HELP: crackling noise when recording (C01U)

  • Thread starter Thread starter ludeguy
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ludeguy

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Hi people. Please pardon my poor English. I am new to this recording hobby and just got this new Samson C01U mic. I am trying to record singing but my voice doesn't come out so clearly especially when the sound level is high. I have attached a short MP3 for you guys hoping someone can help me out. BTW I use the onboard sound card (Realtec driver). Thanks in advance :)
 

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That's distortion.
Either you recorded too loud (look at the input meters while your recording), or you have turned your mix up too loud afterwards.

If it's the latter then it's fixable; Just turn everything down.
If it's the former you really just have to re record with the gain turned down.
 
That was recording at 85% volume. I have actually tried to record at lower like 60%. It was a little better but still getting distortion at peak volumes. What do you mean by "turning the mix"?
 
Ok, there are two different meters that you have to watch.

You have to watch the meter on 'the way in'. While your recording, your audio is turned into numbers.
The scale goes from minus whatever to zero. If your preamp exceeds zero the converters can't plot the info, so they just cut it off flat at zero.
That's digital distortion and you can't fix it later.
If that's what's happening then just turn down the gain down until you have no distortion and then re-record.
In fact, turn it down more than that. Leave room. Your input should be peaking at maybe minus 6 to minus 12 or so.

The second meter you have to watch is the output meter. When all your stuff is recorded and you hit play there's a master meter to tell you how loud it is the mix is.
The same applies...go over zero and it gets clipped.
This is fixable - All you do is turn down all the faders in your project.
Again, leave room. Have your mix peak at minus something.

If your meters are green - yellow - red, aim to peak in the yellow.
 
Ok I think I got it. Let me give it a try. THANK YOU SO MUCH! :D
 
Found this website.

"Open the C01U software and lower the "Input Gain/Fader" control if the sound is distorted.
Set the control to the lowest level, and then raise it up to the level that you want.
Observe the VU meter as you set the input gain and verify that the clip indicator doesn't light up.
 
We haven't been able to find time to do recordings until now. Still using CEP since the C01U didn't come with software (except Cakewalk, but it does the same thing as CEP). We turned down the recording volume to 3/10 and still getting distortions. What gives?
 
ludeguy said:
We turned down the recording volume to 3/10 and still getting distortions. What gives?
Click to expand...
Seems like you are adjusting the gain after recording. It's like trying to put burnt cake to freezer to get it less burnt.
If you don't have the C01U control software then best bet would be backing off from the mic.
However the best solution would be getting real mic and real audio interface and stop wasting your time, money and nerves with usb mics.
 
Seidy said:
Seems like you are adjusting the gain after recording. It's like trying to put burnt cake to freezer to get it less burnt.
If you don't have the C01U control software then best bet would be backing off from the mic.
However the best solution would be getting real mic and real audio interface and stop wasting your time, money and nerves with usb mics.
Click to expand...


How am I supposed to adjust the gain BEFORE recording?
 
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