beginner, please help!! i'm going to lose my mind.

[darrin_h2000]

That problem sounds like you might have something wrong with the program the interface is paired with...if this is true it might allow you to get your money back...there are some much better interfaces with better built in preamps...the guys at guitar center are mostly just kids off the street who were cleaning off tables last week...you are better off doing research and deciding what you want to do from there.

I usually reccomend the Line6 UX2 interface...I believe that it is the best one at the $200 price point.

 

[mustardeer]

so i called Kontrol 1's technical support (native instruments)
this super rude/annoying kid on the phone did manage to say something interesting - the usb inputs on the front of the mac are much weaker than the ones in the back. So i plugged it in the back and the distortion went away when plugged directly into the Kontrol 1. Still no sound with the DMP3, but looks like i don't really need it. I would say the sound quality went from a 2 to a 7. I can probably earn a few more points by replacing the mic. Can i get something decent for $200-300 on ebay/craigslist or is that not realistic? Ideally I could use the mic for vocals/upright piano/acoustic guitar and possibly playing live. Don't know if I'm asking for too much.

 

[darrin_h2000]

the shure ksm32...I got one of them for $300 off ebay...the engineer of all the Led Zeppelin recordings and the engineer of the Steely Dan CDs both endorse this mic.

 

[Chili]

You mentioned you're using a guitar cable. Take that cable out, it's not meant for balanced connections. You need a cable with THREE connectors; Tip, Ring, Sleeve (TRS).



The DMP has Balanced Outs, and the Line In on the converter are balanced unless you've got a HiZ instrument plugged in.

You don't need the DMP3, but it's a nice little preamp. Don't get rid of it yet.

Definitely should consider a new mic. The one in your pic looks like a shotgun mic. Can't imagine that would sound good for vocals, but I have no experience with one. There's plenty available for a decent price that will work well. I currently use an MXL V57M ($60 new) for vocals and like it a lot. It will work for acoustic instruments also, but probably not for stage or live use.

For now, turn off phantom power like suggested earlier.

 

[c7sus]

Best Thread Ever!

Note to moderators:

From now on anybody with a mic question should have to post pics.

Lot's of pics.

I was hanging on every new frame as I scrolled down.

 

[mustardeer]

Sounds good. I'm gonna pick up that cable at Radio Shack in a minute.

What about a tube mic for a warmer sound? Would that be overkill with my set up? There are a few used ones online for under 300. Would they work with my audio interface or should I stick with a condenser mic?


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