Behringer C-1 Studio Condenser Microphone

  • Thread starter Thread starter tben2505
  • Start date Start date
T

tben2505

New member
Hi guys,

I'm using this mic with the Behringer 302USB Xenyx 5 Input Mixer

And recording vocal audio into Adobe Audition CS5, Windows 7.

My issue is though that despite the levels being OK etc - there is a lot of hissing in the background - and noise reduction techniques on Audition leave an undesirable reverb effect on the vocal.

So sorry but I'm not sure about this - I assumed using a mixer would make the issue of my rubbish onboard sound redundant, but is it indeed the onboard sound that is responsible for the background noise - and will a new, better soundcard fix this issue?

Whilst I'm aware that improving my recording environment will also help - the hissing is I'm sure a hardwar configuration issue which I'm keen to address first.

Thanks for reading guys,

Tom
 
Tom,

Welcome to the forum!

The behringer preamps are terrible...lets just get that out of the way. What I mean by that is...when you turn the volume up....juuuuussstt a little, it sounds like crap right? The reason for that is a cheap mic pre.

The behringer Mic isn't very good either. The combination of your mixer and mic is what is creating this Hissing sound.

The reason for this is that behringers "target market" is home recordist's that are just starting out......they are cheap to buy because the Research and Development process and components that they use are lacking. Behringer might have some good stuff.....but I've yet to find it. I started out the same as you.....behringer....because it was cheap....but then ended up paying more to replace the cheap behringer stuff anyway.

To lose the hiss....sell your mixer and your Mic.

Use that money to buy:

1. A decent sequencer....doesn't have to be top of the line. I'm using Sonar 7XL...you could probably buy that for 30 bucks now! (Ebay)

2. Buy a decent mixer....I'm using the peavey 14....not much headroom....but waaayyyyy better than my crappy behringer mixer was. What you really want here is a Mackie anything....1202.....1402....etc. The mic pres are great on those things!!!

3. A good LDC mic would be an AT 2020...etc...or check out the AKG Perception. These are CHEAP....yet really good mics.

4. This should really be step one......but check out Tweakheadz is the #1 site for learning about home and project music studios. and learn how to hook your new stuff up.....how to mix...how to track...how to edit....etc. Learn what a GATE is....which will get rid of your hissing from cheap equipment!
 
I had C-1 many years ago.. and sold it because it was hissing too loud. I bet the mixer isn't helping too.
 
Well the problem is that this mixer doesn't have full 48 volts for the phantom power but only 15, you could try with separate phantom power.
 
Guys thanks this is all very helpful stuff!

I think it's wise to hang fire on buying new gear too until I can determine what gear in particular to buy - I'm sure there may be people with different combinations of the gear I have who can somehow make it work too.

I have a £10 microphone too (just one for karaoke and stuff) and that hisses as well - but I expect it would...

I will definitely record a sample for you tonight and post it for you here for you to hear...

Thanks again for the help so far - really appreciate it - will report back tonight (UK time!)

T
 
tben2505 said:
Guys thanks this is all very helpful stuff!

I think it's wise to hang fire on buying new gear too until I can determine what gear in particular to buy - I'm sure there may be people with different combinations of the gear I have who can somehow make it work too.

I have a £10 microphone too (just one for karaoke and stuff) and that hisses as well - but I expect it would...

I will definitely record a sample for you tonight and post it for you here for you to hear...

Thanks again for the help so far - really appreciate it - will report back tonight (UK time!)

T
Click to expand...

Tom, do NOTHING about that gear, it is probably quite ok. The problem is almost certainly Win 7 and the way it "sees" usb audio devices.

Get into the Audio Devices menu and find the mixer(prob' be called "usb codec") then click "Levels" and crank them down from (I bet!) 100% to 5% or less. If you have a problem with this PM me and I will try to walk you thru' it via email.

It really does not help the noob you know when peeps just see "Behringer!" and get the red mist. I know not of the C1 mic but Bobbsy here has given a qualified OK to the C2.

I HAVE used a Berry 802 for acoustic guitar with an SM57, yes, my A&H WAS quieter but not dramatically so. The mixer with a cap' mic should be as quiet as the mic. Ok, you are not going to use the set up for recording a bee farting with an SM7b but for HOME Recording (lest we forget that!) it will be fine.

A few years ago I needed another X802 PDQ for a weekend and phoned round 1/2 dozen music stores. Most gave the same story. "All gone mate. The solo guitarist/singist love 'em for feeding a pub PA. They go soon as we get a few in". I finished up buying a Wharfedale 16-m2 for 40quid and that is not bad either!

