Behringer Mic Pre-Amp

[SonicAlbert]

You've got a few different sounds going on in that sample. There's hiss, a soft buzz, and some sort of ticking sound.

I'm pretty sure you could reduce some of that by gain staging, as has been mentioned.

Be sure you connect the output of the preamp to the line input only channels on the Alesis. Don't be going out of the Behringer into the preamp inputs on the Alesis. I think that is very likely the issue you are running into.

 

[jlmedia]

i have one input from the mic [condenser] to the preamp by XLR and then a XLR from the preamp's output to my alesis as a xlr input and then the alesis has 'Control RM Output' which has 2 stereo plugs which convert from L And R to one main jackplug into my soundcard

[ EDIT ] Heres some pictures of the leveling

Before mixer turned on:

When The Mixer is turned on:

 

[MCI2424]

hey ive just got the behringer ultragain valve mic pre-amp and i know its valve and its bound to have signal buzzings but it was stated not to but whats the point in me having it if i carn't even go high enough to pre-amp it up on warmth,
A friend to me to get a gate or something for it to sort out any background noise,
Any extra's you think i should get please tell me and i am pritty new and limited at the moment,
I have
A set fo edirol ma-15d monitors
a m-audio oxygen 8 v2 midi keyboard
a behringer ultragain valve mic pre-amp
a alesis multimix 6fx mixer
a audio technica AT3035 condensor microphone
a metal pop filter
a rode psa1 studio boom arm
adobe audition, ableton live 6.0.1 [had no expeirence] and im on the verge of looking for more

Any tips And i'd apreciat it!!
And i've just got a load more chunks of cash from christmas and jobs so i can buy somethings.. and i am a voice over artist/producer if your wondering what i want it for,

Thanks !!

Well if the thing was working right you would not get buzzing at all it seems there is something wrong somewhere you should probably return the unit if it is new or try to find out where the buzzing is coming from you could unhook everything from it and see if it buzzes still if it does not it could be the mic cable gounding or the mic itself also try to plug it into the same ac outlet as everything else buzzing is usually a grounding issue.

Good thing you are a producer if you were a writer I would be worried so much bye

 

[MCI2424]

Basically, you are now buying cheap gear to fix a problem caused by cheap gear........

Stacking cheap gear on top of cheap gear = cheapgear squared

So, if the pre-amp cost $100, and the noisgate cost $100 the gear now costs $10,000!

By this logic, if he adds the noisegate he has pretty expensive gear, right?

 

[jlmedia]

Stacking cheap gear on top of cheap gear = cheapgear squared

So, if the pre-amp cost $100, and the noisgate cost $100 the gear now costs $10,000!

By this logic, if he adds the noisegate he has pretty expensive gear, right?

The preamp in your dollars is around $170 and can we remeber guys im short on money since im only 14!!

 

[NYMorningstar]

If it's background noise from the PC try and eliminate it...quilt over the PC while you record, ...

Good idea but be real careful if you do this. That PC will overheat real fast if it can't breath.

 

[SonicAlbert]

i have one input from the mic [condenser] to the preamp by XLR and then a XLR from the preamp's output to my alesis as a xlr input

That's your problem right there, you are double preamping your mic. You need to go from the preamp to a line level input on the mixer. That would be one of the 1/4" channel inputs.

I don't think you need a gate, you just need to get your current setup sorted out properly.

 

[LemonTree]

10 characters

 

[Slowjett]

Sonic Albert is right. Use a 1/4 cable from the BEH preamp to the mixer.

 

[Chili]

i have one input from the mic [condenser] to the preamp by XLR and then a XLR from the preamp's output to my alesis as a xlr input and then the alesis has 'Control RM Output' which has 2 stereo plugs which convert from L And R to one main jackplug into my soundcard

[ EDIT ] Heres some pictures of the leveling

Before mixer turned on:
[image removed]

When The Mixer is turned on:

You don't have the MIXER's phantom power on, do you??

 

[ElectricBlu]

First of All,
HURRAH TO TEEN RECORDING ENGINEERS!!!! (I'm 15)
We have a lot to learn, but some of us know a good amount!

