Low volume mic

[ice1992]

My recorded acoustic guitar sound is almost inaudible when recorded with a dynamic microphone. I can't turn up the input volume more without getting a hissing sound. The cable I'm using is XLR to 1/4", does that matter?
Audio interface : Steinberg CI2+ Production Kit
OS : Windows 7 Ultimate
Software : Audacity 2.0.4

 

[ecc83]

My recorded acoustic guitar sound is almost inaudible when recorded with a dynamic microphone. I can't turn up the input volume more without getting a hissing sound. The cable I'm using is XLR to 1/4", does that matter?
Audio interface : Steinberg CI2+ Production Kit
OS : Windows 7 Ultimate
Software : Audacity 2.0.4

Yes! The cable matters! I suspect you have a very cheap "karioke" type of dynamic mic. These come with an unbalanced jack plug to go into the K machine. You need a mic with an
XLR to XLR cable (I have in fact modified such crap mics for balanced op' to use in my garden. They generally last about 3 months wrapped in cling film. But such mods are beyond the noob) .

I guess you are cash strapped? If UK, Maplin do a quite acceptable XLR mic for 20quid.
N.B. Even when you are properly equipped you will find the level from a dynamic mic quite low from acoustic guitar. You would IMHO do better to buy a modest Small Diaphragm Capacitor (aka Condenser) mic. I like the AKG Perception 170 but they are legion.

Whatever you get do not try for levels out the top of the PC! I don't think Cubase gives you dB marks? But you want to be about 1/2 way up the meters, never more than 3/4 the way. Technical goop, that is -18 to -12 dBFS. And 24bits, 44.1kHz.

Welcome to the World of Home Recording, keep taking the tablets...What? Don't have any? Get some, you will need them!

Ah! Just noticed you are using Audacity? Fine (for now) that does have quite decent level metyers and neg 18 is marked.
Did you not get Cubase A1 6 with the interface?
Dave.

 

[Steenamaroo]

Yes. Cable type matters.

Modern interfaces almost always have XLR inputs for microphones and TRS/TS (jack) inputs for line/DI.
If it's a combo input, that difference still exists.

When you plug your mic into a line/di input, the interface is expecting a much hotter source.

When you plug into the XLR input, there's an additional preamp in the path to bring a microphone up to acceptable level.

 

[DM60]

+1 for both. I don't have anything to add except to confirm these guys are giving good information.

 

[ice1992]

I suspect you have a very cheap "karioke" type of dynamic mic. These come with an unbalanced jack plug to go into the K machine. You need a mic with an
XLR to XLR cable

Yeah I believe it's a karaoke mic. It's something I had laying around for a very long time so I just used it.

I guess you are cash strapped? If UK, Maplin do a quite acceptable XLR mic for 20quid.
N.B. Even when you are properly equipped you will find the level from a dynamic mic quite low from acoustic guitar. You would IMHO do better to buy a modest Small Diaphragm Capacitor (aka Condenser) mic. I like the AKG Perception 170 but they are legion.

I am pretty much cash strapped. I'll start looking around then

Ah! Just noticed you are using Audacity? Fine (for now) that does have quite decent level metyers and neg 18 is marked.
Did you not get Cubase A1 6 with the interface?

Yep I got Cubase AI 6 but haven't figured out much how to use it yet. So for now I'm using Audacity, it's much more newb-friendly

Modern interfaces almost always have XLR inputs for microphones and TRS/TS (jack) inputs for line/DI.
If it's a combo input, that difference still exists.

When you plug your mic into a line/di input, the interface is expecting a much hotter source.

When you plug into the XLR input, there's an additional preamp in the path to bring a microphone up to acceptable level.

That makes sense. Thanks for the clear explanation



Okay then that clears up my problem. Thanks to ecc83, Steenamaroo, DM60 ! very helpful