Buzzing

[NwbPwner]

I'm very new at this so I'll try to be specific. I'm using an sm57 connected to a behringer 502 mixer, I use the cd/tape output of the mixer with a griffin imic set on mic , which is then hooked up to garageband on an imac. All of my tracks have a buzzing in the backround. Is this because of the cheap equipment or is their something i'm doing wrong?

 

[Mr. Antrobus]

With the proviso that I don't own any of the equipment that you've got... (apart from the imac that is.)

Does your imic have a line input setting? That would be preferable if you're using the preamp in the behringer to raise the volume to line level--which is what you would get from the tape/cd outputs.

(I should be banned from this board for not owning an sm57)

 

[NwbPwner]

Yeah I've got the option of line but that doesn't seem to make a great deal of difference

 

[XLR]

If the mixer has a headphone jack, try listening through cans while playing into the mic to determine if the noise is coming from the front end gear (the chain of mic/preamp/mixer).

 

[NwbPwner]

Would buying a fairly cheap preamp (say the art tube) up the quality of my sund compared to what i get from the cheap mixer preamp?

 

[XLR]

The Art tube pre I'd skip. A reasonable quality outboard pre upgrade, still in the low cost range, is the M-Audio DMP-3.

But don't buy anything until you determine where the noise is coming from.

Are you sure it's not noise from the room? ...lights, computer, etc.?

 

[NwbPwner]

From what i can figure it must be the crap cables from the mixer because there isn't anything from the mixer phones

 

[Mr. Antrobus]

From what i can figure it must be the crap cables from the mixer because there isn't anything from the mixer phones

It could be cables...

But it could also be grounding issues. Is the mixer plugged into the same outlet/powerstrip as the imac?

 

[Lt. Bob]

It could be cables...

But it could also be grounding issues. Is the mixer plugged into the same outlet/powerstrip as the imac?

ditto .... and cables are easy to check .... just stick some others.
But it very easily could be a grounding issue as antrobus is suggesting

 

[NwbPwner]

The mac and the mixer are both plugged into the power bar but it is a very high quality (200$) Monster Power Home theatre bar, I'm using the auxilary outlets for the imac and mixer

 

[Mr. Antrobus]

Well, I suppose that its less likely to have grounding issues if you have them on the same strip (common ground).

So I'm at a loss. If it's quiet through the headphones, then you probably don't have one of the other inputs potted up.

While the iMic and the 502 aren't something you would buy from mercenary audio -- it should sound better than John Darnielle's boombox.

 

[Toker41]

Gotta say, I enjoy a good buzz once in a while.