Help! Lots of noise when recording on PC

[Jimbo Jones]

I just got a new PC and I have tried recording on Cool Edit Pro, CakeWalk Guitar, Pro Tools FREE and everytime I plug anything into the mic input, the VU meters light up to about -24 with noise!

I am using the soundcard that came with my PC, and I have tried using a dynamic mic, a dynamic with a preamp, and an electet condenser and they all have the same amount of noise.

I am stumped, what the heck could be wrong? It's not that noisy in my bedroom!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[DonF]

... I am using the soundcard that came with my PC ...

The key to the solution may be right there. Even going into the line input with a preamp (gosh I hope you're not going into the mic input!), it's bound to be noisy. Get yourself a better sound input device.

 

[Jimbo Jones]

I was afraid of that!
I am planning on upgrading to a new card that can handle multiple inputs. I was just hoping I could goof around with the current one and get decent quality out of it.
Thats for the help DonF.

 

[NYMorningstar]

The mic input on your soundcard is good only for those cheap little desk mics that come with your computer. If you want to use regular dynamic mics, get yourself a little mic mixer and use the line-in option on your sound card. Your present soundcard should work ok if you do that.

 

[Jimbo Jones]

Thanks NYMorningStar

I had similar thoughts but I can't get my software to recognize the line in jack. Nothing shows up on the VU's in PT Free or Cakewalk or Cool Edit Pro.
Any ideas on how to get it so I can record off of the Line In???
I can hear the Line In over my speakers, but can't record it.

 

[distortedrumble]

actually

first things first....your pc mixer you know the speaker in the bottom right hand corner of the start bar....double click that and turn down the volume on the play back of the line in and the microphone.....at top left of that mixer screen click options, click on recording and then click ok...that brings up the recording input mixer....turn down the volume on line in and microphone and then select one (i say go with microphone) and then try plugging up your mic again....toggle with the recording level and playback levels until you get a volume thats decent

 

[DonF]

So you WERE using the mic input? Why didn't you say so? We could have solved your problem hours ago.

 

[distortedrumble]

and another thing!

in the recording section of the pc mixer...you should be able to select one that the software should acknowledge. just make sure that if you select the line in...the mic should be plugged into the line in and same with the microphone input.

 

[Jimbo Jones]

Thanks a bunch you guys, unfortunately I'm at work or I'd give it a try.

One more thing...
The Line In should be a stereo input right?

Thanks again.

 

[NYMorningstar]

Line-in should be stereo, yup.

 

[imalion]

Right click the speaker icon at the bottom right hand side of your computer screen. Select "Adjust Audio Properties" Under the "Audio Tab" go to Sound recording and click "Volume". Now make sure you have the Line In selected.

You will have to do this evertime you record throgh the Line In.


Good Luck.


Steven

 

[NYMorningstar]

Right click the speaker icon at the bottom right hand side of your computer screen. Select "Adjust Audio Properties" Under the "Audio Tab" go to Sound recording and click "Volume". Now make sure you have the Line In selected.

You will have to do this evertime you record throgh the Line In.


Good Luck.


Steven

Howdy Steven,

What you're saying may be true on your system but I don't believe it is universally true e.g. when I right click the speaker icon at the bottom right hand side of my computer screen and select "Adjust Audio Properties", my only options are to select the devices for playback and recording. To select line-in for recording I would need to do that with my mixer device. Also, you shouldn't need to do this everytime you record, your settings should be saved once you set it up.

in the recording section of the pc mixer...you should be able to select one that the software should acknowledge. just make sure that if you select the line in...the mic should be plugged into the line in and same with the microphone input.

You can't plug a mic directly into the line-in. It needs to be brought up to line level using a preamp before you use the line-in.