Farview
Well-known member
My bad. Looking at this several times over that last 8 hours, somewhere I lost the plot. Carry on.
Is the line input turned up all the way in the windows mixer?
Is the line input turned up all the way in the windows mixer?
Steenamaroo
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Steenamaroo
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Good catch, man.
The specs he listed tie in with that model.
Read the amazon reviews here.
Just a load of people saying 'this mic needs phantom power' in capital letters (since the manufacturer doesn't mention it).
Although the article where you found that pic states the opposite.
One site had a user comment stating that there were two variants of this mic, (forgetting the 25 other Chinese names you'll find it under), one with a battery and one without.
Either way, the OP should be good with his phantom power.
The specs he listed tie in with that model.
Read the amazon reviews here.
Just a load of people saying 'this mic needs phantom power' in capital letters (since the manufacturer doesn't mention it).
Although the article where you found that pic states the opposite.
One site had a user comment stating that there were two variants of this mic, (forgetting the 25 other Chinese names you'll find it under), one with a battery and one without.
Either way, the OP should be good with his phantom power.
K
kronosthekudu
New member
I looked inside and mine doesn't have an internal battery. I didn't think to check inside of it.
K
kronosthekudu
New member
I switched out my XLR - 1/8" cable, no change. And I checked the playback channels in audacity, no significant change between stereo, mono, left, or right.
I'm guessing the issue is either my mic, or my computer's audiocard. My plan is to try a USB audio interface and if that doesn't work, try a new mic.
Does that sound reasonable? Any suggestions? Y'all have been really helpful
I'm guessing the issue is either my mic, or my computer's audiocard. My plan is to try a USB audio interface and if that doesn't work, try a new mic.
Does that sound reasonable? Any suggestions? Y'all have been really helpful
Steenamaroo
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Ah, that's a shame.
It was worth a shot.
100% reasonable.
Try the mic in another interface, or try another mic with your setup.
If possible try both setups with a new cable two....Anything you can do to eliminate each piece of the chain one by one.
Another thing you could try is plugging a pair of headphones straight into the Art Tube MP 1/4" output.
Ok, it's a line level output so it isn't ideal for headphones, but it'll tell you if a decent signal is coming out or not.
Noise will seem louder doing this ^ under normal circumstances, so keep that in mind.
There's a possibility that your computer input is a cheap mic preamp rather than a line input.
If that's the case then you're putting two preamps in line which is no good and could very well explain your issue.
I take it you're giving the ART unit power?
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kronosthekudu
New member
That's a good idea... unfortunately, I don't have any 1/4" headphones. Haha, yeah I'm giving the ART power.
I'll order the new gear and I'll post back my results!
I'll order the new gear and I'll post back my results!
Steenamaroo
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Oh wow. OK. Before you spend any money, have a think.
There's bound to be another device in your home that'll accept line level input via 1/4" or XLR for testing.
It's way far from ideal but even a guitar amp would do.
Any old headphones would be fine if you had a 3.5mm to 1/4 adapter. Do you have one of those?
What about another computer? Have you a laptop or a friend, with a computer, who'd let you do some testing?
Or even the current computer...Does it have more than one input socket?
What do your windows sound settings say? Does the sound control panel claim you have a mic input or line input?
Any options there like boosters or extra gain that you can turn off?
I'm just trying to exhaust possibilities incase you're wasting your money.
Steenamaroo
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Great suggestion. I was actually thinking along those lines and then I questioned if it makes sense or not.
If he's tried recording from left only or right only to test then that should be as good as pushing the connector in only so far that the tip meets the socket ring.
As you say, though, who knows how it's wired. It's definitely worth a try.
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kronosthekudu
New member
I'm a bit predisposed to action even if it is rash.
Anyways I checked different audio inputs. I found that I had a mic input rather than line input. With the line, the noise seems better but still pretty high.
Here are the waveforms: top is line-in, bottom is mic-in. Each have no audiocard boost. There is a few seconds of silence followed by an "ahhh" at speaking volume.
As for 3.5mm to 1/4 adapter, alas, I don't, but I can ask around.
