Noob ?'s

[Razorback]

So, I have some questions I hope you guys can help out with.
Being a rank amatuer, I'm just looking for a little point in the right direction.
As of right now I have the M-Audio Producer USB mic and using Audacity to edit. I know that I should be upgrading the mic in short order, but with the wife not working, I took the most for least route so I can get into the practice of talking into the mic.
(Hopefully I'm not sounding like the guy in Scott Pollack's Random Thoughts for Newbie's thread)
As I advance in comfort and skill I plan on upgrading the equipment. So far it's been ok for a couple of fandub's and original small bits on other forums. I hope to be able to do some of the WWW news reads.
Currently, I'm looking at the summer schedule for a few of the local JC's for singing classes. Not because I can sing or plan on singing in the future but the breating techniques and tone/pitch control may be advantagous. I've also been talking to a couple of local theatre companies but I'll have to see how that goes.
Not trying to seem half-a#### or not committed but the current economic climate, personally, doesn't allow for much more than that. Seminar's or personal couches are both more than I (well, the wife because she does the accounting) am willing to commit to.
Being at the practice, practice, practice stage any other helpful advice on the cheap?
And, to the technically inclined, any suggestions on removing the noice/hiss I'm getting?

Thanks,

Brian

[shenecke]

Just keep reading and recording daily. Skip the singing and take an improve class! Keep at it and good luck.

[JoeActor]

Hey Brian,

Improv, Theatre and Singing will all help you to hone your skills.

Gotta have the acting chops to be a contender, IMHO...

Read on, Dude,
Joe J Thomas
www.JoeActor.com
www.SoundsGoodToYou.com

[Mike Sommer]

Little steps get you there faster than big clumsy ones -forward motion is all that matters.

Like Joe said, improv, theater and singing classes, these are all good.

Start a VO class slush fund, by stuffing a mayonnaise jar with $20 or $40 a week, or whatever you can afford, even your spare change -it adds up fast.


What part of Cal are you from?

[Paul Plack]

Brian, you may be stuck with some hiss until you graduate to a better audio chain. For some reason, low-cost audio interfaces powered off the computer's USB port, which is what the bottom-half of your mic has inside it, seem prone to poor signal-to-noise ratios. Many manufacturers of USB mics don't even provide a self-noise specification.

[PJHawke]

I use an M-Audio Mobile Pre. It's an inexpensive external soundcard which is also completely USB powered, but I haven't had any hiss problems with it. It also has phantom power which is cool, although I don't use that at home cuz my mixer provides phantom. Best thing is it's USB compliant so it's totally plug n' play with Linux... good thing, because M-Audio refuses to make anything for Linux

Razorback there's lotsa pro-sumer grade stuff out there that's more than adequate for training and easy on the pocketbook so you can save up your nickels for coaching. Many coaches will sell coaching sessions in packages that let you save on per-session cost. I plan to start with a coach next month; I've just about got enough saved up for a10 session package that brings the cost of each 1-1/2 hour session down under a hundred bucks.

[Razorback]

Thanks for the input everyone.
shenecke, I'm trying to get into some acting classes but most around here are during the day. I've only been able to find one 70 miles one way at night so I might have to be patient for that to appear closer.

Mike, good idea. We do something similar for the Date Nights. I'd rather take my time and do it as right as I can rather than make a major mistake and run the risk as being remember as That amateur 10 years from now by a potential client. About an hour south of San Jose by the way.

Paul and PJ, after talking with one of my electical engineers here at work and advice from another, they think it my be the laptop itself providing interference. I'm going to try it with the laptop as far away as the cord will allow and use a plug in keyboard to see if that help. Besides the ceiling light in the walk in closet, that's the only electical source. We'll see how it goes but I suspect it's like Paul said, I'm going to have to live with it until I'm ready to step up to the next level.

Thanks again everyone.

Brian

[FLZapped]

Originally Posted by PJHawke

I use an M-Audio Mobile Pre. It's an inexpensive external soundcard which is also completely USB powered, but I haven't had any hiss problems with it.

Depends on where you have the level set. If you use it with a fairly low output mic and have to turn it up to max to get enough gain, they are REALLY noisy.

I got it from my son who bought it for a school project. I wish he would have let me purchase the Edirol UA-25EX.

-Bruce

[shenecke]

Razor:

Try meetup.com and search in your area for groups. You might find voice or acting groups that meetup for practice! I found one in my area!

I use the MBox mini which is usb powered. Small and provides phantom power. Seems to be pretty clean.

[PJHawke]

Originally Posted by FLZapped

Depends on where you have the level set. If you use it with a fairly low output mic and have to turn it up to max to get enough gain, they are REALLY noisy.

I got it from my son who bought it for a school project. I wish he would have let me purchase the Edirol UA-25EX.

-Bruce

I have a condenser mic... it's just an MXL990 but still a powered mic... I have the gain on the MobilePre set at about half. Any higher and it clips. If I want to up the gain I do that with the mixer. Haven't noticed any problem with noise... other than the ones created by my lack of experience and poor mic technique LOL I need some coaching to cool off those sibilants...