FUQ (eff -yu - cue) - FAQ's with an EDGE

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I've been trying to record my acoustic guitar using a pathetic microphone that I have on hand. This as you can already guess, is just not working out for me. I'm just recording right into my computer and then I use my recording software to change the EQ around and then the people I'm sharing my music genius with can hear my playing. Well I've decided that this is just not working out for me. The distortion is just atrocious so I did a little digging and what I need is a Condenser Microphone I've been told. Now what I need is a condenser microphone that will take a battery because I don't even really know what phantom power is or where it comes from. I looked on eBay.com for some condenser microphones of course they had tons and some were okay in price. Though I had no understanding at what I was looking at. Does anyone have a solution or suggestion that could help me in my High Gain Crisis? Something under $100 would be nice. I read something about radio shack Condenser Microphone but if I'm going to spend around $100 I think there are better options then a $15 microphone. That's what I hear they cost. I'm not even sure if that will work. Also should I get a better sound card? I think I'll just start with the Microphone problem first and see how that goes. My brother has a lot of Guitar equipment for his electric but I don't know if any of that produces phantom power. Equipment list: Spider II Amp Boss GT-6 Guitar Effects Processor The standard advice given at many places is a shure sm57/58. I’ve seen them for $80 or so last time I looked around. I do not play acoustic so I don't know how these mic's work for acoustic but I'd be surprised if they aren't great for it like they are with electric: Shure SM57. They are good vocal mic too so I don't see why it wouldn't be good for recording acoustic guitar. It's like a good quality tuner in that it is one of those pieces of equipment that, if you purchase a decent quality microphone you'll always keep it and always get some use out of it. The Shure SM57 is an all-around workhorse for everything and does not require phantom power. However, you need to understand that with any decent mic you will still need a preamp specifically for the microphone as well. I use a little Behringer mixer (mine is 4 or 6 channels, can't remember) and it cost me $49 at Guitar Center a couple of years back. So what I do is mic my small tube amp cabinet with an SM57 and then that is connected to the little mixer (the mixer supplies the microphone preamp power). Then from the mixer output I go into the PC via the soundcard's line in. This is a simple and quite usable setup and it can be done for under $150 ($79 for the mic and $50 for the mixer and a little more for the cables). It helps to have a decent soundcard but that's not necessary unless you're working with a lot of instruments/multiple tracks. I have an example clip recorded using the above setup on my website. If you want to hear it just click on the link and then click on the play button in the little audio player that is on the homepage. Probably not your type of music but you'll get the idea, and keep in mind I am not one to fiddle with knobs or do retakes, etc, so what you hear is basically what came out of me simply buying the stuff and doing plug and play. SM-57 Yes, I agree with the others, get the Sure SM-57 and either a small Behringer mixer (cheap and invaluable help for other things too) or their mic preamp: http://www.behringer.com/UB802/index.cfm?lang=ENG or http://www.behringer.com/MIC100/index.cfm?lang=ENG (hint: get the mixer) This will bring the level of the microphone up so you can plug the mixer/preamp out in the line in from your computer, you want to go in there, not on the mic in. And do a google search on mic placement for recording acoustic guitar: http://tinyurl.com/56t6b Off course, if you want to experiment with your microphone plugged to the mic in while you don't get the new stuff, find windows audio properties and lower the mic input level, that should get rid of the distortion. Guess I get to be the first contrarian here.  The SM-57 is NOT a condenser mic.  It is a great mic, but it is ideal for situations where the mic will be close-in to the desired input device.  One of those situations is NOT acoustic guitar.  IMHO, your best bet is to get a fairly cheap mixer (assuming your brother does not have one) and make sure it has a button on it labeled phantom power.  The phantom power button provides 48V and is what you need to power a condenser mic.  As for what mic to get, buy the nicest one you can afford.  You can get by with a $100 model but I certainly wouldn't go to Radio Shack. Try looking here: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=live/s=mics/search?c=4625 They start as low as $60 and go as high as $700.  All of them will do what you want better than an SM-57 IMHO but keep in mind you need a mixer with phantom power to operate it.  You can pick up mixers in the same price range as the mic. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=live/s=mics/search?c=4612 I own the UB-1202 (shown on top) and can vouch for it's ability to get the job done. I've used SM-57s, 58, MC-012s, SM-81, MXL-990's, Crown PZMs but what's really surprised me was the little Audio Technical lapel mic (ATR25S) that you can buy at Best Buy for $29.99 plus tax.  It takes a little hearing aid battery which seems to run practically forever and also comes with a ridiculously long cord.  I've gotten good sound with it plunked into the sound hole, clipped onto the guard, clipped to my guitar strap, and even decent sound with it clipped onto music stands. These little critters come with a 1/8 to 1/4 adapter so that you can line into whatever. One can never have enough mics!

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