my mic. So I can plug this directly into my computer and I don't need anything?

So assuming that you are ready to go from the multi pattern power supply to the PC, you need an I/O digital interface or sound card that will get you into the PC. examples of a cheep lap to usb in.

So I can't just plug directly into the 1/8 plug mic input? Or do I need a better sound card? How much do these run for?

sanQ wrote: So I can't just plug directly into the 1/8 plug mic input? Or do I need a better sound card? How much do these run for?

I understand you want to go cheap but you don't want it to sound cheap do you? Going through the line in of an onboard or SoundBasher card will comprimise what quality you have. Spend a few dollars on an entry level interface. AFAIK there is no such thing as an XLR to 1/8" adapter anyway. You'd have to get an XLR to TRS or TS 1/4" and then get a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter. Sounds like a bunch of noise to me. For $150 you can get an entry level interface like the Toneport or M-Audio device. You'll be much happier with the results and you won't be coming back here in a week asking about latency.