G-Track USB Mic Problem

[fernandoentrialgo]

I just got a Sansom G-Track USB Mic with Sonar LE software. This mic allows you to monitor either by the mic or thru the computer. The problem is some kind of distortion that increases with volume but only when recording. Also, as you will notice in the attachment, the sound level is very low. When I'm monitoring thru the mic, there is no distortion. What I'm doing wrong? (I'm completely new in home recording).

Thanks

[brandondrury]

I'm not even sure how to approach this because the USB, by default, has eliminated all the ways to fix these issues.

The low level would normally be boosted by a preamp.

The distortion stuff is probably some function of latency, but I wouldn't have a clue how to deal with that either on a USB mic.

Brandon

[fernandoentrialgo]

Thanks for trying...

I wonder if it's something to do with the software configuration...it sound so good and clear off the internal mic monitor!

[brandondrury]

Well, if the software is getting the signal, it's probably not the software. In other words, the software really can't make or break the signal going in. It's more of a "either it works or it doesn't" type of thing.

Normally, you'd have a chain that looked like this:
Mic > Preamp > Converter > Windows > Software

In your case you have:
Mic > Windows > Software

The USB mics don't give much control in this regard.

If I had to guess, the analog to digital converter in your USB mic probably costs about $0.50. So if you are monitoring the signal before it is convertered to digital, I'd expect it to sound quite a bit better. I'm usually not huge on the effects of gear, but you can only go so cheap before the components do become inferior.

Which model USB mic are you using?
Brandon

[fernandoentrialgo]

It is a G-Track (USB studio condenser mic and audio interface) from Samson.

After doing some more testing I actually think it may be defective from manufacturing...It looks like something might be loose inside (maybe the diaphragm) as it distort just by moving it or slightly blowing on it.

On the other hand, this mic also provides for a direct line (ie.guitar) which is also distorting, in which case, something loose should not cause it.

Enclosed is a link to the site of the mic with specs...maybe this can help.

Thanks again

http://www.samsontech.com/products/p...1917&brandID=2

[Vomitorator]

Blowing on a condensor mic is something that you probably do not want to do... In fact, that is the purpose of a pop filter, to prevent wind from your breath. Also, the distortion from moving it is also standard with condensors, hence "shockmounts". I dont think I can help you with volume levels in the program though. I had a similar problem with an m audio fast track pro and ableton live. I tried for about a week to fix it and then I abandoned the use of both products all together.

[brandondrury]

Blowing on a condensor mic is something that you probably do not want to do...

Blowing....ANYTHING....is probably something no heterosexual male wants to do.

In all seriousness, as long as your not Superman and have the abilty to blow over a bus with your breath, I wouldn't worry about that. You can hear exactly what is going with a condenser when you blow on it. It'll sound like the apocolyse, but you aren't going to break anything.

It's ribbon mics that will explode in about 2ms if you blow on them.

Brandon

[ditto data]

Hi Folks,

I'm also seriously considering the Samson G-Track for my home studio set-up. It looks like a good piece of kit and, according to its specs, shouldn't create any distortion on its mic or line inputs.

I did read on another forum that you need to install Samson's 'SoftPre' software pre-amp on your Windows PC. This utility will allow you to boost the gain on the mic/line input volume and also adjust some other parameters at the pre-amp phase of the audio input.

I'm a Mac OS X user for years so I don't know Windows OS but, based on my knowledge of OS audio I/O and DAW software, you need to tweak your Windows OS audio I/O control panels AND the various preference set-ups in your DAW software to get the correct OS/DAW configuration to record the G-Track's audio input clearly.

I also read on some other forums that G-Track records great audio with a very negligible amount of background noise. For recording music (vocal, gtr, bass, kb, etc.) this is not a prob as this very slight system noise gets easily buried in the final mix. For spoken word recordings like podcasts and interviews (no music) the background noise can barely be heard and only by a seasoned recording engineer. So your distorted recording with the G-Track is definitely abnormal.

If you continue to get distortion after trying some of the above possible fixes then you probably have a defective unit. In that case contact Samson for repair/replacement. Once your G-Track, OS & DAW are all working according to spec and properly tweaked you should get great mic/line audio input!