Dave.
 
ecc83 said:
Tom, do NOTHING about that gear, it is probably quite ok. The problem is almost certainly Win 7 and the way it "sees" usb audio devices.

Get into the Audio Devices menu and find the mixer(prob' be called "usb codec") then click "Levels" and crank them down from (I bet!) 100% to 5% or less. If you have a problem with this PM me and I will try to walk you thru' it via email.

It really does not help the noob you know when peeps just see "Behringer!" and get the red mist. I know not of the C1 mic but Bobbsy here has given a qualified OK to the C2.

I HAVE used a Berry 802 for acoustic guitar with an SM57, yes, my A&H WAS quieter but not dramatically so. The mixer with a cap' mic should be as quiet as the mic. Ok, you are not going to use the set up for recording a bee farting with an SM7b but for HOME Recording (lest we forget that!) it will be fine.

A few years ago I needed another X802 PDQ for a weekend and phoned round 1/2 dozen music stores. Most gave the same story. "All gone mate. The solo guitarist/singist love 'em for feeding a pub PA. They go soon as we get a few in". I finished up buying a Wharfedale 16-m2 for 40quid and that is not bad either!

Dave.
Click to expand...

Great - thanks for this too - I'll be sure to do this tonight and report back!

Really appreciate this,

Tom
 
I have a Behri preamp (M100) and the C1 - both work fine - they aren't great or good but are OK. No particular noise issues with either and they're a few years old.
Really, not many mics actually hiss - they all have noise inherent in their circuit and this ranges from product to product an item to item within the product but thaht's usually within acceptable ranges.
If the mic really does hiss - that is it's not your signal chain, your computer set up etc etc. Then it may be a dud.
Adjustments and levels have to be set to get the best from them and that does take some time & listening as well as some testing.
I use a variety of inexpensive mics all the way down to really cheap mics and they all have the uses and colours.
Behris are too easily shot down by many folk who read reviews but don't review themselves.
I have a couple of didgy Behri things and several quite good Behri things. They are cheapish clones that sometimes really hit the mark - like the BDI21.
If I were to shoot down anything in your signal chain it would be the DAW. AA isn't too flash and not too versatile. The difference between it as a freebie and you trying then buying Reaper is almost ridiculously small.
I am biased though - I hate 57s.
 
Hi Ray.
The 57 has a story here!

I have a very small selection of mics.
Sontronics STC-2 an LDC but very neutral as the breed goes.

Two AKG Perception 150s (the P170 is the later version just has a 20dB pad instead of 10dB)

Two Reslo RB ribbons*

And the SM57 and of the lot, Son, guitarist prefers the 57! We have a very small, 12x12.5x8.5ft room that is crammed with cabs and gear and it is pretty dead. An improvement was made (son said) when I covered the carpet with 1/8" hardboard.

*These are 30Ohm types and pretty useless on anything bar a guitar cab. I bought a 30R to 480R traff (1:4) from Sowter and that gave one about the sensitivity of the 57 but nothing I did could beat the hum due to them not being "buck" wired (they are fine in the garden away from mains!). Forty quid (plus a box and XLRs) up the Swanee really!

Dave.
 
Hi guys

I have done some tests with varying levels of the GAIN, MIC LEVEL and the device level from within audio devices in windows - it's difficult to tell but the 5% device level and 100% GAIN/MIC seem to be the best.

But I've uploaded them for you to see for yourself here:

tom-bennett.com/audiotest/ [can't post hyperlink] and a pic in there to explain what is what 1.jpg

You can still here the hisses in there though?

Cheers guys this is so helpful - will look into other hardware if that's what it seems to be the prob, or maybe a soundcard?

T
 
Last edited:
tben2505 said:
Hi guys

I have done some tests with varying levels of the GAIN, MIC LEVEL and the device level from within audio devices in windows - it's difficult to tell but the 5% device level and 100% GAIN/MIC seem to be the best.

But I've uploaded them for you to see for yourself here:

tom-bennett.com/audiotest/ [can't post hyperlink] and a pic in there to explain what is what 1.jpg

You can still here the hisses in there though?

Cheers guys this is so helpful - will look into other hardware if that's what it seems to be the prob, or maybe a soundcard?

T
Click to expand...
Sorry Tom but I cannot get any of those MP3s to play (might I just add that for diagnostic work an MP3 is not good. All that is needed to trace hum say, is a 10sec burst of the noise floor but as a .wav, not a fk'd up MP3!).

