Audio Technica AT2035 and Focusrite Scarlette Solo isn't recording properly?

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RektlezzRend

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Okay I'm new to all this so here I go. I would love to get a reply as soon as possible because I've been waiting to record for a while now.

In December I purchased the Audio Technica AT2035 and a Pop Filter along with it. Turns out I needed a phantom power source which I didn't know back then.

A couple of days later I buy the Innogear power source. It's a cheap power source that let's you record on the laptop. I tested it out but I didn't like the way my voice sound and there's always this annoying echo in the background.

Now we come to today where I bought the Scarlette Solo and a Mic stand. When I first hooked up the Mic and the Solo it was too loud and you could literally hear everything in the background. Now I can only hear the recording out of one headphone and the recording sounds very distant and there's a echo in the background. I tried switching off and on things and unplugging then replugging the mic and Solo numerous times and it still sounds the same.

All I want to do is record rap vocals and singing vocals but this has been giving me such a problem. Can you please tell me what I can do to fix this? Or at least the best way to set these items up so I can record something decent.
 
Hi and welcome to HR. Little comfort now but (in this instance) you would probably have been better to buy a dynamic microphone such as the old warhorse Shure SM58 but let's see what we can do?

First off, you do not mention the software you ar using to record? Called in general a "DAW" Bit silly but that's the jargon! Now, MOST DAWs will only record and output to ONE channel when used with conventional interfaces such as that Solo (I would not have got that either!) . The only DAW software I know of that allows, in a simple way, the recording of "double mono" is Samplitude. You can download a free trial of Sm Pro X and there is a free version. Samplitude Pro X Silver. This will give sound in both ears and thus result in a centre "image".

Reaper is another VERY popular DAW but I personally don't know how/ if it can record D mono.

The low level is a setup problem I am sure that you will just have to work through systematically with Windows and the "echo" is probably a monitor setting that needs turning off. But then newbs tend to record at far too high a level. Your signal should average around -18dBFS (Full Scale) in the DAW meters and peak never higher than -8 or -6dBFS at the hottest. You can up the level digitally later if need be. Also record at 24bits and 44.1kHz, rarely need to change that.

Finally for now, Focusrite are generally nice, helpful people, give them an email. Do not let your newbness put you off, we all started somewhere!

Dave.
 
ecc83 said:
Hi and welcome to HR. Little comfort now but (in this instance) you would probably have been better to buy a dynamic microphone such as the old warhorse Shure SM58 but let's see what we can do?

First off, you do not mention the software you ar using to record? Called in general a "DAW" Bit silly but that's the jargon! Now, MOST DAWs will only record and output to ONE channel when used with conventional interfaces such as that Solo (I would not have got that either!) . The only DAW software I know of that allows, in a simple way, the recording of "double mono" is Samplitude. You can download a free trial of Sm Pro X and there is a free version. Samplitude Pro X Silver. This will give sound in both ears and thus result in a centre "image".

Reaper is another VERY popular DAW but I personally don't know how/ if it can record D mono.

The low level is a setup problem I am sure that you will just have to work through systematically with Windows and the "echo" is probably a monitor setting that needs turning off. But then newbs tend to record at far too high a level. Your signal should average around -18dBFS (Full Scale) in the DAW meters and peak never higher than -8 or -6dBFS at the hottest. You can up the level digitally later if need be. Also record at 24bits and 44.1kHz, rarely need to change that.

Finally for now, Focusrite are generally nice, helpful people, give them an email. Do not let your newbness put you off, we all started somewhere!

Dave.
Click to expand...

Thanks Dave. I haven't tried it out yet but I will soon. Also the program I am using is Audacity.
 
The 'echo' you are hearing - is this being recorded or only when you are recording? I suspect it is a combination of direct monitoring and monitoring the recorded track (which has some latency).
 
It happens when I'm recording and it's being recorded. I've seen plenty of people use this same set up and their voice comes out crisp and clear.
 
I just plugged my itrack solo in to check it, haven't used it in a while.
So use only Direct monitoring and plug your headphones into the solo. I have my mono mic sound coming through both headphones.
Just plug in your interface and check what it sounds like without having audacity open.

Just a note- I have no focusrite software coming up here on my mac. If you do, look at those settings. If I remember correctly the focusrite is a usb compliant interface (that might not be the right term), but in other words it doesn't need any 3rd party drivers/software.
 
threeheavens said:
I just plugged my itrack solo in to check it, haven't used it in a while.
So use only Direct monitoring and plug your headphones into the solo. I have my mono mic sound coming through both headphones.
Just plug in your interface and check what it sounds like without having audacity open.

Just a note- I have no focusrite software coming up here on my mac. If you do, look at those settings. If I remember correctly the focusrite is a usb compliant interface (that might not be the right term), but in other words it doesn't need any 3rd party drivers/software.
Click to expand...


Okay Ill try that and see what happens. Any other suggestions?
 
Ah! Audacity does this! Echo I mean. Been ages since I have delved but click on "Edit"> Preferences" and work through the various menus.

This might seem a tedious task to get a DAW working as you want it (well, it fekkin IS!) but they are all much the same. Very daunting at first but you just have to plod on and learn.

Most here will say that Audacity is a great, free audio editing program (used by "Pro" I understand?) but not really suited to the needs of the Home Recordists (for one thing nothing else will play Audacity saved files. You have to remember to export them as .wav) .

Reaper is often touted as the way to go and it is excellent if maybe TOO powerful for the noob? I like Samplitude and the Pro X Silver version is very clear and easy to use IMHO and has a very useful MP3 encoder in it. Good for a freebie!

Dave.
 
ecc83 said:
Reaper is often touted as the way to go and it is excellent if maybe TOO powerful for the noob?
Click to expand...

It is true that a learning curve is inescapable with any and all DAWs.

They are 'daunting at first', and there is no choice but to plod through.

How hard that plod is depends in part on how well the programming of a DAW matches how you think about processes. One person's intuition is another's poison.

Nevertheless, one of the neat features of Reaper is how it scales up according to the sophistication of the user, i.e. you can be producing stuff quickly and easily once all the hardware is sorted. For example, once you load Reaper up, it is effectively three keystrokes to start recording: CTRL T to create a new track, arm the track, hit record.

Were I to recommend a DAW to a beginner, I would think Reaper would be my first choice.
 
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