MXL-990 with phantom power 48v... what am I doing wrong?

[36chambers]

Hello

So, I have an MXL-990, I have some phantom power, I plug all my cables in and plug it into the PC's microphone input. I turn it onto either 24v or 48v which turns on the light to say it's on, then when I press record it's VERY quiet and VERY muffled. What am I doing wrong, is my microphone broken already?

 

[ecc83]

Hello

So, I have an MXL-990, I have some phantom power, I plug all my cables in and plug it into the PC's microphone input. I turn it onto either 24v or 48v which turns on the light to say it's on, then when I press record it's VERY quiet and VERY muffled. What am I doing wrong, is my microphone broken already?

HOW! In all the seven shades of Hades are you managing to cobble an XLR equipped mic into a 3.5mm crappy PC socket????

You need an Audio Interface. Steinberg UR22 is a goody (NO! I am NOT on a wedge!)

Dave.

 

[36chambers]

HOW! In all the seven shades of Hades are you managing to cobble an XLR equipped mic into a 3.5mm crappy PC socket????

By using an "XLR to stereo jack" cable, sir.

 

[Mr Clean]

I really don't think what you're doing will work. A mic like that needs a preamp to boost the signal. A mic input on a computer won't be enough. I have the MXL 900 also, it's a good cheap mic.

Get a proper audio interface.

 

[ecc83]

By using an "XLR to stereo jack" cable, sir.

No such thing for a BALANCED, MONO, microphone output. (and I am a friend. "Sir" makes me feel even fekkin' older than I am!)

Dave.

 

[Bobbsy]

I think "Sir" is right.

If your cable is wired like the XLR is stereo, the two channels will more or less cancel each other out leaving your muffled sound.

The bad news is, even if you snip a core and get it to sort of work, the mic pre amp on your computer will be noisy as heck and lacking in headroom.

Let me join the "buy a proper interface" chorus. It's the only way you'll get a decent signal into your DAW (and that's before you discover the joys of latency issues without having ASIO drivers and direct hardware monitoring!).

 

[homestudioguy]

Definitely need an analog to digital interface with Phantom Power using USB (or Fire-Wire if your Computer has it).
Here are some lower cost ones to consider:
Bob G.

$149- Steinberg UR22 | Sweetwater.com

$149- PreSonus AudioBox USB | Sweetwater.com

$149- Avid Mbox 3 Mini with Pro Tools Express | Sweetwater.com

$149- Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 | Sweetwater.com

$199- Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 | Sweetwater.com

 

[moresound]

Sir DAVE.

 

[Bobbsy]

"To Sir With Love" was on the telly here recently.

I can now picture Dave teaching a classroom full of teenagers the facts of life about electronics while a Lulu lookalike sings.

 

[moresound]

That's some imagination you got there Bob.

 

[Bobbsy]

It's the post-op pain killers, Henry! They're great!

 

[ecc83]

"To Sir With Love" was on the telly here recently.

I can now picture Dave teaching a classroom full of teenagers the facts of life about electronics while a Lulu lookalike sings.

DON'T Tell me Lulus' got a gong? Noisy brat!

Dave.

 

[36chambers]

I have no idea what any of you guys said.

What am I supposed to buy now?

 

[ecc83]

I have no idea what any of you guys said.

What am I supposed to buy now?

Steinberg UR22 USB Audio Interface | Andertons

Or any local stockist.

Dave.

 

[homestudioguy]

Steinberg UR22 USB Audio Interface | Andertons Or any local stockist. Dave.

What he said!
You need to buy a USB equipped interface/box to plug your microphone into
that changes your Analog Signal into a Digital Signal
that goes to your computer through a USB Cable
that connects from the interface into your computer
and then into your recording software.

 

[36chambers]

eeeeeehhhhhh do I really need to use USB? I hear a lot of bad things about it. Also, would I still be using the phantom power box?

 

[JimmyS1969]

Where do people hear these 'bad things' about USB? USB 1.0 is limited. No USB 2.0 issues I have heard of other than running an interface and hard drive from the same controller.

 

[homestudioguy]

eeeeeehhhhhh do I really need to use USB? I hear a lot of bad things about it. Also, would I still be using the phantom power box?

You could keep the phantom power box, but all of the interfaces I listed above have Phantom Power included.

USB, generally speaking, is very stable and is still very current.

 

[Chili]

I have no idea what any of you guys said.

What am I supposed to buy now?

Any of these...

Definitely need an analog to digital interface with Phantom Power using USB (or Fire-Wire if your Computer has it).
Here are some lower cost ones to consider:
Bob G.

$149- Steinberg UR22 | Sweetwater.com

$149- PreSonus AudioBox USB | Sweetwater.com

$149- Avid Mbox 3 Mini with Pro Tools Express | Sweetwater.com

$149- Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 | Sweetwater.com

$199- Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 | Sweetwater.com

 

[ecc83]

eeeeeehhhhhh do I really need to use USB? I hear a lot of bad things about it. Also, would I still be using the phantom power box?

If you had been around PC sound recording 4 or 5 years ago you would have heard LOTS worse things about FussyWire!

Provided you have a moderately pokey PC, such as I described, in good, clean running order and choose a decent AI (you have a little list!) usb* will give you excellent, trouble free results.
No, you will no longer need the spook juice box.

*Even usb 1.1 (12meg) works fine on such interfaces as the M-Audio Fast track pro.

Dave.