Now you are clearly Tom, far more 'puter cute than I (no idea what a "hyperlink" is e.g.!)
But I have met this phenomenon several times before, that is, computer smart people that do not have Clue One about how audio and interfaces work. N.B! This is not a criticism! There is no body of reading that I am aware of that collects together the myriad strands of how various operating systems and hardwares interract. Everytime an OS "upgrades" interfaces tend to fall by the wayside, due in large measure to the absence of suitable drivers. It is natural of course that AI makers would rather sell you their shiny NEW toy than do the "free" work of updating drivers but it pisses people off, AT LOT!
The Windows 7 issue is different in that Msoft have decided that the OS will handle usb audio differently from XP (not investigated Blista) but! They didn't bloody TELL anybody!! I only found out when I had an issue with my A&H ZED10 mixer and knowing A&H to be the "good guys" I reasoned that it would not be bad design. Sure 'nuff they came back in a blink and told me how to solve the problem.

While the dander is up I might as well have a pop at M-Audio!

There has been a steady decline in the fitting of PCI slots in MOBOs over the 8 or so years I have dabbled with computer audio. Fine, PCIe is faster. But M-A decided NEVER to make any PCIe cards a decision which left me screwed since my new PC (then) had only one PCI slot and I wanted to run two 2496 soundcards. I will give M-Audio due credit. The 2496 cards have been exemplary, barely a blink in 10working years (5 each). The Fast track pro usb AI was also excellent but I shall no longer suggest new M-A products due in part to their shunning of PCIe and the recent fragmentation of the company. I don't need that hassle when looking for drivers.

I DO suggest a second hand Fast track pro where appropriate but then the company gets no revenue from S/H sales!

Rant over!

Dave.
 
arcaxis said:
I was able to get the mp3's to play. First thing I noticed was I had to increase the volume of my monitors considerably to hear the samples. Tom if you play an mp3 that you've gotten somewhere else how does it compare in volume with the same volume settings to the recorded samples you've done?
Not quite sure what your % levels represent. Do the % levels from the mixer represent where the knobs are set?

Per the mixer instructions....
- "While talking into the mic increase the GAIN knob clockwise until the CLIP LED lights momentarily during the loudest peaks". This will set the maximum correct level going into the preamp of the mixer.

- "Turn the MAIN MIX to center 0 position. If the SIG/CLIP LED's light up red at anytime, turn the MAIN MIX back down." This will set the correct output level from the mixer.

If you have some headphones plug them into the mixer and adjust the PHONES volume knob to a "normal" listening level while talking into the mic. Now without talking into the mic, do you hear any hiss? If you do turn the mic GAIN knob down CCW and see if it affects the hiss. If the hiss goes away it's likely the mic. Someone noted earlier that a 15v phantom power, rather than 48v, could possibly cause hiss and this is a possibility.
If the hiss is still in the headphones with the mic gain down, it may likely be the mixer introducing the hiss. Turn the mic Phantom power off, unplug the mic, and see if this affects the hiss. If the hiss goes away it's possibly the USB power from your computer can't provide adequate power with the phantom power turned on to the mic.

If everything from the headphones was clean and no hiss would be ensuring your computer audio software levels are set up correctly. I'm using WinXP and only familiar with how it's control panels work for audio, so I'm not sure I can be of help with Win7
Click to expand...


Cheers guys, I'll keep you posted on my progress!
 
arcaxis said:
Umm.... what's the problem with Adobe Audition CS5
The source of the OP's hissing may or may not be the Behringer gear and he had seemed to point out he thought it may be something related to the soundcard in his PC if I read what he said correctly. PC soundcards generally ain't great, but depending on what he's doing it may suffice for a while. Probably we would need a bit more information as to why he may believe this. It could be his understanding of levels in the recording process or mic technique that may be the problem rather than the gear itself.
Click to expand...

Disable or remove any internal soundcard on your PC and use the Xenyx as your (external) soundcard or audio interface by plugging it to the USB port. So you'll record and playback your audio via the USB not on tne audio in/out of your PC.
 
Deleted...caught out by thread necromancy. I shouldn't browse/post on my mobile.
 
Last edited:
Howdy Tom,
Don't forget the simple things that cause excessive noise like mic level too high or too low or too close to your computer, Long cable runs(keep them as short as possible)and keep them neat and untangled, neon lights, Air Condition or heating fans running in the background. I know it sounds simple but sometimes that's all it is! I wish you well.
 
Chaplain Jerry said:
Howdy Tom,
Don't forget the simple things that cause excessive noise like mic level too high or too low or too close to your computer, Long cable runs(keep them as short as possible)and keep them neat and untangled, neon lights, Air Condition or heating fans running in the background. I know it sounds simple but sometimes that's all it is! I wish you well.
Click to expand...

Haha!! Read above, Jerry
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top