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Do I need to upgrade microphone or preamp?...?
Okay my problem is that I'm getting awful awful vocal recordings. My main use for this microphone is on the vocals. I use the Behringer B-1, sometimes the Rode NT1. Yes I've dropped both mics before. Nothing hard enough to break or ruin anything that can cause bad quality (hope not). I'm running everything through a Art Tube Preamp. I've done over hundreds of recording takes, maybe thousands? I purchased the Art Tube Preamp when I was 16, it's been about 3-4 since then. That's the only Mic Preamp known to use. So don't ask why I didn't upgrade, I've been searching Musicianfriends.com for upgrades but don't really know what to purchase. I have a great sound card for my computer, so I don't think that's the issue. My recording software is also very professional studio quality.I find myself doing takes and it ends up sounding ugly (80% of the time). I would run through verses perfectly and it will sound beautiful through the headphones. Yet playback is very awful. No matter how beautiful it sounds through the headphones while Cardioid Condenser I'm recording, the recorded product is very 'dull' sounding. Not very clear at all, it sounds like recording behind two foam filters, very mushy blurry sound. If I boost up the preamp...It'll peak out very bad, I pick up more hiss and nasty distorts sounds. I find myself doing over maybe 30 takes in a single session to find out my sound is still no good. Yes it's very irritating and very annoying. That's the results for both microphones with different preamp settings also. I would use the same preamp setting on both mics, adjust..then try them on both...same results. Also while using strong loud beats, I've noticed a lot of people manage to pull off keeping their vocal volume up. When I try to boost volumes...it's a ugly mess.10% of the time I get very professional sounding vocals.Now don't say it's my editing. Because I'm very good at editing, and many people I know that use highly expensive equipment are impressed by my editing and mastering work. 10% of getting good results is a worst case scenario when you have about 100 or more songs to produce. When I do get good results, they come out sounding studio quality, the results are cripst andHere are the microphones I use and the preamp. Please list any upgrades I should take forth in doing. I'm not looking to spend $1,000 for a microphone. My budget is no more than $350 if even that. Same goes for the preamp for my microphone. I'm not running a professional studio, yet I am running a small budget home studio. I just need help getting on the right foot. I've been recording with these equipments since I was 16 and it has been nearly 3-4 years later, so I'm looking to step it up a notch. All answers welcomed...no bashing on my equipment unless you've actually used these products or have used better products. I don't want opinionated answers but rather logical and factual answers. Thanks...Behringer B-1 http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-B1-Large-Diaphragm-Cardioid-Condenser-Mic?sku=270405Rode NT1-A Anniversaryhttp://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/R0DE-NT1A-Anniversary-Model-Microphone?sku=271593Art Tube Preamphttp://www.ashbysolutions.com/music/TubeMP.jpg
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