wombatzoner
New member
I'm not sure if this is a mic, mixer, or cable problem, and since I'm new and can't rule out simple ignorance, I'm posting this here.
I'm just getting started with recording. Some friends and I want to do some 'radio theater' style productions, and I'm the poor schmuck who volunteered to assemble and operate the recording equipment. I've got the mixer connected, the software installed and have made a few recordings.
So far so good. Unfortunately, I'm having a heck of a time with this really annoying hum on the mics, and I'm not sure what to do to fix it.
Equipment:
Mixer: Alesis Multimix 12 Firewire
Mics: Two Shure SM58 and one SM63 mics (all three are connected the the 3-pin XLR jacks on the mixer with 25' XLR cables)
Software: Cubase LE on a Mac
Material: The bulk of what we're planning on recording is spoken voice only for the most part, as well as some in-studio (okay, in-basement) sound effects.
First Question: In order to get the level LEDs on the mixer to even approach 0, I have to turn the gain dial for each microphone channel 3/4 of the way or more to maximum. If I don't do this, the recordings are way too quiet in Cubase. I understand mics do need to be pre-amped to be heard clearly, but is it normal to have to turn the gain up so much?
Second Question: When the gain is turned up, there is a hum or a buzz on the channels the SM58 mics are on. I can turn the gain down to where it's not noticeable, but at that point not even the lowest LED on the level meter will light up. I did some more testing (with the computer off and disconnected to eliminate that as a suspect) and determined I get the hum on any channel an SM58 is connected to, even if the switch on the handle of the mic is turned off so it's not picking up an air-duct or the furnace or other sound in the environment. I can plug the SM63 in, no hum. Plug either SM58 into that cable (and leave all controls in the same position) and as soon as the pins make contact, I get the hum. Any idea what is causing hum and what I can do to stop it?
This has me kind of stumped at this point, since I don't know if I need to get new mics, a different brand of mic, or some other gizmo to between the mixer and the mics. Any advice anyone has would be appreciated.
I'm just getting started with recording. Some friends and I want to do some 'radio theater' style productions, and I'm the poor schmuck who volunteered to assemble and operate the recording equipment. I've got the mixer connected, the software installed and have made a few recordings.
So far so good. Unfortunately, I'm having a heck of a time with this really annoying hum on the mics, and I'm not sure what to do to fix it.
Equipment:
Mixer: Alesis Multimix 12 Firewire
Mics: Two Shure SM58 and one SM63 mics (all three are connected the the 3-pin XLR jacks on the mixer with 25' XLR cables)
Software: Cubase LE on a Mac
Material: The bulk of what we're planning on recording is spoken voice only for the most part, as well as some in-studio (okay, in-basement) sound effects.
First Question: In order to get the level LEDs on the mixer to even approach 0, I have to turn the gain dial for each microphone channel 3/4 of the way or more to maximum. If I don't do this, the recordings are way too quiet in Cubase. I understand mics do need to be pre-amped to be heard clearly, but is it normal to have to turn the gain up so much?
Second Question: When the gain is turned up, there is a hum or a buzz on the channels the SM58 mics are on. I can turn the gain down to where it's not noticeable, but at that point not even the lowest LED on the level meter will light up. I did some more testing (with the computer off and disconnected to eliminate that as a suspect) and determined I get the hum on any channel an SM58 is connected to, even if the switch on the handle of the mic is turned off so it's not picking up an air-duct or the furnace or other sound in the environment. I can plug the SM63 in, no hum. Plug either SM58 into that cable (and leave all controls in the same position) and as soon as the pins make contact, I get the hum. Any idea what is causing hum and what I can do to stop it?
This has me kind of stumped at this point, since I don't know if I need to get new mics, a different brand of mic, or some other gizmo to between the mixer and the mics. Any advice anyone has would be appreciated.