I'm trying to record a single track acoustic guitar/vocal performance using the M-Audio Nova Condenser Mic & the Behringer XENYX 302USB mixer connected to a Windows 7 machine. I'm using Adobe Audition and Adobe Premiere to "video-mix".
The issue I'm having is that, when I'm listening to the mixer input, there is a substantial amount of hiss in the background.
This hiss occurs even when the microphone levels are turned all the way down as well as when the microphone is completely unplugged from the mixer.
Alongside the mixer hiss, the M-Audio Nova Condenser Mic (and other high quality microphones I've tried) doesn't seem to be particularly sensitive from a distance unless the input volume in the mixer is turned up very high/full.
Ideally, I'd like to have the microphone sit a couple of feet away in order to capture both acoustic guitar and vocals.
To illustrate the issue, here is one of my YouTube recordings:
Weezer - "Say It Ain't So" (Cover by Elliot Friedman) - YouTube
And this is the sort of reduced hiss levels I'd like to achieve (using the M-Audio Nova Mic and M-Audio Track Pre Amp):
Childish Gambino- Sober - YouTube
I'm aware that, in the latter example, she is recording her instrument on a separate track and fading out the vocals during quiet segments, however she is achieving very clear and almost hiss-free vocals when she's actively singing - and the mic is sitting at distance!
I've tried everything imaginable to reduce this hiss, but whatever I do it's fairly prevalent.
Do you guys have any thoughts? Is the Behringer XENYX 302USB mixer a problem when it comes to this sort of hiss? Is there something obvious I'm missing? Is this sort of hiss reduced using decent noise reduction software? Should I scrap the Behringer XENYX 302USB mixer and opt for a high quality non-USB mixer and soundcard? If so, do you have any mixer & soundcard suggestions?
Any help here would be greatly appreciated!
The issue I'm having is that, when I'm listening to the mixer input, there is a substantial amount of hiss in the background.
This hiss occurs even when the microphone levels are turned all the way down as well as when the microphone is completely unplugged from the mixer.
Alongside the mixer hiss, the M-Audio Nova Condenser Mic (and other high quality microphones I've tried) doesn't seem to be particularly sensitive from a distance unless the input volume in the mixer is turned up very high/full.
Ideally, I'd like to have the microphone sit a couple of feet away in order to capture both acoustic guitar and vocals.
To illustrate the issue, here is one of my YouTube recordings:
Weezer - "Say It Ain't So" (Cover by Elliot Friedman) - YouTube
And this is the sort of reduced hiss levels I'd like to achieve (using the M-Audio Nova Mic and M-Audio Track Pre Amp):
Childish Gambino- Sober - YouTube
I'm aware that, in the latter example, she is recording her instrument on a separate track and fading out the vocals during quiet segments, however she is achieving very clear and almost hiss-free vocals when she's actively singing - and the mic is sitting at distance!
I've tried everything imaginable to reduce this hiss, but whatever I do it's fairly prevalent.
Do you guys have any thoughts? Is the Behringer XENYX 302USB mixer a problem when it comes to this sort of hiss? Is there something obvious I'm missing? Is this sort of hiss reduced using decent noise reduction software? Should I scrap the Behringer XENYX 302USB mixer and opt for a high quality non-USB mixer and soundcard? If so, do you have any mixer & soundcard suggestions?
Any help here would be greatly appreciated!
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