Erm how?

[Erland]

I have just recieved a condensor mic. Very excited but I have never used one.

So, how do I actually use it?

direction for recording vocal and guitar?

I have a dual preamp? and a holdythingy device for the mic.

Well, before I get started could you guys give me some advice.

regards

Erland

 

[Track Rat]

Excellent! What mic do you have? Is it a side address? Don't turn anything on until the mic is connected to the preamp as it's a bad isea to plug and unplug condensors while they're on. Damage can be done.

 

[Erland]

cool

Hi Track, well its a cheap one! its a marshal MCA or something but its a condensor so I dont need to know how bad it is, please.

I have a preamp, this doesnt have an onswitch and neither does the mic actually. It has a headphone jack so first I listened through that. Wow, I have never heard such a difference over the dynamic!

I used my other xlr cable and have the output going straight into the four tracks in. There is a lot of background his so I have turned the compressor effect off. Still a lot of his but there is a difference. Tryed a few chords, owser distance! record something. Yup sounds georgeous, what a difference. This fuzz is annoying though its coming from the preamp and not the mic. mmm. What to do next?

Erland

 

[Track Rat]

Experiment with the gain balance on the preamp and if any, on your recorder to strike the best balance for signal to noise. That is a side address mic so it has a front and back. You're going to notice a big difference between the condensor and a dynamic. Very cool.

 

[Erland]

wierd

so when I listen with the headphones direct throught he preamp, wow! brilliant just the sound I want.

When i put the preamp into the BR532 noise, noise and more noise. With the gain of the preamp right down the sound is identical - so the noise is not coming from the condensor, or the preamp it coming from the 4 track! It is also hard to stop it clipping ro distorting when the guitar plays a little hard (this is not so listening with headphones through the preamp)

The four track has a Gain for the XLR input. It needs to be up a little for any sound. Its just with the preamp in it goes nuts.

I have tryed putting a cable from the headphone out into the mic in. Nope, nothing.

So this is confusing and enough to give up. I hope that makes sence

Any advice

Erland

 

[crawdad]

I don't know anything about your 4 track, but it SOUNDS like you are plugging your preamp into another MIC input, which is like putting two preamps in line together.

Does your 4 track have line inputs somewhere? Usually they are rca jacks. Or is there a switch so that you can choose between mic and line level? What you want is to plug that preamp into a line level input. Now, maybe, you'll have to use a 1/4 inch cord or an rca cord--don't know. But I'm pretty sure this is what is causing all that noise. Try this and let us know if it solves your problem.

 

[Erland]

Thanks Crawdad. I think that actually makes sence to me.

My four track has guitar input, mic input, mic XLR input and LR line input. They each have a level (or perhaps gain). The line input, it takes two inputs (like the back of a stereo LR I presume). How would I get the preamp into this. Would a wire come from the xlr output at the back of the preamp or the headphones on the front of the preamp.

Sorry for being adumb ass but this is all new territory.

 

[crawdad]

Well, I looked up your unit and it does have a stereo line input. I don't know if you have to plug into both sides to get a signal--maybe not.

Next question--on your preamp--does it have any other output besides the xlr and the headphone out? Like a 1/4" jack? If so, get a 1/4" to RCA cord and try that. They also make splitter cables that take one rca in and turn it into two, so you could plug into the stereo RCA inputs on the BR.

Does the BR thing have phantom power? If so, try just plugging the condenser straight in--another possibility.

 

[Erland]

great stuff

Hi Track and Crawdad

Well I have solved it.

You were right Crawdad I was puting it into another amp, the mic, which was nuts!

Anyway there was no ther output so I thought I would need a mixer or something and then put it into the line in. INSTEAD, I am running directly out of the headphone 1/4 inch into the stereo L/R jack. Great, its puurfect now! so pleased. The difference is unbelievable.

Thanks a lot, this is a great site.

Erland

 

[ZPphreak]

Erland,

Just to make a milestone a mountain here. Can you clarify which mic you are comming from? Which dynamic did you do your most recent work with? I am pretty impressed with the quality that you achieved out of what you said was a fairly inexpensive dynamic microphone. Also, can you PLEASE tell us junkes what preamp you are using now? I mean I know I'M interested...

-Brent

(just another fan)

 

[Erland]

hi

well I had a Shure 606 and then a nice chap on the board gave me another dynamic. I loved it!

The preamp is a black one! milleniums I think. Anyway, I will just have to record a song ASAP and then post it. I hope I can learn how to handle this new thing!

Cheers

 

[ZPphreak]

I really don't think that you'll have THAT much trouble with using the condenser. Did you use the newer (given to you) dynamic microphone on your latest songs? if yes then which ones? I really am interested to know When you changed to What microphones... it's kind of like figuring out what your signal chain was for each song.. If you know the model of the dynamic microphone that someone gave you I'd be interested. you got a very nice sound out of it if you used it on your recent stuff..

again, thanks

-Brent

 

[Erland]

alrightee

Erm, It doesnt have a name on it. I think its perhaps audio technica or something. It hasa slim body the size of a battery. Yup it has a wee battery inside!. I did everything on this mic so thats cool that you liked it. I think I was learning how to use it properly justa week before it died. The compresor effect was key too. I have no idea about this condesor one though. Back to the start again.