Mic doesn't seem to be picking up much.

  • Thread starter Thread starter ChadderCheeze
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ChadderCheeze

New member
First off I'm a COMPLETE newb to this stuff, but I do have a few nice pieces of equipment. I just don't know how to use them.

My problem is when I try and recording just a little something I can hardly hear the playback, but everything I'm using (save for the computer) is brand new. I've tried installing the software and drivers for my interface on by my laptop and my PC but I get the same thing: Barely any waves registering on the waveform display as I record, and I can hardly hear anything on playback.
*I'm using Audacity as a recording program.
*My mic is an MXL V67G condenser mic.
*My interface is an M-Audio Fast Track Pro.

I've messed with the different preferences and tried tweaking some of the buttons on the interface, but I'm not finding anything yet.

Thanks so much ahead of time for taking the time to read this and especially for trying to help.

~Chad
 
Are you using phantom power? Your mic requires it to work. I'm not sure that the Fast Track Pro provides it to the mic???? You may need to get a phantom power box to put inline between the mic and the interface if not.
 
Thanks for responding Jimmy....my fast track pro has 48V phantom power.

~Chad
 
just something you might wanna check... make sure you have the gain up.

some people have come here before with the same symptoms your having and turned out they just didnt have the gain on the mic pre up.

good luck to you :)
 
Yup, I'm using a brand new XLR to XLR cable. Turning gain up nearly all the way does nothing different either. Tried that before posting here.
 
Now is the audio wave large and the playback is low.
Or is the audio wave small?
 
gdavi, the audio wave barely moves, almost like the mic is barely picking anything up, but the mic is good as well as new.
 
What are your software meters peaking at???

What about after you record a track and save the take???

Is the waveform still small???

Could be you need to dump your picture cache. It's an issue with waveform representation in Sonar. That and a maybe a software pad enabled, or a soft fader or trim pot is turned down.
 
i don't know much about audacity but the two things i can think of are,

check to make sure audacity's has the input set as the fast track and not the built in microphone.

second. make sure the input level on audacity is also turned up and not jsut the fast tracks.
 
I also had low input through my mic. The mic i own is a Rode NT1000 and i tried everything from switching the cable to buying a new interface. I called RODE and they told me to send it to them so they can examine the mic, and i found out it was a loose wire.
 
gdavi1 said:
check to make sure audacity's has the input set as the fast track and not the built in microphone.

second. make sure the input level on audacity is also turned up and not jsut the fast tracks.
Click to expand...

+1 (required filler)
 
Had same problem

I bought a new MXL 190 about two years ago and it was doing the same thing, brand new, right out of the box. I sent it back, they sent another new mic, and presto, no problem.

Life's short - Live it to the Max!
 
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