I'm About To Rip My Hair Out Please Help!!!

[Da Arsun]

Well first of all I bought a Focusrite Penta so my vocals could be compressed once it hits the mic. But it seems like the compressor made everything all worse, because at any level I speak into the damn mic it peaks. Now, I also came to the assumption it might be my mic which is a AKG C3000B cause my damn mic is extra sensitive and its catching every little thing. Please help me and let me know what I could do to fix this horrible problem!!!

 

[Antz_Marchin]

I don't know for sure but maybe your mic is just too hot and that's why you keep peaking at every volume. What about putting an in line pad right after the mic to drop 20-40 db off your initial input.

Here they are: http://www.1staudiousa.com/spcint.html

 

[Da Arsun]

You know what makes me so upset is that this mic cost about $300.00 at the store. Now this other studio I go to, has a mic that I believe is around $100-$250. Just thinking Logical, since my mic cost more I'll get better results or if not better then at least the same, well thats not the case. But later in the day I'm actually gonna call him and see what kind of mic he has, and if its a condenser mic or what? Oh by the way my mic is an AKG C3000B.

 

[Track Rat]

There's nothing wrong with your mic. It's how you're setting your gain staging in the Penta. The C-3000 is sensitive but most all condensors are sensitive.

 

[Da Arsun]

Yeah I'm aware of that fact that condenser mics are sensitive. But so sensitive it catches whats comming out of my headphones, and my headphones are not even turned up all the way. Another thing is on my Penta if I put the gain at the minimum I can't hear S*it but when I turn the gain on the pre-amp a little pass minimum, its catching the damn dog next door barking. Please let me know what I could do to resolve this, cause I feel like selling my mic getting another one and returning this $400 compressor. Really I don't know what the hell to do?

 

[chessrock]

when I turn the gain on the pre-amp a little pass minimum, its catching the damn dog next door barking. Please let me know what I could do to resolve this

Accoustic treatment.

Really I don't know what the hell to do?

Experiment and learn how to use it. It's not like a coffee maker or other household appliance where you can just plug it in, turn it on, and have it do it's thing. There's a certain amount of learning curve involved. You just got it. Be patient.

 

[Richard Monroe]

If you're getting headphone bleed, the mic's doing what it's supposed to. The headphones aren't.-Richie

 

[knightsy]

Get some advice from the studio on how to set it up. You can only ask!

 

[ted88]

Your headphone bleed is a normal problem. You have to accept a little bleed onto vocal tracks. If it's excessive, then get bigger, mushier headphones. (For crying out loud, don't use walkman headphones!)

If you can return your Penta and spend a little more money on your preamp, then I would suggest the Radius 40 by HHB. If not, then experiment with turning down both your input and/or your output. Also, don't boost the EQ frequencies that you are wanting to hear more of. (This is a common mistake people make.) Rather, cut the other frequencies that you want to hear less of.

Good luck!

 

[Track Rat]

I like the HHB gear too. I have a few pieces. Still, I don't think it's the gear rather than how it's being used. The headphone bleed is typacal. Good closed back headphones are helpful to minimize bleed.

 

[mixsit]

Yeah I'm aware of that fact that condenser mics are sensitive. But so sensitive it catches whats comming out of my headphones, and my headphones are not even turned up all the way. Another thing is on my Penta if I put the gain at the minimum I can't hear S*it but when I turn the gain on the pre-amp a little pass minimum, its catching the damn dog next door barking. Please let me know what I could do to resolve this, cause I feel like selling my mic getting another one and returning this $400 compressor. Really I don't know what the hell to do?

You're describing two separate and opposite problems.
On one hand you have to turn the gain up so high to hear yourself that soft ambient noise and headphone bleed is heard. A sign of the source (your voice) being extremely quiet, at least at that point. Sing out a bit, and/or get closer to the mic, or; You will need lots of gain, but also good headphone isolation and a very quiet room.
This is an acoustical signal to noise problem.
Consider a one-ear headphone just for a reference track (min. volume, no vocal), your voice naturally in the room.
And that sometimes when we sing with our voice too loud in the phones it tends to make us sing all the softer...

On the other hand, at times you're clipping the pre... a dynamic range problem, calling for a more consistent volume range from you.(?)
If you use a compressor to try to solve this, the background noise issue is going to get all the worse again.

Wayne

 

[Da Arsun]

Yeah, I just realized from talking with guys from other studios that bleeding will occur. Especially if guys like listening to their headphones loud. I just wanna say thanks to all of you that posted a little something on this thread I learn more and more from you guys. Thanks!!!!!

 

[Robert D]

This thread reminds me of a guy who is having a hard time leaning to drive, goes and buys a Ferrari, and complains that the car didn't help at all, only made it harder cause now the tires spin when he steps on the gas, and the slightest touch of the wheel sends him off in another direction. .
Anyway, I think you caught the drift. You need a quiet room to record in, you need to learn about gain staging, oh, and get a pop filter to put in front of the mic. Also, go easy on the compression on the way in, and get some good closed headphones.
Best regards, RD

 

[chessrock]

This thread reminds me of a guy who is having a hard time leaning to drive, goes and buys a Ferrari

. . . not sure if I'd compare the Penta to a Ferari (maybe a Chevy Cavalier or something along those lines), but it's a great analogy nonetheless.

 

[Da Arsun]

This thread reminds me of a guy who is having a hard time leaning to drive, goes and buys a Ferrari, and complains that the car didn't help at all, only made it harder cause now the tires spin when he steps on the gas, and the slightest touch of the wheel sends him off in another direction. .
Anyway, I think you caught the drift. You need a quiet room to record in, you need to learn about gain staging, oh, and get a pop filter to put in front of the mic. Also, go easy on the compression on the way in, and get some good closed headphones.
Best regards, RD

If this is your way of giving advice you do a shitty job at it. You know what? I'm open to all suggestions and tips but if your gonna be a asshole in a subliminal way keep your damn advice cause I don't need it...

By the the way! My microphone is in a booth, I'm on here to learn more of gain and compression, and I do own a poppper stopper and I have high end headphones!!!

 

[mixsit]

Yeah I'm aware of that fact that condenser mics are sensitive. But so sensitive it catches whats comming out of my headphones, and my headphones are not even turned up all the way. Another thing is on my Penta if I put the gain at the minimum I can't hear S*it but when I turn the gain on the pre-amp a little pass minimum, its catching the damn dog next door barking. Please let me know what I could do to resolve this, cause I feel like selling my mic getting another one and returning this $400 compressor. Really I don't know what the hell to do?

FWIW (not much I know ) maybe don't take Robert D's analogy so hard. It seems that unless something is broke, the equipment is not the problem, yea?
Question; Is the above problem with the compressor on?
You need to begin with a good gain/record/headphone level condition first. That gets you 90% the way to a good track.
This reads like you have a ton of comp on and it's fighting you.

Back to the basics!
Wayne

..and get that dog out'a the booth.
Sorry, couldn't resist.