Microphone Hiss/Interference

  • Thread starter Thread starter BillyBo
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BillyBo

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okay - this is probably posted somewhere around here, but trying to find someone with the exact same setup/situation as me is not gonna happen. i did find a little info, but bear with me and i'll show/tell you my setup.

first off, i've been recording with CoolEditPro/Adobe Audition for about 5 years. Never got too into any "extras" except for simple enveloping and a little EQ stuff, since i'm a hiphop artist. I currently use Adobe Audition 1.5. I have an HP a220n desktop computer with on-board sound (i know, i should update, but i'm that broke college kid you always hear about). anyways, i've never really had a problem with too much noise coming thru the channel when i record, but after upgrading some recording equipment, i've encountered a very noticeable hum/buzz when i record.

i used to use a simple $30 uni-directional microphone, a $100 Radio Shack 4-channel mixer (2 mic inputs, 4 aux inputs), and CoolEdit/Adobe Audtion.

my new equipment:
MXL 990 Condensor Mic
Nady SMPS-1 Phantom Power Supply

but i still use the same [crappy] mixer, although i did grab some decent quality cables w/ the new mic purchase.

Setup: Microphone --> Phantom Power --> Mixer --> Mic In on computer.

I used to use the Line-In for recording, but I can't seem to figure out how to set that up again. I've tried selecting it in my Windows Sound settings (selecting Line In, Line In 2, Mic In)... the only one that seems to work is Mic In. Otherwise I dont get any sound from the mic when i try to record. I think this might have to do with a Setting in Adobe Audition, but i cant find it. help?

THE PROBLEM AGAIN:
like i said, using this setup, as compared to the old, i get a substantial amount of hum/buzz that is able to be taken away with "Noise Reduction" but even then, it seems to leave a little behind... lemme explain. when i captured a sound sample of the noise, then ran noise reduction on the whole track, when there were gaps in the vocals (just between words) there was a little hum at the end of the words. basically you could tell i tried to fix it... i'm sure you wouldnt notice after i mixed it down with the instrumental track, but i'm trying to learn, and be somewhat of a perfectionist with what i have at the same time.

How do I get rid of the hum/buzz?!

Could it be I need a mic pre-amp? Is it because I use the microphone input instead of the Line-In?


i think that's enough info for now...




bless.
 
It sounds to me you have an impednace issue some where. The new mics you got are balanced mics and low impedance and they will need to go into a preamp designed for such things. many of those super cheap mics from RS and the like are high impedance... so if you are hooking up your new mics in the same way as your old mic, that may be the issue. Could you tell us which mixer model you are using?
 
the mixer i am using is outdated as far as Radio Shack is concerned. It's as old as my recording is... about 5-6 years. (my computer is new ;))

anyways, the closest thing to the one i have is this one:
Stereo Mixer with Equalizer

mine has a microphone in (furthest to the left, on top), and 2 in the back. then 4 RCA line inputs. each has a slide level adjustment... eh, yeah, just imagine this one, but not rack-mountable, and 2 lit level meters in the upper right corner.



bless
 
It sounds to me you have an impednace issue some where.
Click to expand...
i was wondering about that.

The new mics you got are balanced mics and low impedance and they will need to go into a preamp designed for such things.
Click to expand...
that's where i get lost - i never used one, and i guess i just thought a pre-AMP would do just that... amplify. i was afraid a pre-amp would just make the noise worse. so is a pre-amp more like an attenuator than strictly a signal amplifier?



and about the Mic-In recording i asked about. For some reason, the only input that works to record with is the microphone input. i dont like using it that way, and i could have sworn that i used to use the line-in... can you point me to where i can check my recording input in Adobe Audition?

thanks.




bless.
 
It really should be as simple as the Mic in on your card - it's preamp & componenets are CRUD. Noise, problems, & did I mention NOISE? Don't use it EVER. It's intended for recording messages etc.
Shut down the comp. reboot & go to systems then check that all is OK there.
OPen up your sound card interface & enable the record section - line in. Disable the mic in if you can.
If nothing works you need to do what you've been avaoiding - upgrade the card - anything's better than what you have so even a used soundblaster from eBay - though that's sinking pretty low - will get you back to recording.
Cheers
rayC
 
yeah, it looks like i'm back to ebay! ;)


i still have a question about a preamp for the mic.... will that help? i dont really know what one is for since i never used one. i can research it as much as i want, but i really dont get anything out of it. help?
 
A preamp will boost the sound from the mic to a reasonable level. It SHOULD do it in an almost transparent way - bad analogy but it should boost with adding extra noise etc. Phantom powered & condensor mics MAY NOT need preamping but often do.
The mic input on your sound card has a preamp but it's CRUDE & NOISEY.
Tube preamps are popular as they "warm" up a signal before digitization by the sound card - again bad anaolgy but it gives a less clinical & slightly "coloured" or it adds little things to the sound that we now understand/accept as nice hence not being "transparent" but widely approved of.
Preamps can be cheap to buy & cheap in effect too. But given budget constraints etc the little Behringer tubes ones (& there's some debate as to whether the tube actually influences the signal or just adds the light effect to the unit when switched on) are OK - NOT GREAT, NOTEVEN particulatly good but OK.
I know, I just complicated things for you sorry.
Get a preamp - get as good a one as you can afford (ebay again) but get one. You can always upgrade when you grad.
Cheers
rayC
 
actually, not confusing at all.... that helped me a little bit. i think i will look into getting one, but the sound card issue is first for sure. i dont know why for the life of me i cant use the line in... something is wrong... i will be investigating/experimenting tonight after work.

i'll let everyone know the verdict so we can help others.




bless.
 
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