Apex 440 USB mic help

[mcjord]

Hi,
So I just bought an Apex 440 USB mic, and plugged it in/set it up in the system audio settings. I'm currently recording into garageband. On the mic, there's a -10db switch and a 0 switch, and another switch that has a '-' and a '¬' on it. I'm having trouble getting clean sound. It seems like people podcasting, etc. have a very clean sound on youtube with this mic, but I'm having trouble getting that. If I switch it to -10db, I get a sound in the background, almost like a fan? It's hard to explain, but it sounds like what I'd picture to be a fan. If I switch it to '0', I get a high pitched constant whiney noise. I just can't seem to get a clean sound at all. Thanks in advance!

 

[Washburn100]

Sounds like feedback, you have the level too high. Lower it in the audio settings and you should be fine.

FYI
The -10 is a "pad" and it lowers the level the mic can receive, so if you record very loud things like a drum, you would use the -10 pad.

The other switch is a "high pass filter" This is a kind of EQ built into the mic that cuts of all the very low frequencies, usually around 100 hz, but depends on the mic. The call it a high pass filter because it stops low frequencies and lets the high frequencies pass through.

 

[mcjord]

Sounds like feedback, you have the level too high. Lower it in the audio settings and you should be fine.

FYI
The -10 is a "pad" and it lowers the level the mic can receive, so if you record very loud things like a drum, you would use the -10 pad.

The other switch is a "high pass filter" This is a kind of EQ built into the mic that cuts of all the very low frequencies, usually around 100 hz, but depends on the mic. The call it a high pass filter because it stops low frequencies and lets the high frequencies pass through.

Awesome. Got it all figured out. Thanks a lot!