I'm recording with an sm57 but it isn't very sensitive

  • Thread starter Thread starter myhatbroke
  • Start date Start date
From now on, we must all specify our terms as Line-Pre, or Mic-Pre. I definetly see what you're getting at Harvey. Language is stupid.

I was thinking about the line in on a mixer (like a mackie), there is a trim pot that controls the mic and line in signals. I don't really think of that line in as having a pre-amp the same way the mic input has a pre-amp, but I suppose functionally it's doing the same thing, boosting the level of the signal.

Right on.

It's all just electricity anyway, if you wanna plug a line level signal into a mic-pre you certainly can. I've been in lots of cases where line level sources (say output from wireless recievers set to line level are plugged into the mic pres of consoles with no pad, it works, just not a great habit to get into when you're learning, in my opinion.
 
You've also gotta remember that I'm getting close to being 70 fuckin' years old. When you near 70, you get Alzheimer's AND Deja Vu at the same time ("I think I've forgotten this before.")

Some of these concepts were new when I was doing this shit - 50 years ago. The cascading bit I learned from old guys when I was your age. Hopefully, 50 years from now, you'll pass it on to somebody else.
 
Damn I got all kinds of ways to do it cus of you guys. Greatly appreciate it. Apparently some of yall don't understand how this interface works. The mic inputs or should i say XLR inputs go to the built in preamps and then to the A/D converter. Nothing else has preamps. For some reason they only came with a gain knob...no volume. Um and the connecting the preamps in series idea isnt very good. The output would go back in the TSR input which has NO preamp and it would be like recording direct. Which defeats the whole purpose of using a mic. The levels on the software have nothing to do with it.Im using Cubase cus it came with it and its pretty good. So I think I agree with the guy at GC that its the built in preamp. Its only 40db and the sm57 is something like 96? i dunno i dont have the manual with me. I bought the VTB pre amp online and i shall see what it does. I need some warmth anyways.
Keep giving me tips though...I like learning all this audio tech shit. :D o and I get lost real easy when you start using all the numbers and abbreviations
:p so please explain haha
 
My guesses:

If the mic gain and output levels are adjusted up and you are still getting nothing even though the amp in front of the mic is as 'loud as hell' then I would susptct that there might be something wrong with your cable or SM57. The SM57 is not that weak of a mic.
 
No the reason why i know this is because I borrowed an sm58 and that too had very low signal. I had to sing pretty loud to get a decent level
 
myhatbroke said:
Apparently some of yall don't understand how... ...and the connecting the preamps in series idea isnt very good. The output would go back in the TSR input which has NO preamp and it would be like recording direct. Which defeats the whole purpose of using a mic. ...I bought the VTB pre amp online and i shall see what it does. I need some warmth anyways.
Keep giving me tips though... so please explain haha
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Sometimes you just gotta laugh to stay sane.

Tim
 
I'm not sure...but...

I'm sure that if more solo's were played through it, it would improve.
 
myhatbroke said:
Damn I got all kinds of ways to do it cus of you guys. Greatly appreciate it. Apparently some of yall don't understand how this interface works. The mic inputs or should i say XLR inputs go to the built in preamps and then to the A/D converter. Nothing else has preamps. For some reason they only came with a gain knob...no volume. Um and the connecting the preamps in series idea isnt very good. The output would go back in the TSR input which has NO preamp and it would be like recording direct. Which defeats the whole purpose of using a mic. The levels on the software have nothing to do with it.Im using Cubase cus it came with it and its pretty good. So I think I agree with the guy at GC that its the built in preamp. Its only 40db and the sm57 is something like 96? i dunno i dont have the manual with me. I bought the VTB pre amp online and i shall see what it does. I need some warmth anyways.
Keep giving me tips though...I like learning all this audio tech shit. :D o and I get lost real easy when you start using all the numbers and abbreviations
:p so please explain haha
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The sm57 needs 55db and you only have 40db.
Are you sure the gain control doesn't effect the line inputs? (it might not, but a lot of times it does)

In the future, if a sales weasle at GC tells you to get a tube (something) to warm up your sound, and it costs less than $400 per channel, punch him in the head and ask to talk to someone who knows what he is talking about and won't lie to you. That Asshole shouldn't get your business.
 
myhatbroke said:
Damn I got all kinds of ways to do it cus of you guys. Greatly appreciate it. Apparently some of yall don't understand how this interface works. The mic inputs or should i say XLR inputs go to the built in preamps and then to the A/D converter. Nothing else has preamps.
Click to expand...

Well, I'm confused. From the site you posted, I got this:

Lexicon Lambda USB Audio Interface Features:

* USB powered
* High-end D/A converters
* 2 quality mic preamps
* Phantom power
* Independent mic and line controls with LEDs
* Monitor mix and output level controls
* 2 balanced TRS line inputs and outputs
* 2 XLR mic ins

Sounds like it has XLR mic ins, and TRS line outs - and line ins. So, if you plug a mic into XLR mic in 1, you're saying there is no signal output at the Line 1 TRS output jack?
 
