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Florin Andrei wrote:

quoted text
> To the original poster:

> The fact that you're using a SM58 and a SB Live indicates that you're on

> the cost-effective side of things. If the signal level is strong enough,

> then you don't need a preamp, nor do you need to change your sound card.

Thank you for your guidance, I am going for the cost-effective end!

I'll be buying a preamp.
Tim

quoted text
>

> On Thu, 2006-09-21 at 00:07 +0200, Carlo Capocasa wrote:

>> However, since you are willing to invest in a pre-amp, you might want to

>> consider getting a sound card that is geared at pro recording, that

>> INCLUDES a pre-amp. This is the path I have chosen, full analog signal

>> chain integration (tm).

>

> Full analog signal bullsh**.

> "Pro recording" and cards with integrated mic preamps do not mix. That's

> bang-for-the-buck amateur recording, not "pro".

>

> There are three reasons to get a mic preamp:

>

> 1. The signal is too low for the existing card

> This is the most obvious reason. This situation can also be remedied by

> a card with an integrated preamp, if the quality requirements are not

> too high.

> If the signal is strong enough and you're satisfied NOW with the

> quality, then you don't need a mic preamp, obviously.

>

> 2. Sound quality

> The majority of the preamps integrated in sound cards are in the low end

> of the quality spectrum. The best ones are somewhere in the midrange.

> There is no high-end mic preamp integrated with a sound card, unless you

> include in the "sound card" category some multichannel mixing consoles

> connected digitally to a workstation (and even then some of them are

> pretty average when it comes to their integrated mic preamps).

> If you're not satisfied with the quality of the integrated preamp, and

> you're sure it's the preamp (not the mic, not something else), then it's

> time to shop around.

>

> 3. Another reason, perhaps more subtle, is related to compression. In

> the majority of cases, you want to perform some compression on anything

> captured by a mic.

> Doing compression in the analog chain, before the signal hits the

> digital domain, allows you to use the full resolution of your digital

> channel, which otherwise would be wasted on high-amplitude peaks which

> need to be trimmed off anyway, and allows you to easily fend off digital

> clipping which is awful and must be avoided at all costs.

> That's why, in a decent setup, you will often see a compressor between

> the mic preamp and the sound card, configured for very gentle and

> transparent compression.

> That's also the reason why many mic preamps include compressors.

> There's really no digital workaround for this issue. If you're already

> hitting that kind of quality ceiling, you must separate the preamp /

> compression stages from the digital chain.

>

> That being said, for amateur recording, cards with integrated mic

> preamps are fine. Careful with clipping and you're going to be OK. Most

> amateurs are in this situation.

> Just don't bring the pro domain into this discussion, please.

> 

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