Mic Clipping

[rtparies]

Sorry if this has been previously covered but the forum search engine was down and my frustration got the better of me. So if there is a previous thread just hit me up with link. I'm currently running a CAD M179 into a Behringer Eurorack 8 track mixer (yes, I know it's crap) and then I'm running the mixer into an Edirol USB converter and I'm using Sony Acid Screenblast 4.0. I've been recording for 3 years now and have been doing fairly well until about a day and a half ago my mic started clipping. It almost seems as if the treble is set to high or the signal into the computer is being overdriven. No matter how low I adjust the volume on my mixer, I'm still getting the clipping. And I checked to see if it was just the mic by hooking in a Sure PG58 (yes, I know more crap) but encountered the same problem. No matter what settings I'm adjusting with my mic or mixer, I can't get it to go away. Any suggestions?

 

[travelin travis]

has anything new been introduced or has anything changed in your recording setup lately? what's the source that you're recording? what are you're soundcard meters showing level wise? have you tried using a different pre on the mixer?

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

Incorrect input levels on interface?

These can often be set between -10db, 0db or +4db to handle different outputs (sometimes labelled 'consumer', 'professional' etc).

 

[rtparies]

has anything new been introduced or has anything changed in your recording setup lately? what's the source that you're recording? what are you're soundcard meters showing level wise? have you tried using a different pre on the mixer?

That's the baffling point, nothing has been changed in my setup. I only record male vocals, acoustic guitar, and ukelele. So for this new song I got a little clipping on my first guitar part, no clipping with my second guitar part which was strictly high-end on the high B and E strings, but then come vocals I can't get out of the clipping. It has the same sound as when a vocalist maxes out the microphone, and all though your levels aren't clipping on your mixer or in your recording program, because they are standing too close to the mic. Except this is happening on every single note. Any idea where it would be to adjust the input levels in Acid 4.0 ? Can't find it.

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

Did you use the same cable when you tried the other mic?

Try a different cable.

 

[noisewreck]

Also, check the input gain on the mixer. It's possible it was changed by accident.

 

[travelin travis]

That's the baffling point, nothing has been changed in my setup. I only record male vocals, acoustic guitar, and ukelele. So for this new song I got a little clipping on my first guitar part, no clipping with my second guitar part which was strictly high-end on the high B and E strings, but then come vocals I can't get out of the clipping. It has the same sound as when a vocalist maxes out the microphone, and all though your levels aren't clipping on your mixer or in your recording program, because they are standing too close to the mic. Except this is happening on every single note. Any idea where it would be to adjust the input levels in Acid 4.0 ? Can't find it.

It's strange that this problem just started. Your Edirol interface should have some type of software meters for checking the input signal levels. I would check that first. I would check the latency of your interface too. Maybe it got changed some how. If it's set too low, you can get some funky artifacts and clipping sounds. Has anything been changed on your computer lately? New software, updates, etc.?

 

[rtparies]

@ Noise
I've switched cables on both mics and no luck

@ Kevin
Double checked and adjusted the gain with no luck either.

I'll try to take a look at my Edirol settins and also see if there's anything that I can tweak in Acid. Thanks for the help and let me know if you think of anything else.

 

[travelin travis]

@ Noise
I've switched cables on both mics and no luck

@ Kevin
Double checked and adjusted the gain with no luck either.

I'll try to take a look at my Edirol settins and also see if there's anything that I can tweak in Acid. Thanks for the help and let me know if you think of anything else.

You should'nt have to touch anything in Acid.

 

[rtparies]

You should'nt have to touch anything in Acid.

You were right there. I ended up just unplugging everything and plugging it back it in and problem solved. Must have been an evasive connection problem. Thanks for the help.

 

[travelin travis]

sounds like it was a usb issue maybe? who knows.