Re: Re: FLASH: sound recording?

[Samir]

Hey John,


If u r using a pre-recorded source, why don't u have a line out from your

Player to the line-in jack of your sound card???? I do the same to get great

results ( Virtually impossible with a mic!)


Sam,

@rtaffects

-----Original Message-----

From: Kevin Darbro <

kdarbrointrex [dot] net

>

To:

flashershocker [dot] com

 <

flashershocker [dot] com

>

Date: 17 March 1999 01:51 AM

Subject: OT: Re: FLASH: sound recording?



>

>

>John Shankar wrote:

>

>> Hi:

>>

>> I've been trying to record some home-made sounds/effects for use in a

>> FLASH movie in ".wav" format.  For this purpose I have been using a

>> (cheap) microphone and the standard win-95 recording software.  This

>> has been giving me very noisy results (lots of background noise)

>>

>> - Could someone please tell me if this is a problem with the microphone?

>>

>> - If it is then is there any "noise-cancellation"

>> software/shareware out there which would mitigate the

>> effect of background noise in the recording?

>>

>> Thanks very much in advance,

>

>Sorry John.  The problem is most likely not with your software, but with a

>combination of your mic and sound card.  Garbage In, Garbage Out (GIGO)

>unfortunately.  There is also the issue of where you are recording.  If you

>are in a noisy room (heaters, refrigerators, etc.), that will probably

>"read" in your recording.  My best guess is that the mic is the largest

>contributor to your problem.  Recording is a hobby of mine, so I could talk

>all day about it, but here are a few pointers that may help you out:

>

>1) Start with a good mic.  This depends on your application, but an all

>around workhorse microphone that sounds decent with most stuff is a Shure

>SM57.  The SM58 is better suited to vocals.  Both pickup in a hypercardiod

>fashion (that means in a 'heart' shape with the most sensitive things being

>'read' at the front of the mic), and reject noise from behind the head.

>They are not very expensive, and are quality 'instruments.'  $80 to $120 or

>so depending on where you are.  Avoid cheaper mics.  You do get what you

>pay for.  Shures are used the world over, especially for live

>applications.  If you look closely on MTV, The Tonight Show, David

>Letterman, etc, watch the bands and look at what they are using.  Lots of

>SM57s and 58s usually.  If you really want rich sound, you'll need to look

>at condenser mics which tend to be more expensive.

>

>2) You'll need a mic cable and some way to translate the mic signal to your

>sound card.  I go into a Mackie mixing board, and out to my Turtle Beach

>soundcard with a 'Y' cable RCA to 1/8".  You can probably find a used

>Mackie 1202 mixing board for around $200.  Mackie also makes good stuff

>that a lot of folks use.

>

>3) Use a good room.  Turn off or isolate electrical things that make subtle

>buzzes and hums.  Hang blankets and towels in the room to absorb sound

>reflections.  Experiment with mic position to find the right one.

>

>4) Set a good level and don't overdrive your software inputs.  Watch the

>meters (if there are any), and get as close to '0' as possible without

>going over.  Sound Forge is a great piece of software, but I hear a lot of

>people love Cool Edit as it is shareware and it can do most of the same

>things.

>

>5) Use a good sound card.  SoundBlasters have gotten better, but I will

>never buy one again after I've heard the accuracy of the Turtle Beaches.

>For an idea as to how noisy your card is, record without any output from

>your mixing board into your sound card (but leave everything still plugged

>in like normal). Look at the resulting waveform.  That is the noise floor

>of your sound card.  I did this test with my SB 16 and my Turtle Beach

>Tropez Plus, and there was a significant difference.  The Sound Blaster was

>much noisier than the Turtle Beach.  If you have an OEM SoundBlaster

>compatible knockoff card, chances are you have a noise machine in your

>computer.

>

>Hope that helps!

>

>- Kevin Darbro

>http://www.intrex.net/kdarbro (not flashed yet...I'll get to it!)

>

>

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