microphones and the Lexicon Alpha

i have an old one point Stereo Sony microphone (#ecm-ms907). it ends in a 1/4 inch plug which doesn't allow for insertion into the Lexicon Alpha.  could i put an adapter on it and use it, or do i have to get a new mike.  which mike would be good for a high soprano voice that's pretty loud and who's on a very tight budget.  (i mean, i have to sing in the subway of New York City until i make the money to buy the mike.  which is what i did for the Alpha. :) so far no regrets!
 
sirena del mar

yep, I agree with herb.  you can't plug it into the line inputs of the lexicon because there's no mic preamp there, so an adapter will work for now, but consider getting a better mic.  check my website for some recommendations.

The Sony products page says it comes with a stereo mini-plug, not a 1/4 inch plug. So is it the really small plug (like the small plugs to listen to iPods and CD portable players) or a 1/4 inch plug (the size of guitar cord plugs)?
Either way, you can find adapters for it at Radio Shack for just a couple of dollars.

how much hiss are you talking about?  what do the meters go up to if you've got the track armed, but you're not actually recording anything.  what are you recording voice?

ok, then we're onto the problem.  a mic should give you much better than -54dB on your voice.  first, are you within 2-6" of the mic?  if so, and you have the knob on the lexicon turned all the way up, and make sure you've got the mic plugged into the MIC input, not into the INSTRUMENT input.  the MIC needs the preamp of the MIC input, the INSTRUMENT input will not give you enough gain on a microphone.

also, check your lexicon alpha software and make sure the input sliders are all the way up.

the lexicon alpha only came with the Cubase, which i never installed because something went wrong.  that's when i decided to use MC.  so i don't know what it is that i should check.  i only downloaded the drive from the LA website.

the microphone is connected in the microphone port in the back of the lexicon with a microphone cable that i bought fresh today. 

what i have under Lexicon Alpha is

Alpha Manual
Alpha Software Installation Guide
Reinstall Alpha Drivers
Uninstall Alpha Drivers

when i reviewed the Software Guide it said something confusing.  it asked me to make sure that the settings are in favor of the computers soundcard.  Gregory had adviced to make sure that they were in favor of the Lexicon Alpha and it has been working well.  i was able to record all my keyboard tracks (not MIDI) the way i wanted them.  they actually sound great.  if i could get 2/3 of that sound for my voice track i would have a very nifty CD, which is what im trying to do.

Sorry, Rosateresa, I had to go to bed!!!  I'm in the US, central time.  when you posted last it was about 10:30 or 11pm for me!

Ok, let me try to find an online version of your manual and see if I can make sense of that.  I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

OK, next thing I notice from the manual is that it partially says and otherwise implies that if you have anything connected to the LINE INPUT 2 (a 1/4" cable) that the MIC input is disabled.  make sure you don't have anything in the LINE INPUT 2, only the MIC connected to the MIC (XLR) input.

i apologize.  you've spoiled by answering my questions quickly every time i post.  i hope you had wonderful musical dreams. 

i on the other hand was terrified about not being able to finish this CD, so i slept an uneasy sleep  (its ok, they will be a time in my life that i will sleep eternally. ) but thanks to you (ta, ra, ra ta, TA) i was able to sing into my track.  the problems was with the selection of the Stereo.  When recording the keyboard i was recording on Left Alpha In/Out,  so since im doing this by the seat of my pants, i was recording on the left again.  It makes sense that im to record on the other side of the stereo track, but i couldn't see this before. 

i have the booklet for the Lexicon Alpha, but i think i left it somewhere that i don't have access to when im in the place where i record. (Yeah, you would think that i will keep the literature with me so i could read when necessary, but then i wouldn't have an excuse to correspond with you, and the other wonderful people of the forum. )

anyway, as always im in your debt.  since we live in different time zones (im Eastern Standard Time) i doubt very much that ill be able to repay you, but know that every time i think of you and the solutions you send thru the forum i wish for you many good things.

sirena del mar