Excessive Noise???

[dogwomble]

First post here Nice forums, btw! Got a question for y'all.

At the moment, I am using a Shure SM58 plugging into a Behringer UB802 using the XLR plug on Channel 1. I have phantom power switched on. This goes from the master out into the line in of a Create Labs Live 24 USB box. I am trying to record into Adobe Audition 1.5.

I have a problem where the levels that come into Audition don't come close to the levels from the mixer. I have tried to increase the volume coming in however when I do this, I get extreme amounts of noise. When I try and normalize the sound that comes in at the lower volume, the noise situation is improved but the quality is still not even close to what I should be getting.

I have also tried using my onboard AC97 card, and the Vibra128 I have installed, with the same results.

Any ideas on what I can try and do to improve the quality?

 

[thajeremy]

First of all, you dont need the phantom power on with that mic, but i dont think it would cause the nosie. Go into your Windows control panel and check out your audio settings and make sure you have your "line in" levels up high enough. Also, Adobe Audition has KILLER noise reduction features. what you want to do is drag your mouse over an area of nothing but the noise, to highlight it. Then go to Effects>noise reduction>capture noise reduction profile. now....you want to go to Edit>select entire wave. Then go back to Effects>noise reduction>Noise reduction again and apply the profile that you just captured and it will remove this noise from the entire file...its really AWESOME.

hope this helps..

 

[ocnor]

I also use a UB802 mixer and Adobe Audition 1.5. You don't need the phantom power switched on with an SM58. You need to get a better soundcard or you will always have a noise problem. On the mixer channel set the level knob and the EQ knobs to "0". Try not to turn up the Gain knob past the 1 o'clock position [less is better]. Then set the Main out to "0" and it should give you a nice strong signal. If the signal is too hot then turn the Gain knob down.

 

[dogwomble]

Then go back to Effects>noise reduction>Noise reduction again and apply the profile that you just captured and it will remove this noise from the entire file...its really AWESOME.

Yeah, it's not bad, however I'd still prefer to remove it from the source rather than deal with it after the fact.

I've found that part of the problem was that I was trying to mic too close to my computer gear, so it was picking up noise from the fans and the speakers. After a bit of experimentation, I found that juat holding the mic in the position I was in wouldgive me noies at around -44db, but placing the mic further away gave me noise around -63db. Looks like i'm gonna have to invest in a mic stand when I have the money.....

 

[thajeremy]

well...no doubt, a mic stand would be nice. It will insure that the mic is stationary.

Also, Im sure that anyone would do everything in their power to remove the noise from the source, but I wouldnt count out noise reduction plugins. these plugins are commonly used by im sure ALL home recorders...maybe not as popular in professional studios because of their perfect recording conditions.

also, there may not be noise that you hear right now...but by the time you add compression, or if you hardlimit, or apply other effects, you will hear stuff that you want to remove. It comes in really handy then as well.

 

[dogwomble]

Yeah, I do tent to use the noise redution plugins, but I tend to be very careful about usgin them because they do tend to take out a lot of what you want to keep as well.

 

[dgatwood]

First of all, you dont need the phantom power on with that mic, but i dont think it would cause the nosie. Go into your Windows control panel and check out your audio settings and make sure you have your "line in" levels up high enough.

That's the best bet. Failing that, check your cables. You might just have a really dirty contact or something.

Something else to remember is that VU meter levels on the mixer don't necessarily translate to VU levels in software. Analog gear has widely varying definitions of 0 VU, mainly depending on whether it is consumer gear (where usually 0 VU = -10dBV) or pro gear (where usually 0 VU = +4 dBV). Make sure your audio card is not set to expect pro levels when your mixer outputs consumer levels, or you'll get a much lower level than you expect.