Audio Buddy with xml mics problem

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LinkTGF

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I recently bought an "M-Audio audio buddy" pre amp and a set of 2 MXL condenser mics (990 and 991) which require phantom power and after buying all sorts of new cables I'm not getting the mics to record anything to my computer. I have a Sony Vaio RB VGC-RB40 and I've tried plugging into the microphone input and the line in but still no signal

Any help would be appreciated

Here is the mic set
990-991kit_b.jpg


and here is the pre amp
audio_buddy.jpg


thanks in advance!
 
make sure the the phantom power is on and connect the audio buddy outputs to the sound card line inputs (not the mic input). in your recording software, make sure that the correct sound card input is selected for each track.
 
do the signal/clip lights activate on the audiobuddy

when you talk into the mics?

if so, you're problem is likely either

in the soundcard settings or the software settings
 
Ok, I'm getting a very very very faint signal which barely registers in the form of a wave and I had my amp turned up fairly loud - but an overall improvement thus far
 
you are'nt very informative for someone that's looking for help. :D

any chance that you're using 1/4" to xlr cables for those mics?
 
TravisinFlorida said:
you are'nt very informative for someone that's looking for help. :D

any chance that you're using 1/4" to xlr cables for those mics?
Click to expand...
sorry I thought I was giving enough information :(

I'm connecting the 990 mic to the XLR input using a brand new 15 ft monster cable (XLR to XLR) with the phantom power switched on. I'm outputting using a regular 1/4" mono instrument cable (like you would use for a guitar to amp) running to my computer's line in 1/8" jack using a 1/4" to 1/8" mono to mono adapter (i can post pics in a few moments)

in my audio settings i have the line in selected as my input and I only get a very faint signal when I use Sony Vegas to track (you can only hear if you turn the track up to 12 db)
 
Hi, I believe that the audio buddies Phantom power is only 24v not 48v which could be why your mics aren"t working....

One way to find out for sure is to use a Multimeter and Put the 2 Probes on Pin 2 and 1 and test the Voltage, If the Voltage is only 24v then you won"t be able to use these mics with this preamp.....

May of the cheaper AC/DC adapter powered Preamps only supply a Limited Phantom power which works fine with some mics but not with other mics.....


Good luck
 
Minion said:
Hi, I believe that the audio buddies Phantom power is only 24v not 48v which could be why your mics aren"t working....

One way to find out for sure is to use a Multimeter and Put the 2 Probes on Pin 2 and 1 and test the Voltage, If the Voltage is only 24v then you won"t be able to use these mics with this preamp.....

May of the cheaper AC/DC adapter powered Preamps only supply a Limited Phantom power which works fine with some mics but not with other mics.....


Good luck
Click to expand...
thanks for the info - that's really stupid tho cuz this preamp came as part of the mic set - why would they bundle stuff together that doesn't work? :(
 
Minion said:
Hi, I believe that the audio buddies Phantom power is only 24v not 48v which could be why your mics aren"t working....
Click to expand...


I dont think that is the problem I have one that I use for various things and I have used both channels with condensor mics and it worked without a hitch, I think its the windows setting for the stock sound card.
 
by audio settings...do you mean volume control, or recording control?

two different things.

go to the windows mixer...options>properties and click the recording dot.

click ok and choose line in.

and yes for some reason when you record and don't have line in selected you hear the signal very faintly. i have no idea why, but it does.
 
Minion said:
Hi, I believe that the audio buddies Phantom power is only 24v not 48v which could be why your mics aren"t working....
Click to expand...

It's rated at +41V, and should be fine for most microphones.
 
I've tested my line in and it records when I plug my amp straight into the computer but the audio buddy still isn't giving me a strong signal so the line in works and that isn't the problem *shrugs*
 
LinkTGF said:
I've tested my line in and it records when I plug my amp straight into the computer but the audio buddy still isn't giving me a strong signal so the line in works and that isn't the problem *shrugs*
Click to expand...
what do you mean when you say

"plug my amp straight into the computer"?



and again, do the signal lights flash on the audiobuddy

when you talk/play into the mic?
 
cannabis said:
what do you mean when you say

"plug my amp straight into the computer"?



and again, do the signal lights flash on the audiobuddy

when you talk/play into the mic?
Click to expand...
I connected a 1/4" plug from the speaker output on my guitar amp into the line in on my computer using a 1/8" mono adapter (because I'm using a regular mono instrument cable) and when I do that I get a very good strong signal into my computer that records with great volume (unfortunately it doesn't capture the great sound my amplifier has)

using the audio buddy, the lights will flash but with no output
 
LinkTGF said:
sorry I thought I was giving enough information :(

I'm connecting the 990 mic to the XLR input using a brand new 15 ft monster cable (XLR to XLR) with the phantom power switched on. I'm outputting using a regular 1/4" mono instrument cable (like you would use for a guitar to amp) running to my computer's line in 1/8" jack using a 1/4" to 1/8" mono to mono adapter (i can post pics in a few moments)

in my audio settings i have the line in selected as my input and I only get a very faint signal when I use Sony Vegas to track (you can only hear if you turn the track up to 12 db)
Click to expand...

LinkTGF, that's exactly what we I needed to know. I have owned the 990 and the audio buddy and I can tell you that the 41 volt phantom power of the audio buddy is'nt your problem.

I think I know what the problem is. The short answer is: you need a y cable, 1/8" male plug to 2 1/4" male plugs.

The long answer is: the line in jack on your sound card is a stereo input = left and right = 2 mono inputs via a single jack. The line in jack is a 1/8" trs (tip, ring, sleeve) jack. You are connecting the mono output of your audio buddy to the stereo input of your sound card. Let's say theoretically that your audio buddy is putting out a 1 volt signal on the tip of your mono 1/4" cable, in reference to a 0 volt ground on the sleeve. In order for a signal to travel thru your sound card, there has to be a voltage potential between the ground sleeve and the signal tip of the cable. A 0 volt ground and 1 volt signal = 1 volt potential. If you ground was 1 volt and signal was 1 volt, there would be no potential = no signal going thru the sound card.

Ok, with all the wordy crap out of the way, what I think is happening is your mono 1/4" to 1/8" adapter is removing the required voltage potential between the signal and ground. See the diagram below to understand what I'm ramblin' on about (i think i have Fitzpatrickitis). :D

Then again, I could be completely wrong. :confused: :D
 

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LinkTGF said:
I connected a 1/4" plug from the speaker output on my guitar amp into the line in on my computer using a 1/8" mono adapter (because I'm using a regular mono instrument cable) and when I do that I get a very good strong signal into my computer that records with great volume (unfortunately it doesn't capture the great sound my amplifier has)

using the audio buddy, the lights will flash but with no output
Click to expand...

Do not connect the speaker out of your amp to the line in of your sound card. When you do this, you're connecting your guitar amp's power amp section to the line input of your sound card. You could easily burn up your sound card circuitry.

Probably the only reason that this is even working is because you're running high voltage to your sound card. Are you related to Walter's?
 
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it might be working but you won't be getting near the sound quality that you could be getting if you use the line input correctly. your feeding line level voltage to a ultra cheap mic preamp (sound card mic input).
 
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