Condenser Mic. Volume Issue

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shutout24

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Hey guys,

I just purchased an Apex415 condenser mic and an M-Audio Fast Track Pro USB interface. When I go to record electric guitar using the mic in front of my amp, the volume of the recording is very quiet even though my amp is quite loud. The signal is clear but quiet compared to the imported rendered audio tracks and real songs. I am using the phantom power option on the interface and the gain is as high as it can go before it distorts the sound. I'm using an XLRF-XLRM cable and put the mic only a few inches from the front of the amp when I record. I'm just a beginner but everything seems as though it should be working but a high(er) quality mic like this should be giving more output I figure. Any suggestions?

Thanks a lot!
 
Hello
After looking for a USB audio interface too some months ago, I found out on different Web sites and forums that the M-Audio Fast Track Pro is well known for having some issues with its feeble gain on certain mics. That's why it's cheap and that's the main reason why I didn't buy it.

If you can't get enough gain when recording and you don't want to spend a penny, try amplifying the recorded item directly from your DAW and/or by using plugins (free VST ones: GMax, GClip).

Good luck
bolenti
 
Help us help you...what do you mean by "quiet"? It might be recording just fine. Give us numbers, like "It peaks at -1db", or "it averages around -6db", etc.....
 
Thanks a lot Bolenti I'll look into those! As far as numbers go, my input with the interface gain up as high as it can go before distorting is about -18dB. Is this a reasonable volume based on my setup?

Thanks a lot!
 
shutout24 said:
Thanks a lot Bolenti I'll look into those! As far as numbers go, my input with the interface gain up as high as it can go before distorting is about -18dB. Is this a reasonable volume based on my setup?

Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...
Still vague. Maybe you mean -18 on the gain knob?
As in as it was being recorded, or after it's recorded with nothing else added, fader at 0 ('zero, not off' just in case)...
"Does it peak at -1db", or "it averages around -6db", etc.....? "
Click to expand...
on the track's meter (..is it set to peak or RMS?..).
The point here is to distinguish between (and have you know/find out) if it's your record/recorded level you're talking about.
Aside from that, if you're just comparing to a smashed/limited/high density signal then no, it shouldn't be expected to be as loud.
 
Hi Mixsit, the -18dB maximum I'm getting is the raw, unedited input with no filters or plug-ins added. There is no additional gain added or removed in my DAW. The gain knob isn't marked for dB levels on my Fast Track Pro but it is set to about 2/3's of full gain (if this helps). I understand that a good limiter will help bring my signal to acceptable levels but I wasn't sure if I should be getting more raw input or not from a condenser mic.

Thanks
 
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You're gona think I'm being a dick.. I'm not being a dick. This may actually be funny.. You just commisioning a new metering scale
-18mImG.
:D
 
-18mImG eh? I'm just going by what the sound level scale says on my DAW: -18dB. I'm not quite sure how negative dB works but that's what it says.
 
That's a reasonable signal level.. you'd probably like it not to be distorting above that for transients though...
 
normalize the track - if there is no noise your all good
 
What is an acceptable level for someone may not be an acceptable level for another. -18dB is kind of too low for me, I usually try to get something around -12dB and -10dB.
 
I shoot for -12 with peaks no more than -6. But -18 is fine if that's all you can get and there is not too much noise. In a mix that will be plenty. I've even recorded with averages around -24 and -30.
 
Alright thanks guys. I turned up my amp a bit more and just used a limiter to amplify the recorded sound to an acceptable level. In a mix with other stuff going on a person doesn't want the master channel to be clipping anyways so the input I have is plenty.
 
in the digital realm you don't need to push it too hot. You'll actually have more headroom and the ability to use more plugins. -18 is actually a really good level as long as the pre isn't too noisy. Let me ask because im not familiar w the mic... is there a pad? you seem smart enough to have already checked for that though haha
 
Haha yep pad's off! I might try recording with a dynamic mic and a condenser at the same time and just mixing them afterwards as well for an added boost and some other tones.
 
Make sure that the pad is not on. I've found this to be a similar problem as well. also doesn't the Apex415 have a -10db on it? make sure thats not on as well if you still need more volume. If you find a good solution to this please post it, I would find it very helpful.
 
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