Preamp to Soundcard Line In - VERY QUIET????

[joethebigshmoe]

Anyone know what I can look into to figure out why my mic to preamp to sound card is so quiet.
I am a newbie just setting up a simple home recoring operation. Everyone has said, get a good mic, decent preamp, and plug it into your soundcard's line in.

I bought a ShurSM58 and a Behringer MIC200 PreAmp and a SoundBlaster Audigy.
Mic to PreAmp via XLR connection.
Preamp to SoundCards line-in via 1/4" to 1/8" cable.
IN the Audigy "control panel" I am telling it to record via the Line In
I am recording using Sound Forge.
If I sing really loud it is barely audible.
What step am I missing????

Thanks for any help.

[Rokket]

Make sure DMA is enabled on your settings tab. And open your volume controls and make sure the line in is turned all the way up, but make sure the levels on your pre amp are down, then tweek it from there.



I hope this helps

[Chibi Nappa]

Originally Posted by Rokket

make sure the line in is turned all the way up, but make sure the levels on your pre amp are down, then tweek it from there.

Hmmm... Cranking up the "line in" on the card while cranking down the gain on the preamp sounds like it would be very noisy to me. You want a nice healthy signal coming out of the preamp, not something turned down.

Adjust the gain on the preamp to a nice level and then lower the line in settings from there.

[joethebigshmoe]

As far as I can tell, I have no DMA setting related to my sound card. I'm not sure what you are referring to.

[Rokket]

Originally Posted by Chibi Nappa

Hmmm... Cranking up the "line in" on the card while cranking down the gain on the preamp sounds like it would be very noisy to me. You want a nice healthy signal coming out of the preamp, not something turned down.

Adjust the gain on the preamp to a nice level and then lower the line in settings from there.

I was trying to say that you keep the preamp down so you don't blow your sound card. I didn't phrase it very well. You would turn your preamp slowly after that to get good level.
My bust!

[joethebigshmoe]

Aha - I'm sure this is a newbie mistake.
While playing around with everything I could think of, I was able to get a signal from the preamp if I pulled the 1/4 stereo input wire 1/3 of the way out.
When I went to Radio Shack I just asked for a 1/4 to 1/8 inch audio wire. They gave me a Stereo 1/4 to mono 1/8 inch. This appears to be the problem. I think i need either a mono to mono or stereo to stereo. Anyone know? I will ofcourse be on Creative and Behringer's site trying to get specs on the two jacks.

Thanks.

[Disposable]

The preamp output is mono.
The line-in of the Soundblaster is stereo.
Though the conv3erter from 1/4" to 1/8" shouldn't be an issue.
I've mixed and matched mono/stereo like that numerous times.

[joethebigshmoe]

I had such hope until you said that. After work I planned to go back to radio shack and get a stereo input for the soundcard.
I think I'll try it anyway and post back.
Thanks to everyone for their suggestions so far.

[Alexbt]

Well, the best way would probably be to get a better soundcard. :P

From what I've read here, SoundBlasters are not looked upon highly for recording.

[joethebigshmoe]

I got a Mono to Mono cable from Radio Shack and now all is groovy.

Thanks to those who offerd advice based on what I have to work with. I always dislike the "well you need to get a better this or that". It is not as bad if the adivce is...I have XXXXX and it has this kind of input and the sound is great. When someone is trying to solve a problem and they get optimistic because they see someone has posted a reply, only to see they tell you to get better stuff it makes me want to reach through internet and strangle them with my mono to mon cable connected to my crappy Audigy card. OK enough venting..sorry.