Mic (Shure SM57) to DMP3, to soundcard...

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kdoggity

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That's my setup, but I'm getting a 'warm' buzz sound, and my VU's aren't reading anything. Am I doing something wrong?
 
What ins and outs are you using, and what kinds of cables/connectors? It looks like the DMP has balanced outs using TRS connectors.
It sounds like your audio signal is not getting into the card.
 
I apologize for my lack of knowledge, but I don't know what TRS connectors are. My mic cord runs into the 1/4" A input, and I'm using the balanced 1/4" A output.
 
Sounds like you may have a couple of problems:
1) You're plugging a low impedance mic into a high impedance instrument input. Although it won't sound good, you should still get a signal (sound), which will probably be very low volume.

2) With a straight 1/4" plug into a TRS jack, it can send the signal to ground, instead of through the input, either at the pre or the soundcard. What kind of connector are you plugging into the soundcard?
 

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into the sound card I have a 1/8" adapter (I don't have 1/4" inputs in my computer)
 
I assume the 1/8" adapter is stereo and plugs in to the sound card. What plugs in to the other side of the adapter, coming from the preamp?
 
Here is the setup

Shure SM57-------1/4"------(Channel A input) DMP3 (Channel A Balanced Output)------1/4" with 1/8" adapter to...------Soundcard 1/8" microphone "in" jack.

I hope that's clear.
 
Oh, and it needs to go into the LINE IN of your soundcard, NOT the mic in.
 
If you can find a cable with a 1/4" stereo plug on one end, and a 1/8" stereo plug on the other, that should work to go directly from the balanced 1/4" output of the preamp to the stereo 1/8" line in of your soundcard.

For the mic, you should get a standard mic cable (XLR/XLR) to go from the mic to the mic input of the preamp. You'll get a much nicer sound. :)
 
I appreciate all this crazy. However, for some reason, my line-in doesn't ever pick up a signal. That's why I'm using the mic in. I'll pick up a XLR/XLR tomorrow.
 
Have you turned up the volume of the line in on your soundcard's volume control software? Do you have a PC? If so, right click on the little yellow speaker on the taskbar, go to "open volume controls", and there should be a line in slider to adjust volume.
 
yeah... I have. I've actually adjusted those volumes quite a bit and have been able to get a pretty nice sound (currently). I'm not sure why I would need to invest in those cords you're recommending. The 1/4" from the pre-amp works, and doesn't sound too bad. Would the TRS be better quality?
 
kdog

I'm confused. I'd assumed you weren't getting any signal into your computer. I guess you are, and you think it's a "pretty nice sound." Then what's with the "warm buzz sound" and no signal on the VU meters (which I now assume are on the DMP3 and not your recording software.)

1) Your buzz is probably due to plugging a line level voltage into the mic input of your sound card - it's amplifying the inherent noise from the pre. OR you have a grounding problem because of your cords/adapters and you're hearing 60/120 Hz hum. You need a new soundcard if you're sure the line input is not working.

2) The VU meters on the pre may not be working due to the low level signal from the low impedance mic into the high impedance instrument input. The new mic cable should fix that.

3) The TRS cables/adapters probably won't help anything if your getting a "pretty nice" signal into the computer.
 
Hey Crazy,

I'm sorry. I didn't do a very good job of explaining. After having adjusted the dials I was able to get a nice signal through the mic-in. Yesterday (the 16th) I picked up a mogami 15' XLR/XLR cable, and tweaked the computer a little bit more. I'm now able to use line-in, and there is almost no buzz/hum at all (there is, at really high volumes, but it's unaudible at normal levels). I'm still not getting VU readings from the DMP3, but I'm going to assume that's because the computer isn't returning a signal for the pre-amp to register. Thanks again for your help. It made a world of difference.
 
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