How to Adjust for Optimal Recording Quality on Singsnap
The following descriptions and information apply to a PC's not a MAC and for Windows XP. Some information will apply to ALL computers. For additional assistance, one may post questions in the forums or contact support at SingSnap.
Microphone Connection:
The first thing one needs to be sure of is that your microphone is connected to the computer. Most people will connect their microphone directly to their sound card. Many computers now have color coded connections and the microphone connection is PINK.
The connection to the sound card requires a 1/8 inch phone plug. Adapters to change from a 1/4 inch plug to the 1/8 inch plug are available at stores like Radio Shack. Some more advanced sound cards allow for direction connection of the 1/4 inch plugs.
Flash Player:
SingSnap needs permission to access the microphone to record. This does NOT give access to ones' computer. It only permits the microphone to record ones voice on the Adobe Flash Player. Similarly, granting permission for their webcam ONLY grants SingSnap permission to capture the video during recording. The first time a recording is made, a popup window will appear asking for permission. Click "Allow” and check the box for "Remember” and this will not need to be reset again. Click on the "Close” button and this step is complete.
The only other setting one may need is to check the "echo” box if the speakers hiss with feedback. The way to do this is to RIGHT click on the recorder window and a popup box will appear. Select Settings and a new box will appear. Click on the little microphone picture at the bottom and then check the "Reduce Echo” box. Then click on the "Close” button and one is ready to adjust the volumes.
Volume Controls:
Setting the sound card for volume controls permits one to control many aspects of recording and listening quality. Unfortunately, not all karaoke tracks supplied are at the same volume level. This requires adjustments to EVERY track for optimal sound quality after recording.
There are TWO parts to controlling volumes on the computer. One is "Playback” and the other is "Recording”. Confusing as it sounds, some of the controls in "Playback” impact the volume and sound quality during recording. How to set the options necessary for both "Playback” and "Recording” as well as a troubleshooting guide are described below.
The way to verify or set these controls is to access "Volume Control”. The easiest way to do this is to double click on the speaker icon in your taskbar.
This will open the Master Volume Control panel. Normally, this is in "Playback” view. The way to tell if it is "Playback” is the farthest left column will be labeled either "Master Volume” or simply "Volume”. Select "Options” and then "Properties” on the top menu bar.
Clicking on "Properties” opens a new window on top of this one. Click on "Recording” because that is where one chooses the inputs for volume. To be able to simultaneously record both microphone and music, we need to use a "Stereo Mix” as the input. Sometimes this is called "What U Hear” or "WAV OUT”. Make sure there is a check in the box for this selection. The box for Yes, it seems one would want to choose microphone but that is not the case. The Windows Recording Control is acting like a mixer. It adds the singing to the music track when you record.
Click on "OK” and this box closes and a new box appears with sliders. The very top of this window should read "Recording Control”.
Notice how low the slider in that panel is? The higher "Stereo Mix” is set, the louder the overall volume is. When a recording has buzz, hiss, or fuzzy sounding vocals, this normally indicates the "Stereo Mix” is too high. Each computer will be different so it takes a bit of trial and error to get this set properly. The little box for "Select” in the column for "Stereo Mix” also should be checked. "Stereo Mix” should be set as high as possible without getting that fuzzy vocal distortion that sounds like one shouted into the microphone. The control on the SingSnap recording window is a fine tune adjustment for "Stereo Mix”. The bars should reach the red but now stay in the red. If they stay in the red, this will result in distortion.
I have other columns showing that are not needed for recording on SingSnap because I use them for other sound recording functions. One does not need these other selections to record on SingSnap. I happen to not want to continually reset the sound card each time I use it for a different function. PLEASE do not be confused by these extra columns. They do not hurt anything being there but they are unnecessary.
Amazing as it seems, to obtain the best quality recording, there are still more adjustments required. Now comes the fussy part that each and every song will need. There are three volume controls that have to be balanced to achieve recordings that are not too loud, too soft but just right. Yes, "Goldilocks” has lessons even for on-line karaoke.?
The combination of "Master Volume”, "Wave” and "Microphone” is the heart and soul of obtaining a well mixed recording. The "Master Volume” controls the overall sound volume whether that is a CD you play on the computer, an MP3 or any kind of sound including songs on SingSnap. "Wave” is the volume control for the music tracks on SingSnap. "Microphone” controls the volume from your microphone. All three of these MUST be available to adjust to get an optimal recording. Let's start with the basic settings before describing how to use these controls to optimize sound.
Once again, the "Volume Control” panel must be opened. If one is following this step-by-step, the "Volume Control” will be in "Recording Control” view. That needs to be changed to "Playback” view. Once again, go to "Option” and then "Properties”.
The window that pops up is the same one as when selected earlier. However, this time, the "Playback” radio button needs to be checked. A different list will appear in the section for showing volume controls. Here is where one selects, "Master Volume”, "Wave” and "Microphone”. Make sure there is a green check mark in each of these boxes. Click on "Okay” and the window with sliders to control these volumes appears.
There is one more preliminary thing that has to be done before the real art of mixing begins. Most microphones do not have enough signal strength to for a computer's sound card. Thankfully, there is a way to partially compensate for this fact without needing more equipment. Windows can boost the signal from the microphone. This comes at a price. Applying boost to the microphone results in more distortion and hiss. However, if the microphone is not boosted, the vocals will be so soft they cannot be heard.
To accomplish this, one clicks on the "Advanced” button in the "Microphone” column. Then click on "Microphone Boost” so a green check is in that box. Then close the window. The "Volume Control” window will remain open.
To troubleshoot which of the volume controls need adjusting is somewhat an art. Some general guidelines are if there is fuzzy sound on the vocals, then lower the microphone. I prefer to keep the microphone set as high as possible without it distorting. A good starting point for the "Wave” volume is mid-way of the slider. If the music is too loud, increase the "Wave”. Conversely, if the music is too soft, increase the "Wave”. Normally, the "Master Volume” is set at maximum. I happen to use a powered subwoofer and that is why mine is lower. Occasionally, lowering the "Wave” slider will not be enough to reduce the overall volume. The music will still be too loud. This is the only time one will want to lower the "Master Volume”. The tricky part is when one previews the recording; remember to reset the volumes on "Wave” and "Master Volume”. Otherwise, the playback will be at a lower volume than what one hears when the song is saved and played.
The last tip for obtaining optimal sound is to use headphones when recording. If the computer speakers are too close to the microphone, this results in a buzzing or screeching sound called feedback.
Most of all have fun. This process is not as difficult as it may first seem. After a few songs, having the "Volume Control” open will be second nature and one will have a good feel for what adjustments are necessary.
