Any cheaper alternative for Apogee Duet?
I'm looking for 2x2 or 2x4 audio interface firewire/thunderbolt, but with usb midi included. I want to use it to free the 2 usb ports in my mac and also use it with an ipad, because I connect my midi keyboard via usb. Basically, I don't need midi i/o ports. I'm only using 2 inputs mic and guitar and 2 line outputs for the monitor speakers(which I haven't bought as well).
Does an external audio interface make a cheap microphone sound more professional?
Working in an educational environment I've been exposed to many microphones particularly since we have a music production curriculum. First off the computer audio interface card (unless it's made by Avid or PreSonus) is not designed to render the clean A/D conversion you want, that's not where their money is invested. Second, I have gotten in “cheap” myself and bought used microphones on ebay and been lucky. Look for microphones that are from home smoke-free studios, secondhand smoke will ruin a diaphragm just like your lungs.My next question is how serious are you about quality? I've always enjoyed music ever since High school. In 2008 I started recording my church choir then in 2012 moved to my current haunt where I pursued music production. Since then I been developing an ear, which being an old guy with too many year of loud rock music has been a challenge.Personally I've used Peavey, Samson and Shure microphones anytime I've used entry level microphones my quality has been diminished. I now digress to speskers - when you're looking to buy speakers go listen to the most expensive speakers you can find - that was what I was told when buying my first system. Though sound engineers probably won't let you play with their $1k microphones the same is true here. As part of a class exercise we used Royer R-121s ($1648 matched pair) through M-Audio 2626 into ProTools on a MacBook Pro. I later got to mix the set and I'm here to tell you I've never before or since heard a recording that was as crisp and clear. So, if you get the chance to listen to a set with similar recording configuration then ask your initial question again.One more thing. Using a USB (a digital interface) microphone moves your A/D conversion from the computer to the microphone. In other words, the microphone becomes your audio interface however, you can only record one thing at a time. But, you've now placed the control of signal quality in the microphone you're using not the computer interface card.Happy Recording!
If I read 40 pages per day for the next 4 months will I see an improvement in my vocabulary?
You sure will! But if you really want to improve your vocabulary, read so-called English Literature some of the time. This, in the broad sense, includes American Literature at the very least. I don’t want to run through a list of all the English-speaking countries (including India, which has a genuine literature in English), but they would all be on it. The reason I suggest this is because of a basic principle in foreign-language teaching which applies to us native speakers too: the most improvement comes from giving a student what he or she already knows plus alpha (alpha being what the student doesn’t know; it should be a fraction of the book read). When I read my first 19th-century novel on my own, as (in public school terms) a first-year high school student, my vocabulary shot up. It was “Jane Eyre,” and though I was a guy, I came to just love it. But I needed to use a dictionary at first. By the end of the novel, I didn’t need the dictionary. So all reading of decent writing is good for your vocabulary, but something fine and a little challenging (with the plus-alpha factor) is best.
Audio interface, pre amp, or mixer?
If you can afford an Apogee, definitely go for it. The Apogee One (http://bit.ly/rQz9Pt) is very good and a lot better than the mixer you have, while the Apogee Duet 2 (http://bit.ly/tQtwSU) is even better and totally pro quality. If you're on a real tight budget, the Art Dual Pre USB (http://bit.ly/tW4z18) is the cheapest that will work but it won't be as good as the Apogee One. Mixers are fine if you have many line/mic sources, but for just one or two mics it's better to get something with fewer inputs and greater overall quality for the price. In your situation, an interface like an Apogee would be ideal. Also, if you're playing it out loud through the iMac, do you mean the iMac's internal speakers? If so, those are pretty tinny as far as speakers go. You need studio monitors to judge your sound. Speakers and monitors are technically the same thing, except monitors are a subset of speakers specifically designed for mixing and mastering. They're called monitors because you monitor your mix through them. Compared to PC speakers, studio monitors are more accurate and honest to what your mix really sounds like. Good monitors are ones that, if you can make it sound good on those, your mix will sound good on other systems (to the limit of those systems). What's your budget? If pretty low, then you might just want to get better headphones like the Audio Technica ATH-M50s (http://bit.ly/vTpqZA). Otherwise the Yamaha HS80M are great standard monitors (http://bit.ly/tAfVko). If price is no obstacle, the Focal CMS 50 (http://bit.ly/swQk2P) can't be beat for a compact monitoring system. As for a vocal booth, you can get an Auralex Mudguard (http://bit.ly/rI5qlw) to place behind the mic, and then about a yard behind you hang up a heavy blanket, mattress, or a section of wall covered in Auralex foam. Alternative is the Portable Vocal Booth from http://www.realtraps.com/p_pvb.htm Great recording gear is a worthwhile investment. Getting higher quality gear in the beginning saves you money in the long run since you won't be reselling at a great loss. My philosophy is to save up until I can get something I can be proud of, something I won't be getting rid of for a long time.
