shoggoth80
Member
So. It's been a while since I dabbled with using my interface to do a vocal take. I've noticed some... issues.
The output into the computer isn't as hot as I recall. It's been several years since I did any diving in, but my interface is the same, as are 3 of the mics.
This weak signal is with gain and output cranked. If I put my Fethead Germanium into the chain, I get distortion on playback, almost regardless of what the levels are set to, and across the mics. It'll sound pretty nice through my headphones monitoring though.
Other issue: phantom power. I don't know how much the Fethead needs to run, but it does run. There does seem to be a weird cyclic effect happening on playback though, which again isn't heard in the cans. My condenser, when I have plugged it in has super low output, and even cuts out. That mic is 48v +/- 4v. I put my multimeter on the cable, and I'm getting 40-42v. It seems I'm under powered.
I even managed to get it to cut out on a dynamic with the Fethead in line. That was a couple days ago. The interface is an ART USB Dual Pre, made back in 2010.
It wasn't especially high end, but all I could afford at that time. Shoot, I can't afford a whole lot more now. Lol.
Most of the mics get rotated in household karaoke fun, and what few cables I have get used similarly with no noticeable fatal flaws. Haven't tried the Fethead in with the mixer, because the board doesn't have phantom. I have yet to try it powered with the interface phantom through the board.
The interface is the common denominator among other known good pieces. Think it's toast? I'm not looking for an excuse to upgrade/ update... but it's tempting. The skill set to isolate and repair isn't quite there, and the cost to replace isn't ridiculous.
The output into the computer isn't as hot as I recall. It's been several years since I did any diving in, but my interface is the same, as are 3 of the mics.
This weak signal is with gain and output cranked. If I put my Fethead Germanium into the chain, I get distortion on playback, almost regardless of what the levels are set to, and across the mics. It'll sound pretty nice through my headphones monitoring though.
Other issue: phantom power. I don't know how much the Fethead needs to run, but it does run. There does seem to be a weird cyclic effect happening on playback though, which again isn't heard in the cans. My condenser, when I have plugged it in has super low output, and even cuts out. That mic is 48v +/- 4v. I put my multimeter on the cable, and I'm getting 40-42v. It seems I'm under powered.
I even managed to get it to cut out on a dynamic with the Fethead in line. That was a couple days ago. The interface is an ART USB Dual Pre, made back in 2010.
It wasn't especially high end, but all I could afford at that time. Shoot, I can't afford a whole lot more now. Lol.
Most of the mics get rotated in household karaoke fun, and what few cables I have get used similarly with no noticeable fatal flaws. Haven't tried the Fethead in with the mixer, because the board doesn't have phantom. I have yet to try it powered with the interface phantom through the board.
The interface is the common denominator among other known good pieces. Think it's toast? I'm not looking for an excuse to upgrade/ update... but it's tempting. The skill set to isolate and repair isn't quite there, and the cost to replace isn't ridiculous.