Noise Probelm With Mic

[egwich]

Hows it going everyone? I'm working for a local tv station, real low budget type stuff. Anyways to do narrative stuff I have a m67g Mic, Fast Track Pro Audio Interface Box, and it connects via USB into my computer. I have NO idea what I'm doing so this is probably just a small problem. Just plugged all this stuff into my computer and installed the drivers. When I record I can only hear a faint whisper, followed with a lot of static in the background. The mic on my computer is turned all the way up but yet it barely records. Any idea what I'm doing wrong?>

[Electriclight]

I can find no mention of a m67g microphone anywhere..What is it? Who makes it? Are you plugging it in the Microphone input of your interface? You sound like you are still plugging it into your computer mic input? That would be totally wrong..Your Fast Track Pro is your soundcard in this process, not anything in the computer. Need more info please.

[egwich]

Originally Posted by Electriclight

I can find no mention of a m67g microphone anywhere..What is it? Who makes it? Are you plugging it in the Microphone input of your interface? You sound like you are still plugging it into your computer mic input? That would be totally wrong..Your Fast Track Pro is your soundcard in this process, not anything in the computer. Need more info please.

MXL V67G Microphone = Review: Marshall MXL V67G Condenser Microphone

I'm plugging it into my Fast Track Interface with a microphone cord. That connects to my computer via USB. I have no other wires for it so maybe I should have another set that connects to the back of the computer? I changed all my recording defaults to it, including in audacity which I'm recording in. All I get is a faint whisper of my voice with a low hum that takes up most of the background. I tried turning down my recording level on the computer and turning up the interface, and still same thing. The microphone wire is brand new and has no cuts in it. When it records onto audacity the wave lengths are barely noticeable. More suggestions anyone?

[Electriclight]

Originally Posted by egwich

MXL V67G Microphone = Review: Marshall MXL V67G Condenser Microphone

I'm plugging it into my Fast Track Interface with a microphone cord. That connects to my computer via USB. I have no other wires for it so maybe I should have another set that connects to the back of the computer? I changed all my recording defaults to it, including in audacity which I'm recording in. All I get is a faint whisper of my voice with a low hum that takes up most of the background. I tried turning down my recording level on the computer and turning up the interface, and still same thing. The microphone wire is brand new and has no cuts in it. When it records onto audacity the wave lengths are barely noticeable. More suggestions anyone?

Ok, before you ask for MORE suggestions, let's admit that there is no such thing as a m67g microphone. Good.


Now that we know that you are using a condensor microphone let's make sure you know how to use it. Plug it into the front XML connector. Press the inst/line button IN to LINE. Press the PAD button to OUT(off). On the BACK of the unit there is a slide switch for 48 volt phantom power. Slide it to the Left (ON). Turn the GAIN knob for the channel you are using totally clockwise. (Full ON).

Now arm a track and record something. What's happening?

[egwich]

Originally Posted by Electriclight

Ok, before you ask for MORE suggestions, let's admit that there is no such thing as a m67g microphone. Good.


Now that we know that you are using a condensor microphone let's make sure you know how to use it. Plug it into the front XML connector. Press the inst/line button IN to LINE. Press the PAD button to OUT(off). On the BACK of the unit there is a slide switch for 48 volt phantom power. Slide it to the Left (ON). Turn the GAIN knob for the channel you are using totally clockwise. (Full ON).

Now arm a track and record something. What's happening?

Yeah sorry about the microphone name, I don't know why I didn't catch that the first time.

Alright I did all that you said, and right away I could tell that the box was picking up more then it was before cause the signal light was blinking at every sound. Then I started to record and the sound was still very low like a whisper. My voice actually seemed more in the background while a constant faint humming/hissing sound was in front. My computer was set to record on microphone, so I changed both settings to to the fast track pro line 1/2. IT didn't pick anything up then, and no sound was made.

[Electriclight]

Yes, the llight shows that the microphone is working.

If you are getting ANY audio with your computer soundcard and NONE with the Fast Track Pro, then you either do not have the drivers installed or do not have them selected, or there is a conflict. IN Windows, go to COntrolPanel>System>Device Manger> Hardware>Sound Devices and see if the Fast Track shows up there. Make sure it is enabled and tehre are no yellow error messages. Make sure you have selected the Fast Track in Audacity. If that doesn't help try Uninstalling and then reinstalling the Fast Track drivers.

