Re: How to connect MXL 990 mic to a PC?
- From: "John L Rice" <Drummer@xxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 7 Apr 2007 16:41:37 -0700
"Scott Dorsey" <kludge@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ev93f7$dgb$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Fritz <sonnichs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I am interested in interfacing an MXL 990 mic to my laptop. Can anyone
give me advice on what might be needed here. I am trying to keep costs
under $100 for equipment in addition to the microphone-not interested
in hi-tech mixers here.
You need to provide power for the mike. You need to amplify the signal
about 40 dB. You need to convert it to a digital data stream. You
need to convert that data stream to USB for the laptop.
You can do this with one box, or you can do it with five different boxes
or other various combinations.
My understanding is that a mixer can be used which provides the
"phantom" or "shadow" power, but I have also heard there are other
less sophisticated/expensive interfaces.
The problem is that the USB bus does not provide enough power to
build a proper phantom supply. So the manufacturer of such an interface
can either overload the buss, use a lower than acceptable phantom voltage,
or use external power.
Would the device connect to the headphones jack on the PC or do I
need a special card?
The headphone jack is an output.
I think the cheapest combination I would consider acceptable for
noncritical
use would be the $200 Lavry Engineering preamp+converter+usb interface
box.
You will also need a phantom power supply for around $100 on top of that.
There are cheaper alternatives but they cut too many corners to be
trusted.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
As always, Scot gives good advice for doing quality recording. See
www.lavryengineering.com/productspage_computer_audio.html
Does your laptop have a line-in or mic input? If it does you can skip the
USB part although these inputs are not know for their quality.
You can get some inexpensive solutions made by ART. I have an inexpensive
mic pre made by them (the first generation Tube MP ) and I don't like it at
all except maybe as a bass DI. I do have one of their "Clean Box" impedance
converter boxes and it works nicely for being so cheap. I mention all this
because ART makes an all in one Mic pre with phantom power to USB which you
can pick up new for under $100.
(www.artproaudio.com/products.asp?type=79&cat=1&id=124) I've never used one
so research before you buy one. ART also Rolls make inexpensive phantom
supplies (under $40 street)
From my limited experience with ART, the inexpensive PreSonus and Symetrixmic pres sound a lot better.
I've never used any of the MAudio USB solutions but they have some items
that come close to your price range. Be sure to check Ebay for some deals.
Best of luck.
John L Rice
.
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