AT 2020 Low Volume

[LTDeth]

Hello guys, this is my first post here, greetings to everyone.

So, I'm having some trouble with an AT2020 I just bought: my recording volume is barely hearable. The signal I get in Audacity when recording is just too small. The only way I can get a normal signal is by singing with my mouth literally touching the mic. Distancing only a few inches from it is enough for my signal to virtually dissapear. Of course this is not supposed to work this way.
The audio interface I'm using is an M-Audio M-Track Plus. I also record other instruments with it, but the microphone is the only one which is caussing trouble.
Just to clarify, I believe all my volumes are at max (included the one in the control panel), and I'm singing towards the "front" side of the AT2020.
Any idea what could the reason of my problem be?

Thanks, and kind regards from Argentina!

 

[pikingrin]

Is phantom power turned on at the M-track? What DAW are you using?

 

[ecc83]

Beg, borrow or buy a basic digital mutimeter and check that phantom power is present at the mic end of the XLR.
Connect the black probe to pin one and the red + probe to pins 2 and 3 in turn. You should get 48volts plus or minus about 4 volts although most modern capacitor mics are not that fussy about the absolute voltage, but they do need some!

If spook volts are present try a dynamic mic.

Dave.