Clean Recording

[Monkey Allen]

A condenser mic is low voltage and requires amplification in order to send a suitably loud signal to my soundcard right? So that's why you use a preamp?

On my preamp I have a GAIN control - +26dB to +60dB....
and I have an OUTPUT control that ranges from -(sideways 8...infinity?) to +10dB

In my windows sound properties I have set my recording LINE IN to around 6.5/ 7.0.

My recording software (Guitar Tracks Pro) receives the signal and the meter wavers at just below and around 0dB...but never higher.

I set my preamp to around a GAIN of 5 and an OUTPUT of 3.5/ 4.

The 'ambient' 'natural' sound of the mic signal into my software...recording just the ambience of a quiet room...at these settings results in a low level electrical whir or little buzz.

My question is, how do I minimise this buzz, but keep the level of recording nice and robust?

Ideally, in a quiet room, I would love to have the lowest amount of buzz/ electrical noise as possible. The only sound I want to come into my soundcard is the sound of the instrument.

I would love some tips!

I have a soundblaster live 5.1 platinum, a mic200, xlr (that ends in 1/4")connected to a 1/8" stereo to 1/4" mono splitter.

thanks if oyu can help.

 

[NYMorningstar]

When using the condensor mic make sure you are also using the +48 V phantom power. A buzz is usually associated with a grounding problem. Check your users manual and make sure you are using the proper balanced cables.

 

[Halion]

Buzz I don't know, but if you want a clean signal, your going to have noise problem also.

I have a mic100, which is the predecessor of the mic200, and it's noise. Your soundblaster isn't going to help either. The internal circuitry of your mic is not gonna be noise-free either, so there you already have 3 noise points in your chain.

Also, the line from the preamp to the soundcard is unbalanced, and if the cables there are not properly shielded, you could have interference aswell.

No easy way out of this one mate, sorry :s

 

[Monkey Allen]

yeah I use the +48v

How do you know my line from the pream is unbalanced? Couldn't I use a balanced cable?

Is it unbalanced because of the adapters?

Don't get me wrong...the sound of my acoustic is brilliant. I have always used mic in and a cheap dynamic microphone. I just notice that with this set up I use now, there seems to be a lot more ambient unwanted sound. But when I record an instrument the sound is amazing as far as I am concerned. I mean, going from my old set up to a condenser mic has been really a treat

 

[gtr_guy26]

what kind of condenser are you using? Also you might wanna look into getting a better sound card. Sound blaster is good for normal for regular gaming sounds and what not. but not really suited for recording. my first card was the m-audio mobile pre used with a marshall mxl990 using my 5 year old laptop running xp and cubase. i've done plenty of acoustic recordings including some classical guitar players at the local university. one of which had a cd done at the studio at school and one done at my house he was happier with mine. the mobile pre goes for about $150 i think. but if you don't wanna spend extra money than I would do like the other guys said check the ground and see if you have balanced or unbalanced. hope this helps

 

[Rokket]

Yeah, a better soundcard and a noisegate (in your software) will help. You can't really get rid of all the noise because a condensor mic is pretty damn sensative. I was messing with a shotgun mic that is really unidirectional and picked up my breathing 6 feet away from it when it was set to "normal". You can get rid of some noise by getting a better soundcard, buying a power conditioner and moving further away from your pc when you record (some of the buzzing could be from your pc fans or harddrive).

 

[Monkey Allen]

Can I use balanced cables from a mic200 preamp? Is using balanced cables just a matter of buying 'balanced cables'?

Also, someone recommended the M-Audio Audiophile 2496 soundcard. But it seems to me that it has no XLR connectivity. Is this right?

Also, I have noticed that the M-Audio range boast preamps for their mic inputs and for their XLR inputs (the models that have xlr)....does this make your external preamp redundant? Or do you use the external preamp AND the soundcard preamp? Or do you disable the soundcard preamp?

What's the go there?

 

[PickRocks]

I dont think a balenced cable will do any good if is not plugged into a balanced source at each end.
Balanced 1/4 plugs have 3 rings, unbalanced look like a typical instrument cable have two rings (the shaft and the tip).
Eliminate as many adapters as you can.
Get way from the PC, turn off any flourescent lighting. I had terrible buzz until I plugged ALL of my gear ---including the computer, into one single wall outlet (Use a multiplug outlet strip.)
Try useing a power conditioner.
Suspect any of those little AC / DC power supply adapters.