Horrible Signal-To-Noise, Is it my Mic?

  • Thread starter Thread starter kronosthekudu
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kronosthekudu

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I'm a complete noob to audio. I expect I'm missing something basic, but here's the issue.

Gear
Mic: Excelvan® Condenser Sound Recording Microphone
Sensitivity: 45dB±1dB
Equivalent Noise level: 16dBA
Preamp ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp

Setup
Mic -> (via XLR-XLR) -> Preamp (phantom power on) -> (via XLR-1/8") -> Computer ADC -> Audacity

The Issue
The signal to noise ratio is horrible. My preamp gain is at +40dB input and +10dB output. This gives me roughly -18dB recording volume. But my noise level is -30dB.

I suspect the issue is my microphone. Is there something else that could be the issue? Let me know if you need more info.
 
I had a noisy cable that would only make noise on phantom power. Wasn't a bad connector as wiggling them wouldn't change anything. Discovered it fairly quickly after purchase so took it back to Guitar Center where we proved it on their gear so they gave me a new cable.

Cable is easy to change out if you have an extra. In order to find the problem you have to change something.
 
Thanks Ronbert, I'll give that a try.

What about my gain? I feel it is set very high, yet my volume is still low.
 
Sorry. I can't help about settings. My setup is WAY simpler than yours. (I don't even have a DAW.)

My diagnostic for the cable problem was that I could hear the problem when monitoring thru headphones.

It might be that having the noise floor 12 dB below your signal is normal. But I can't address that. Others surely can.
 
And the problem could very well be the soundcard in your computer. Instead of a cheap mic preamp, you should be using an audio interface with USB (or Firewire) to the computer, bypassing the computer's built-in soundcard. I wouldn't expect great sound from a $40 mic and $40 preamp, but its too bad you purchased them before checking around for advise.
 
Is the input on the computer stereo? If it is and you are trying to feed it a balanced signal, that could be the problem.

As was said, the internal soundcard is less than ideal for a number of reasons.

I've also never head ofthat mic company, so that might be sketchy too.
 
Let's say I had an $80 budget, should I just get an $80 USB mic?
 
He means you should save up some more money to get you to the entry level stuff.

Are you using a proper XLR cable, or the XLR to 1/8 cable that is pictured on Amazon?

USB mics kind of suck and have other logistical drawbacks as well. It probably wouldn't be any better than what you have.
 
I have the XLR to 1/8 cable that came with the Excelvan mic. That is the current setup. I have a separate XLR to 1/8 cable that I haven't tested yet.

I'm still perplexed by the amount of gain I need to get an audible signal. Is that typical?
 
Is this a decent audio interface (Focusrite Scarlett Solo Compact USB Audio Interface)? (http://amzn.com/B00MTXU2DG)

Assuming the issue is my computer's audio card, this would fix the issue?
 
There a chance that the computer input is stereo and the signal you're sending it is balanced.
If that was the case I guess the input would more or less cancel out.
 
That's not a bad little unit although I would get rid of the art preamp if you buy something like that.

The art wants to see a balanced (or unbalanced, I guess) line input.
Your best bet would just be mic -> XLR to XLR cable -> interface mic input. Simple as can be. :)
 
Steenamaroo said:
That's not a bad little unit although I would get rid of the art preamp if you buy something like that.

The art wants to see a balanced (or unbalanced, I guess) line input.
Your best bet would just be mic -> XLR to XLR cable -> interface mic input. Simple as can be. :)
Click to expand...

This is making sense now. Thank you for the suggestions.

Will using an audio interface bypass the whole balanced-unbalanced issue?
 
kronosthekudu said:
This is making sense now. Thank you for the suggestions.

Will using an audio interface bypass the whole balanced-unbalanced issue?
Click to expand...

If that's the problem then yes, an audio interface will certainly bypass it as the line inputs on those things are always balanced or unbalanced but never stereo (over one connection).

There's an easy way to test the theory for free. Is your recording showing up as a stereo track, or two mono tracks?
If not, I'm just wrong.

If so, record a sample then mute the left (or right). If it's a stereo track and you can't do that then split it into two mono tracks and mute one of those.
If, all of a sudden, you're hearing a lot more volume then my theory is right. :)

Sorry, I'm not familiar with audacity so I can't be more specific.
If there's an option to record from left only, or right only, try that. Same thing - different way.

I know it's not the way to judge but does the recorded waveform look healthy on screen?
 
How are you using a condenser mic without phantom power?
 
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