[egwich]

Originally Posted by Electriclight

Yes, the llight shows that the microphone is working.

If you are getting ANY audio with your computer soundcard and NONE with the Fast Track Pro, then you either do not have the drivers installed or do not have them selected, or there is a conflict. IN Windows, go to COntrolPanel>System>Device Manger> Hardware>Sound Devices and see if the Fast Track shows up there. Make sure it is enabled and tehre are no yellow error messages. Make sure you have selected the Fast Track in Audacity. If that doesn't help try Uninstalling and then reinstalling the Fast Track drivers.

Alright heres my update. I tried all the things you said and it seemed to be recording a little more clearly but it still had a hissing sound in front of it. The waves on audacity were still very small barely noticeable. My boss then gave me Acid Pro 6.0 hoping I'd have better luck with that. I reinstalled everything again, switched all my defaults to the fast track pro. I even selected that outgoing sound goes through my fast track and into my headphones. That part of it worked. Then I went to Acid, set up the sample rate to 48, made the fast track pro my main recording device. I then set it to mono (like the manual told me to) by hitting the arm record button and selecting the certain preferences. When I went to record NOTHING was recording onto my computer. While I'm recording though I can hear myself in the headphones, and my interface is cleanly picking me up. I seem to be getting closer to the problem (and I'm learning the equipment haha) but I still can't get a decent recording down. I appreciate your help by the way

[egwich]

Also to add what I last posted, is it possible when I do have my mic recording and the reason it's only recording a little bit with noise in front of it, is cause of the house current? I read there is a thing I can buy for cheap that stops the current from the house running into the machine and creating a buzzing sound liek that? Maybe thats why when I have it working it doesn't sound right?

[Electriclight]

Originally Posted by egwich

Also to add what I last posted, is it possible when I do have my mic recording and the reason it's only recording a little bit with noise in front of it, is cause of the house current? I read there is a thing I can buy for cheap that stops the current from the house running into the machine and creating a buzzing sound liek that? Maybe thats why when I have it working it doesn't sound right?

NO, that's way down on your list of problems..Forget 60 Hz. hum until you get a decent sized signal to record.

You should have a nice full signal. YOU are positive you don't have the 20 dB pad button depressed on the unit? Where did you get your XLR cable? I once bought one off of Ebay with only two wires in it.. have you tried another cable?

Unless you positively know why you are selecting 48 Hz I would probably stick with 44.1kHz until you get this thing working.
When you do get a nice sized signal and still have noise, you have to realize that condensor microphones are very sensitive..If your computer is in the same room it will pick up and amplify fan noise, hard drive noise, etc.

You mentioned mono signal. Realize that with your interface you will need at least two mono inputs. Perhaps you had selected the other one for recording?

[egwich]

Originally Posted by Electriclight

NO, that's way down on your list of problems..Forget 60 Hz. hum until you get a decent sized signal to record.

You should have a nice full signal. YOU are positive you don't have the 20 dB pad button depressed on the unit? Where did you get your XLR cable? I once bought one off of Ebay with only two wires in it.. have you tried another cable?

Unless you positively know why you are selecting 48 Hz I would probably stick with 44.1kHz until you get this thing working.
When you do get a nice sized signal and still have noise, you have to realize that condensor microphones are very sensitive..If your computer is in the same room it will pick up and amplify fan noise, hard drive noise, etc.

You mentioned mono signal. Realize that with your interface you will need at least two mono inputs. Perhaps you had selected the other one for recording?

Well the cable I was given was from my boss. It was brand new and it was a CBI MLC20 Mic Cable. Maybe that's the wrong type of cable to be using to plug into these mics? Haven't tried another one yet, I'll wait until you respond on if thats the wrong type of cable or not.

I'm positive the pad button is not pressed. The mic pics up sounds and stuff I get that, but if it was picking everything up it would still be a nice strong signal I'm guessing. So I'll worry about all the other noises when I actually get the thing working properly. What exactly do you mean by two mono inputs? I don't quite follow on that.