SE1000a condenser mic problems

[Bob_D]

Hi there,

Apologies but I am new to this forum and this is question is about the first condenser mic I have ever bought, so I'm a bit of an amateur.

I bought an SE1000a condenser mic to record at home. I use a laptop and Adobe Audition 3.0. Everything I record (electric drum kit, guitars, etc.) is done by plugging the instrument into my Line 6 Pod XT Live multi-effects pedal, which in turn is connected via USB to my laptop. I used to record vocals this way as well using a Shure SM58 but the quality was quite bad so I thought I would buy a decent mic.

The problem is basically that it is not working. There is no sound being picked up at all. I'm pretty sure the mic is ok and that's it's something to do with my setup. I have a lead which is XLR -> normal jack (if that makes sense). Basically it's not a normal XLR lead as the Pod XT Live only has input and output connections for normal leads (used for guitars).

So everything is working fine expect this new mic that I have bought. Am I missing something like an important piece of equipment? Is the mic too powerful for my setup to deal with?

Any help or advice would be welcomed.

Thank you,

Bob D

 

[mattr]

The mic needs +48v phantom power, which the PodXT won't be providing.

You could get a little phantom power box to go in-line with the mic and pedal, but that is still a far from optimal setup.

Really you need to get a proper mic preamp with phantom power (not forgetting balanced mic cables), then the mic should work

 

[Bob_D]

Thank you!

What do you mean by balanced mic cables?

 

[mattr]

3 connections... twisted pair + shield.

Helps hugely with noise rejection, but is also required for phantom power as the potential difference is across the two conductors.

Virtually all XLR mic cables are balanced, but you get a few amazing cheap ones which inexplicably aren't.

 

[moresound]

3 connections... twisted pair + shield.

Helps hugely with noise rejection, but is also required for phantom power as the potential difference is across the two conductors.

Virtually all XLR mic cables are balanced, but you get a few amazing cheap ones which inexplicably aren't.

This can happen from x to x

 

[Bob_D]

Cheers guys.

So yesterday I set everything up as so:

SE1000a condenser mic -> Behringer Tube Ultragain Mic200 preamp -> Line 6 Pod XT Live -> laptop (Adobe Audition)

It didn't work. All it picked up was a very loud hissing noise but nothing else. I used an XLR -> 1/4 inch into the preamp then a standard guitar lead from the preamp to the Pod XT Live then that connected via USB. Are the leads I'm using where I'm going wrong? I ordered a couple of fairly cheap XLR leads from eBay yesterday so I'm hoping this'll do the trick. Or is there something else in my setup that is wrong?

Sorry for the questions!

 

[mattr]

...

Argh, I got it wrong didn't I? Isn't it between pins 1 and 2 on an XLR, which means ground and hot? Meh, whatever. Something like that

Cheers guys.

So yesterday I set everything up as so:

SE1000a condenser mic -> Behringer Tube Ultragain Mic200 preamp -> Line 6 Pod XT Live -> laptop (Adobe Audition)

It didn't work. All it picked up was a very loud hissing noise but nothing else. I used an XLR -> 1/4 inch into the preamp then a standard guitar lead from the preamp to the Pod XT Live then that connected via USB. Are the leads I'm using where I'm going wrong? I ordered a couple of fairly cheap XLR leads from eBay yesterday so I'm hoping this'll do the trick. Or is there something else in my setup that is wrong?

Sorry for the questions!

You definitely turned on phantom power on the mic pre, and given it enough gain? Are the level LEDS showing any signal on the mic pre?

Is the Pod XT expecting a line-level signal? You shouldn't be feeding it into a guitar input. Ideally this connection should also be balanced, so you should be using XLR or TRS jack cables (and not TS jack guitar cables!).

EDIT: Just looked at the Pod XT (which I thought also had line inputs) but if you have the same one as I'm looking at a picture of now then it looks like it only has a high-impedance guitar input and nothing else. This is probably where your issue lies...

 

[homestudioguy]

MOVE AWAY FROM THE POD XT!
MOVE AWAY........... FROM THE POD XT!

Here is a low cost ($75) replacement possibility: http://www.americanmusical.com/Item...0HAMS0000&utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=feed&

Here is one for $149: http://www.presonus.com/products/Detail.aspx?ProductId=53

Here is a step up for $199.00 with more capability for the computer recordist:
http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-LIN-PSUX2-LIST

This has more of standard mixer platform with Cubase AI4 audio/MIDI sequencing software for $219:http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--YAMMW10C

This is the big brother above with built in effects, 12 channels, yada yada yada: http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--YAMMW12CX

Just do some web searching.

Dependent on your budget and your computer inputs, you may want to go Firewire as opposed to USB.
http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MACONYX820I
http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/p...k=0&blowouts=0&filter=see+results&form=search

 

[omtayslick]

Cheers guys.

So yesterday I set everything up as so:

SE1000a condenser mic -> Behringer Tube Ultragain Mic200 preamp -> Line 6 Pod XT Live -> laptop (Adobe Audition)

It didn't work. All it picked up was a very loud hissing noise but nothing else. I used an XLR -> 1/4 inch into the preamp then a standard guitar lead from the preamp to the Pod

Your mic cable needs to be XLR to XLR or your phantom power won't work! By using XLR to 1/4" you are not using one of the 3 conductors. (unless the 1/4" is a TRS)

Quarter inch from the preamp to the pod should be ok though.