Anyways, I think that hum must suck for voiceovers I have to agree, there is a lot of Room noise in the background, Clock, Comp, etc...

I would take the suggestions of many here, New preamp and maybe better audio interface BUT I can understand about the whole $ thing...

Basically, Behringer is the Wall-Mart of recording equipment, and you just won't get a all the way clear sound! Is it broken though? Your gain level should not do that bottom line...

I can't agree more saying that you should check every one of your cables and make sure everything is hooked up correctly! The Last thing you should be using is a Gate to eliminate Hum or Buzz...

Cheers and Good Luck!
Julien
Recording Engineer @
The Electric Blu Studio
www.electricblustudio.com
Asheville, NC, US of A

 

[jlmedia]

You don't have the MIXER's phantom power on, do you??

yeh i do the mixer is on a normal powered lead,
And also i'll try doing the output with some stereo leads to a line in input then on the mixer and try that its just then having the wasted space on volume control,

Tbh i think this was a big mistake getting one because i asked around for this one and from all the uk stores they rated it pritty good such as Dolphinmusic, reverb store, PM audio but know i see,

Heres a quick photo of my mixer on the view

Heres Where the 2 main stereo leads are that go from 2 ends to one which goes into my Sound Blaster X-FI xtreme audio soundcard,

Heres a line in

Also a quick note, Below my XLR input for where its coming of my preamp atm its got a line in under neath... could i input into that for volume control still do you think?


Heres a full shot of the mixer,

Cheers,

 

[second skin]

anything that says line in will do better for what you are doing right now. you should not be going into that XLR input from your preamp.

 

[Fishmed]

To follow up on earlier posts, go from your mic pre out to either the 3/4 or 5/6 line in of your mixer. I know money is tight for you, but I would try to save up and move away from the SB sound card. There are several M-Audio interfaces that might fit your budget and do a MUCH better job with the signal I/O for your PC.

 

[Chili]

yeh i do the mixer is on a normal powered lead,

I don't understand.... what do you mean the mixer is on a normal powered lead when I asked you if you had phantom power on????

It's probably time to RTFM. And you can probably just toss the behringer and plug your mic directly into the mixer. The behringer isn't doing anything for you. And when you can afford it, buy a dedicated audio interface.

Good Luck and Cheers,

 

[ElectricBlu]

I don't understand.... what do you mean the mixer is on a normal powered lead when I asked you if you had phantom power on????

It's probably time to RTFM. And you can probably just toss the behringer and plug your mic directly into the mixer. The behringer isn't doing anything for you. And when you can afford it, buy a dedicated audio interface.

Good Luck and Cheers,

I Agree.
Save up for a dedicated audio interface, something by M-Audio or TASCAM or something...

Good Luck!
Julien

 

[SonicAlbert]

Definitely get away from that SB. Once again, plug the output of the preamp into line inputs on the mixer. That's basically your whole issue right there, not much more to say than that. Just wire it up correctly and you are most likely good to go.

 

[jlmedia]

I don't understand.... what do you mean the mixer is on a normal powered lead when I asked you if you had phantom power on????

It's probably time to RTFM. And you can probably just toss the behringer and plug your mic directly into the mixer. The behringer isn't doing anything for you. And when you can afford it, buy a dedicated audio interface.

Good Luck and Cheers,

What type on interface and since i did the line in input below xlr its worked a treat, its levels are back to normal, hardly any noise know and i can crank up the warmth on the vocals.. im still wondering on what next to get though if anyone can help

 

[Metal Marc]

First things first: replace the valves/tubes in your Behringer...[r]eplacing the tubes will boost performance.

i doubt that throwing tubes at that pre will really do much for it. seems like a waste when there are much better products out there such as the DMP3 that will get him going without any fuss at all.

Yeah...don't do that. The tubes basically do nothing in the Ultra gain. Changing them out is a waste of time.
Frank

Oops! I was thinking of the wrong product (the 1953T Preamp). Sorry.

ss and Weasel are right: a new tube in the Ultragain will do little to nothing. Get a noise gate for now and get a proper audio interface in the near future.

 

[jlmedia]

yeh but what kind thats why i said to state which