microphone connection and lightsnake

[Doodoo191]

By being a cheap idiot I just bought a Lightsnake. It's generally used to connect a guitar or other instrument to a USB on the PC. However, what I wanted it for was to connect a dynamic mic. It's connecting, and recording, but it's not boosting the signal enough, and it's ridiculously quiet. It came with a 1/4" to USB cable, and a splitter that goes from 1/4" to two female 1/4" and that's how I've got it hooked up. Before I go to Radio Shack for another connector, or just to return this thing I thought I'd see if anyone had an opinion. Thanks in advance.
Cheers,
Chris

 

[maestro_dmc]

what the heck is a lightsnake?

 

[Crazy Drummer69]

LightSnake

 

[Minion]

Well any Dynamic Mic is also going to need a preamp and I don"t think they have Squeezed a preamp inside that small cable, so without the Preamp the Mic will be very quiet because it"s signal isn"t strong enough....

If yopu had a Battery Powered Condencer you would get a Better signal because Condencers have a Built in Fet Preamp which gives them a Good Signal Boost over Dynamic mics.....


Cheers

 

[Doodoo191]

Allright, thanks guys. that's kind of what I thought, but I wanted an outside opinion. I really don't expect the guys at Target to have a decent opinion.

 

[danga1993]

It maybe possible to make your preamp from parts you can get at radioshack for quite cheap. (Around a dollar or two). http://www.tkk.fi/Misc/Electronics/circuits/micamp.html I guess it might work if your needs aren't high end.

I'm quite new to this business. But I'm offering my opinion nevertheless for what its worth.

 

[Innovations]

Buying recording gear at target was mistake one.

Rather than trying to build it yourself I would look at a low end preamp, but all in all I would be worried about the quality of A/D circuits that they crammed into the head of a cable.

I would send the lightsnake back and get this

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/FastTrackUSB/

 

[come2go]

What is Lightsnake?

...or see it here lightsnake.com ;-)

 

[dgatwood]

Buying recording gear at target was mistake one.

Rather than trying to build it yourself I would look at a low end preamp, but all in all I would be worried about the quality of A/D circuits that they crammed into the head of a cable.

Not just the A/D. The analog components would probably suck, and even if they don't, most of those super-cheap USB audio devices like that have latency that's measured in units of tenths of a second....