Trouble with my Recording (HISS!)

[sparqee]

Firewire or USB. Again, I think if you work through the sound card wizard you'll get a pretty good idea of what will meet your needs.

[jello]

I'm not familiar with the Behringer tube ultragain Mic 200, but is it sending out a line level into what sounds to be a mic level on your sound card? I'm also not familiar with a mini phone adapter or if it changes the signal level at all. But it sounds like the signal level out of the Behringer (line level?) is running into a mic level input. If this is the case it will always hiss. I have to back up Sparqee, a dedicated interface is what you need.

[arch1]

http://www.fxguidry.com/blog/adapter.JPG that is the adaptor i put on the end of the cable that comes from a guitar to an amp, and it goes in my mic input port on the back of my mac mini, thanks for your advice, jello, or sparqee, if you could spend in the region of £90 on a firewire audio interface with a built in pre amp and take back the behringer to get my money back, would you?

[sparqee]

Yes.

I use a Tascam US-122L for mobile recording with my MacBook Pro and I'm very happy with the results. I've used it with both dynamic & condenser mics and gotten nice quiet, detailed recordings. The only trouble I've ever had with it was the one time I was using it both as a midi interface and and audio interface. I experienced surprising latency with it but I did not trouble shoot the problem enough to really figure out what was going on.

[jello]

Damn,
Since my last reply appears to have gone in to nowhere land here goes again:

Try ditching the Behringer pre. If the male end of your mic cable is 1/4" and not XLR try plugging it in to your 1/4" to 1/8" adapter that you showed in your pic. Then plug that in to your sound card. If I understand you correctly the Behringer is sending a line level signal which is way hotter than a mic level signal, which means you don't need a separate pre at all. I still agree with Sparqee about the dedicated interface but if you don't want to spend more money and want to track and write songs try this bypass before you spend more money. If your mic cable is XLR male then go down to radio shack or guitar center and purchase an XLR to 1/4" adapter... It's cheaper than the Behringer pre. (wow! did I just say that?)

[jello]

Sorry about the bad grammer.

[arch1]

i believe grammar is spelt like that < , no worries, jello ive already tried what suggested but to no avail, so it looks like ill be buying something similar to a tascam, thanks for your help guys, i really really appreciate it

[tobiasfunke]

OR... you could strengthen your mixing skill and try to EQ out as much as you can, I dont use logic, I use Soundbooth for sound editing but maybe logic has noise canceling software, see if you can find it and just cancel out the hiss. Firewire or usb mics will eliminate the need for pre amps and get rid of the hiss. But I'm a fan of a lot of equipment, learning how to use alot of different "equip" will ultimately make you a better sound engineer... if thats your goal. Good Luck

[arch1]

cheers for the advice tobias, i think i will eventually buy a firewire audio interface, looks like i cant go wrong with it, i was playing the drums as part of a funk/jazz band last night and i was speaking to my mate craig, and he suggested to play my guitar up against a wall so i got more noise going into my mic, seems quite a logical solution if an uncomfortable one since my room is in the loft and the walls are at 45 degree angles