Mic Line In

[abc123]

From postings and tutorial here, I understand that I should be plugging my mic into the Line In on computer rather than the simple Mic input intended for computer mics. I am having problem identifying where that Line In is on my computer. My sound card is Sound Blaster Audigy 4. I think I have read some not-too-favorable references to that card but that is where I am. On the back of the computer, there are two RCA ports indicated as digital audio -- one Out and one In. Is the In port the Line In I should be using for mic recording? Will I need a pre-amp or phantom power of some type? Thanks!

 

[danny.guitar]

I don't know about the Audigy. Some SoundBlasters have one jack for both mic and line in.

Try going to the Windows volume control, mute the Mic In. Goto Properties -> Recording, and select Line In as your recording device.

Then hook up the mic and try recording. If you don't hear anything, it's in the wrong jack...

Also, what mic are you using? If it's a PC mic then ignore everything I just said and put it in the mic input.

Edit: If it's not a PC mic, you'll need a preamp. If your microphone is a condensor you'll need 48v phantom power (at least in most cases).

The preamp will usually have 1/4" outputs. You'll need an adapter to hook into the end of the 1/4" TRS cable so it fits into your soundcard.

You'll need a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter, they're like $2 or $3 at radio shack.

 

[Minion]

You only use the Line In port on the Card if you are useing an external preamp but if you don"t have an external preamp and you are plugging the mic directly into the sound card then you would use the "Mic" input because the Mic input has a Built in Preamp although a very crappy one......

If you sold your audigy 4 you could buy an actual recording sound card and still have money left over.....But you would generally still need a preamp....

Cheers

 

[abc123]

Thx to u both for info -- I do have a phantom power box for condenser mic used with my Fostex MR-8 so will probably try that. I am a bit cautious about powering up input to my sound card but guess I should give it a try. To be honest, tho, using my LabTec computer mic into the mic input is producing pretty decent quality in my Home Studio software. Or are my standards way too low??

 

[cannabis]

Thx to u both for info -- I do have a phantom power box for condenser mic used with my Fostex MR-8 so will probably try that. I am a bit cautious about powering up input to my sound card but guess I should give it a try. To be honest, tho, using my LabTec computer mic into the mic input is producing pretty decent quality in my Home Studio software. Or are my standards way too low??

no power will get to the input of the sound card

the phantom power only goes to the mic



however a non-computer mic won't work

plugged into the mic input

(which also suppies ~3v to the mic)



your standards may be low, but

"if it sounds good, it is good"

should apply




anyway if this is the card you have

http://us.creative.com/products/pro...205&product=14103&nav=technicalSpecifications

your sound will be much better if you

plug the (non-computer) mic into a preamp

then the preamp into the

line in of the card



you will be amazed

 

[danny.guitar]

Thx to u both for info -- I do have a phantom power box for condenser mic used with my Fostex MR-8 so will probably try that. I am a bit cautious about powering up input to my sound card but guess I should give it a try. To be honest, tho, using my LabTec computer mic into the mic input is producing pretty decent quality in my Home Studio software. Or are my standards way too low??

What are you recording with the PC mic?

If you're happy with the sound, then keep using it I guess.

But I think you would be much happier with the results if you had a decent condenser mic, going through a preamp, into the Line In of your soundcard.

 

[mshilarious]

On the Soundblaster Audigy I bought so I could test out my mics and use Skype, the line in and mic in uses the same port, you just switch between them using the windows mixer (Volume Control). When you enable mic in, the +5V to the mic is turned on.

If you plug an external preamp into that, obviously you'd want to turn the line in on.

But yeah, if it's ain't broke . . .

You know, there is no reason why manufacturers couldn't make better mics for a Soundblaster connection. Sure the Soundblaster is noisy for real pro recording, but that doesn't matter to the average home user. However, it is an unbalanced connection, which limits the cable length you can use before hum becomes objectionable. So the manufacturers have been leaning towards USB mics instead. You might look into one of those if you are otherwise happy with your SB.

 

[mindwave_21]

I have an old Audigy. I believe the line-in is the circle with the arrow pointing inwards. The mic input has a little mic symbol. I use a DMP3 to power my condensor into the soundcard, and it's fine. You can't hurt the computer with those things. If the preamp is in the wrong input, it will just sound distorted and crappy because of the extra gain from the soundcard.