Recording question

Norlo28:

I'm probably the most illiterate person on the site when it comes to equipment and electronics, but to help David give you a good answer, some questions of my own you might fill him in on:

1. What audio interface hardware are you using? (E.g., I use a  Focusrite Scarlet 2i2, with GarageBand as my software rather than Reaper DAW.)

2. The Audix Fireball is a good mic.* But keep in mind that its output is low impedence, which works great into a low-impedence mic input in an audio interface (or directly into a PA board); however, is you're using a cable that is XLR into the mic, but 1/4" instrument cable on the other end, the low volume and lack of tone might result if you're plugging into a 1/4" instrument input in your interface, if that input is designed for high-impedence input like an electric guitar. One cure is to run it into an XLR mic input on your interface, if it has one. If it only has a 1/4" instrument input, you'll probably need a Hi-Lo Z converter, like the inexpensive Whirlwind Little IMP. (E.g., over the years I've run across players who try to run low impedence mics like the SM58 into a guitar amp using a simple converter that doesn't convert the impedence, and they wonder why they get so little sound, even when the amp is "turned up to 11." It's the old impedence bugaboo.)

3. "Don't knock the 'phone." Musicians like you and me can usually tell the difference, but to an untrained ear, a vintage crystal mic run into a Bassman reissue mic'd through an expensive studio mic into a board with studio software doesn't sound that much different from simply playing into the voice-memo function on one's iPhone, using the iPhone's built-in mic. Or using a dedicated cell phone mic like Shure's inexpensive MV7. Before I received my 2i2 as a Christmas gift and started playing various mics into it while running backing tracks through my Amazing Slow Downer app, with the two combined in GarageBand, I submitted study songs by playing into my iPhone while running backing tracks on a little radio speaker set up near the phone. And it worked just fine.

Will be watching with interest your conversation with David about this topic. Thanks for bringing it up!

* I've used the Fireball only once. I was asked to play a harmonica part in the score for a song a 60-voice choral group was doing for a concert in a 3,000-seat venue. Had all sorts of hairbrained ideas for my own equipment, but when I showed up for rehearsal the sound tech had a Fireball set up directly into the venue's sound board. The sound guy told me, "My cousin plays harmonica, and when I asked him what sort of set-up we might need for you, he loaned me this mic and said it would be a good one for this type of situation." And it was. One of these days I will probably put out the $ to get one of my own.

David will know a lot more about the Audix mic into your interface. It should have plenty of "pop" if the interface settings are correct.  But one more question: Are you holding (cupping) the mic when you use it, or playing from a distance with the mic in a stand?

Hello Norlo28.

Just listening to your submission now, your sound is good.

The Fireball is meant to be held (mic was originally designed for rappers), that's why you're getting low input. Use this mic when you want to hold a mic, a mic that is cleaner, and not as distorted as a vintage bullet mic.

This mic is well suited for digital amp modeling... go for it.

As for a desktop recording mic, you may want to use a 58 (stay away from condenser mics... they're not known for sounding good for harp), or maybe a mic preamp on your Fireball?