mic and preamp

[wasp]

Ok, from what I have gathered a normal soundcard won't be able to power up a condenser mic and the result will be thin sound. I assume a preamp would be needed, but can I use the a normal guitar pedal like the behringer booster through a DI box and right to my soundcard?

Basically mic -> booster -> DI box -> soundcard

I don't have a mic to try out so looking for ppl here to enlighten me. This is for recording guitar amp.

 

[soft]

what guitar amp are you using?

you can use those computer mic. can plug right into the soundcard's mic input.

 

[blueprintstudios]

soundcard won't power up a condenser > yes.

the result will be thin sound > yes or even no signal.

I assume a preamp would be needed > you assume correct.

use the behringer booster > DI box > soundcard > possible if your mic is unbalanced 1/4jack output. but if your mic is a condenser, it requires phantom power. then you're not gonna be able to plug into your behringer booster pedal because it doesn't provide phantom power. only dynamic mics.

usually signal chain = mics (XLR male output) > preamp > soundcard.

what I can suggest is
soundcard : i'm assuming you're using those soundblaster / earphone (1/8 jack) input.

mic : you don't have.
preamp : you're using behringer preamp booster which only has 1/4 jack inputs/outputs.
soundcard : from behringer booster you use a 1/4jack > 1/8jack adapter into your soundcard right?

you don't have a proper XLR mic preamp, so you cannot have condensers.
so just get a cheap 1/4 jack output mic from cash converters or something. then you'll have

dynamic mic with 1/4jack output > preamp behringer pedal > 1/4 to 1/8 adapter > pc soundcard > (DAW) audacity etc.

if you plan to invest in something decent for bedroom recording then you gotta state your budget.

 

[unsane]

vocals for the demo of meza virs' "tragic vendetta" (which ended up on the video for the song) were recorded with a terrible AKG dynamic mic plugged into a boss compressor pedal acting as a preamp via a XLR-1/4" cable into a regular soundcard.. it can be done

 

[wasp]

Thanks all for replying especially blueprintstudios for that detailed explanation. Yes I'm a bedroom player and an amateur but I also would like to have a nice decent sound when recording.

Currently, my current set up for recording is pedal -> DI box (with cab simulator) -> E-mu soundcard. The sound is decent enough but I would also like to be able to record from my amp which sounds much more better. If a preamp is needed then I guess I could look for quite a cheap solution in the Behringer MIC-200.

 

[blueprintstudios]

ah yes you're welcome. something basic preamp will do. even a mixer (a mixer = preamp / eq / panning /phantom power supply etc) also can.