Anyways I checked different audio inputs. I found that I had a mic input rather than line input. With the line, the noise seems better but still pretty high.
Here are the waveforms: top is line-in, bottom is mic-in. Each have no audiocard boost. There is a few seconds of silence followed by an "ahhh" at speaking volume.
As for 3.5mm to 1/4 adapter, alas, I don't, but I can ask around.
Steenamaroo
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Ok great. This is a start.
Can you post an mp3 clip of the line input recording, or even of both, please?
It's important to note whether it's a hiss, hum, buzz etc.
You can tell us, but hearing it would be preferable.
Does audacity show your line input as left and right? If so, which were you recording from.
Try left, then try right with the 1/8" half in as described above.
rob aylestone
Moderator
Just to get it clear, you are using an XLR-XLR cable to the preamp, then that goes to your computer, so the preamp supplies the power to the mic, and then your preamp supplies a line level signal to the computer via the 3.5mm mono (2 circuit connector). Just checking I have it right?
In all honesty, you need to borrow another mic and swap it to see if it works - this will identify the mic as the issue. It's VERY rare to have a faulty microphone - much more likely to be cable issues or settings on the PC.
People have mentioned a stereo ⅛" connector, but your computer, if it uses that connector is expecting a mono connector with the sleeve and ring shorted. The line in is a stereo connector, so if you have a line in and mic in on the computer, they're wired differently.
In all honesty, you need to borrow another mic and swap it to see if it works - this will identify the mic as the issue. It's VERY rare to have a faulty microphone - much more likely to be cable issues or settings on the PC.
People have mentioned a stereo ⅛" connector, but your computer, if it uses that connector is expecting a mono connector with the sleeve and ring shorted. The line in is a stereo connector, so if you have a line in and mic in on the computer, they're wired differently.
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kronosthekudu
New member
I also tested the resistance of my 3.5mm cable. Unfortunately my meter died before I could finish.
bouldersoundguy
Well-known member
That's totally the wrong type of cable to go from mono balanced to stereo unbalanced. Pin 1 (and perhaps pin 3) should go to shield while pin 2 should go to tip and optionally ring. (Directed at the OP, not arcaxis.)
I'm reminded of what Brock Yates (I think) said, "You can't turn a pig into a racehorse, but you can build a hell of a fast pig."
I'm reminded of what Brock Yates (I think) said, "You can't turn a pig into a racehorse, but you can build a hell of a fast pig."
rob aylestone
Moderator
No - ring and sleep to pin 1, which is shorted to 3, as in your diagram, with tip only to pin 2. If in the computer, the ring and sleeve are connected together, then the other version would effectively short it out.
bouldersoundguy
Well-known member
I believe we have a stereo line input, in which case what Mark and I suggest should work.
Last edited by a moderator:
Steenamaroo
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I'm guessing the cable's got nothing to do with it. Did you guys listen to that noise?
OP, if you record with the microphone unplugged but with phantom power on, do you get silence or heavy noise like that?
Trying another mic is probably the best bet. That's my guess.
Answer this, please.
I doubt it's relevant now but should kill off the jack wiring questions.
Your testing proved the cable to be balanced to balanced. Regardless of what the input socket is I can't see the result being that amount of noise.
OP, if you record with the microphone unplugged but with phantom power on, do you get silence or heavy noise like that?
Trying another mic is probably the best bet. That's my guess.
Answer this, please.
I doubt it's relevant now but should kill off the jack wiring questions.
Your testing proved the cable to be balanced to balanced. Regardless of what the input socket is I can't see the result being that amount of noise.
K
kronosthekudu
New member
The noise is pretty bad with the mic out, especially with phantom power on.
No mic, phantom power
No mic, no phantom power
As for which channel, left or right, audacity selects for mono, I don't know. The setting I have been using as well as a stereo vs. mono recording can be seen below.
No mic, phantom power
No mic, no phantom power
As for which channel, left or right, audacity selects for mono, I don't know. The setting I have been using as well as a stereo vs. mono recording can be seen below.
Steenamaroo
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Did you say there was a line input on your computer as well as the mic input?
Definitely stick to the line input for testing. Your screen dump shows the input is mic.