Do I need a DI box or a Mic Preamp?
You don't need a DI box with a nice pre that has an instrument input, but you might want one! A really nice DI box makes a difference in tone: the signal quality is better, and you now get use the premium components in your mic pre! (The instrument input on most preamps is usually made of the cheapest components).I always use a DI box when recording guitar—along with the amp signal, if any. It allows you more leeway later in the mix.I recommend Radial Engineering’s DI boxes. Behringer makes some great ones too.
How can I make the best audio recording (a guided meditation session) at home?
If you wish to produce a high quality guided meditation recording, and produce an audio product from it which you can then distribute, or even sell on the open market you have some excellent resources open to you-and I can report you need not invest much money getting them.To begin with, you have your organic resources, your voice and your attitude.If you have arrived at a good place, and you feel comfortable speaking in a soothing, inspirational way you have the raw materials to begin.Technology:A good quality PC, Laptop or Mac BookA condenser microphone - good quality mics are freely available on eBay/Amazon for a modest price, you do not need to go top of the range, Shure, Blue Yetti, and similar models are perfect.Audio Interface - these are now very cheap, Behringer, Focus-Rite are two brands which produce multi channel interfaces, these sit between your mic and your computer and feed into your…DAW-digital audio workstation. Free full featured versions are now openly available. You can use something like ‘Audacity’, or something more sophisticated like ‘Pro-Tools’.Google & iTunes marketplace.Set up your software, and microphone, learn how to adjust your audio interface and do a few recordings to rehearse, and fine tune your settings.Once you have produced your verbal audio performance, you can make enhancements, add a little ‘Reverb’ and compression to bring out your voice. You might wish to also add music as a background.There are many copyright-free music backgrounds now available, and these can enhance the mood for your recording.You can take steps to reduce ambient noise in your room, you can make one of those isolation booths with a cardboard box, some audio foam-and place your microphone in this to obtain a noise-free result.YouTube has many ‘how to’ instructional videos for using your software and hardware, I can recommend doing some private study with those.And you then have the capacity to produce good quality audio productions. It is up to you if you seek to retail these, I think there is a big market for good quality audio products these days, people are always seeking peace, and if you can offer this, you will be in demand.
Microphone question Shure SM7B or AKG C214?
The C214 is more versatile if you use it on everything like vocals, guitar, and piano. If you're only doing rap and rock vocals, then the SM7B will give a more upfront full sound optimized for those genres. The C214 will be more crisp and detailed, the SM7B fuller and smoother. C214 will work for rap and rock and the rest, just will sound a little thinner than the SM7B. Nothing you can't tweak with EQ though. The Duet has enough gain to handle the SM7B, so no problem there. It sounds like an SM58 with fuller mids and low mids and not as blaring upper mids, but it's still a dynamic that has an overall 'soft' and 'smooth' sound before EQ. Using a good compressor plugin with some slight output distortion built-in, works great for the SM7B. Other mics -- AT4040 and Studio Projects CS1 or CS5 come to mind. You can read all the reviews and issues with those. The CS1 is a smooth/dark condenser that takes EQ very well. Oh, also look into the Kel microphones -- http://kelaudio.com -- I think those would rival or exceed the C214, and their HM-2D likewise versus the SM7B. The Duet 2 is only like 10% better preamp/converter quality than the one, so you saving 300 was a good choice.