Harvey Gerst said:
Well, I'm confused. From the site you posted, I got this:

Lexicon Lambda USB Audio Interface Features:

* USB powered
* High-end D/A converters
* 2 quality mic preamps
* Phantom power
* Independent mic and line controls with LEDs
* Monitor mix and output level controls
* 2 balanced TRS line inputs and outputs
* 2 XLR mic ins

Sounds like it has XLR mic ins, and TRS line outs - and line ins. So, if you plug a mic into XLR mic in 1, you're saying there is no signal output at the Line 1 TRS output jack?
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no there is output but its designed for monitors,its the left and right out put and either way if your still on the preamps in series, you have to connect it back to one of the tsr inputs but it sounds different because it has no preamp
 
myhatbroke said:
no there is output but its designed for monitors,its the left and right out put and either way if your still on the preamps in series, you have to connect it back to one of the tsr inputs but it sounds different because it has no preamp
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If there's an output signal from the mic at the channel line output jack, then you should be able to feed that into the next channel's line input and record from the output there, picking up another 12 dB of gain from Channel 2. A "line out" jack isn't just for monitors.

At least, that's what the specs on the Lexicon Lambda show it can do.
 
myhatbroke said:
No the reason why i know this is because I borrowed an sm58 and that too had very low signal. I had to sing pretty loud to get a decent level
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Cable then maybe? I have no experience with this specific model but have used similar ones (mobilpre, UA-5, mBox) and none needed anything extra to be able to record using a SM57.

Also have you checked the settings on the computer in Control Panel? You could be choking the signal there too.
 
First the cable is freakin new. Second ummm well the outputs have all the tracks coming out through it. Like i said its for monitors. The audio from the pc and the audio in the inputs all come out through them. So no it wont work.
 
myhatbroke said:
First the cable is freakin new. Second ummm well the outputs have all the tracks coming out through it. Like i said its for monitors. The audio from the pc and the audio in the inputs all come out through them. So no it wont work.
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Something sounds like it's not hooked up right. Hell, you're not that far away from me. Bring it over and let's try it with my setup. I've got The Feds in Studio A right now, but Studio B is available. I won't be here this weekend (NAMM show in Austin), but after this weekend is fine.
 
Harvey Gerst said:
Something sounds like it's not hooked up right. Hell, you're not that far away from me. Bring it over and let's try it with my setup. I've got The Feds in Studio A right now, but Studio B is available. I won't be here this weekend (NAMM show in Austin), but after this weekend is fine.
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are you serious? where do you live? Austin? I didnt understand "NAMM" how did you know where i live? myspace? :rolleyes:

But Im positive everything is right. I read the manual on how to hook it up and its perfect. Sm57 with cable onto mic 1, simple as that. Cable is new...its not the mic because it did the same with sm58. Ummm lets see...im not sure how loud my amp is but its pretty freakin loud and the gain is turned all the way up on the lexicon and it records at a decent level. But it doesnt come close to clipping and from what I read your level should barely light up the red once in a while for a good recording...I dunno. Oh! and its weird..when I play with a clean tone I dont need as much gain...interesting...But maybe my lack of being in a recording studio is deceiving me into thinking that recording an amp is a quiet thing. You know? like just enough to hear it in one corner of the room loud...not like im playing where im shaking the whole apartment complex and the guy upstairs gives me a mean look the next morning :p You tell me
 
RAK said:
+4dBu and -10dBu are two different line level references. That shouldn't affect a mic level signal. Now if you're plugging in your mic to an XLR line level source, that could be your problem. I suppose there could be an input switch on the Lexicon where you have to designate mic level.

Also, balanced/unbalanced is a seperate issue from +4dBu/-10dBu
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Yes, i know this is quoted from the rear of my lexicon multiple FX, it may be worded wrong but hey, just trying to help :)
 
From Dictionary.com:

pre·am·pli·fi·er ( P ) Pronunciation Key (pr-mpl-fr)
n.
An electronic circuit or device that detects and strengthens weak signals, as from a radio receiver, for subsequent, more powerful amplification stages.

So I guess this definition further hinges on your definition of a "weak signal"
I think a mic level signal would universally be considered "weak." As for Line-Level, I would inherently say no. If line-level was "weak" then mic-level would have to be considered "weaker" i guess. But this is all just language, it doesn't effect how you choose to use the signals.

myhatbroke, listen to Harvey and all the others, they seem to be giving good advice.

As a point of order, my initial response to Harvey's suggestion (keeping in mind I thought he was suggesting line level out to mic level in, which we now know he wasn't) that it was a bad idea was because it's maybe not a great idea to get in the habit of connecting mis-matched signals, especially if you're new at this. But of course once you understand that a line-level signal is hotter than a mic level signal, you can mix and match all you want to get good results. What's that saying, you have to understand the rules before you can break them. I was trying to help myhatbroke out.
 
Also, and I think Jimmy2sticks posted this earlier, there seems to be a discrepency between the pictures of the Lambda (or Omega) on the website, and what they actually have in real life. Are you sure the Lamda doesn't have a pad switch on it?
 
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