Connecting Voice-over Mic to Firewire Card

mhbstevens wrote on 7/31/2004, 12:51 PM

I have a stereo mic, a Nora cardioid condenser, that I want to plug into my Firewire card to record voiceovers to Vegas4. I know I need some connecting processor to maybe amplify the mic and to convert the signal to digital but I do not know what.

Recommendations or suggestions at the consumer level solicted and one question asked. Is this a good way to go or would I just as well put a new stereo 24/96 soundcard in my computer?

Thanks,

Mike

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 8/1/2004, 4:18 AM

Here's some ideas to look at:

Mackie's Spike (USB) http://www.mackie.com/products/spike/

Mackie's dXb mixer (firewire) http://www.mackie.com/products/dxb/index.html

Behringer's B-Control (USB) http://www.behringer.com/BCA2000/index.cfm?lang=ENG

Tascam's US-122 (USB) http://www.tascam.com/Products/US-122.html

I'm sure there are some good firewire solutions out there, but they're probably aimed more at large studios needing 16 or more channel mixers and therefore quite expensive. A cheap solution might be to plug the mic into a camcorder and capture through firewire. This will capture video as well as audio, but you can then open the .avi file in Vegas and render the audio only to a new .wav file.

Cold wrote on 8/1/2004, 6:28 AM

1. Stereo mics are not generally a good choice for voice overs. Do a search for voiceover mics here as this topic has been covered before. ( http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/Forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=233841&Page=0 ) is a good thread on a similar topic.
2. Are you also running a laptop? Do you need portability? How much budget are you playing with? A seperate computer interface and preamp will give better results than an all in one solution.
3. Are you ever intending to record multiple tracks (more than two at a time)?
This can help narrow down your search.
4. Is this for pro, semipro or personal use?
5. Do you need phantom power now or in the future?
6. Are you ever going to record anything other than voiceovers?

Just some questions to help point you in the right direction.
Steve S.

mhbstevens wrote on 8/1/2004, 9:08 AM

Thanks Steve:

This is for an amateur modest budget. Voice-overs only, and desktop. No portability required. No need for multiple tracks either.

Firstly thought, at the basic level, I am confused over the choice of inputing digital audio via a firewire or converting analog to digital in a sound card. If I go the soundcard route I can get a M-audio 5.1 Revolution for about $100 that seems a cheap solution, but how good is it? Also looked at Delta Audiophile 2496 and Echo's internal card. Also I think with a sound card a "software mixer" is still an option?

If I pass through the camera (canon Z65 now and Sony PD 170 coming in the next 6 months), can this be done in realtime? ie timelined to action. At present I am recording to camera, captureing to vagas later - not in real time - and then stripping video. I want a real-time solution for timing.

In the meantime I will try the links you suggested.

mhbstevens wrote on 8/1/2004, 10:59 AM

ADDITIONALLY: After reading your links:-

Is there a compromise mic good for VO and street/camera use? I was thinking of getting the Sennheiser MKE-3000 (shotgun) for the camera and wonder would this be also a workable solution for VO at the PC?

If YES I still wonder if I need a small pre to go to soundcard line-in or is there a sound card with a decent pre on it that will take the MKE-300 directly?

If NO, then the consensus for a cheap solutioon is the Shure SM58 sdc with a cheap (Behringer) pre into a moderate 24/96 soundcard.