Need help troubleshooting mic popping

J

Jimmy3Nuts

New member
Hi all!

I could really use some help troubleshooting microphone popping I've been experiencing for some time now. My setup is a Focusrite Scarlet Solo, A Cloudlifter pre-amp, and A Shure SM7B microphone. I changed out my cables and still experience the popping, so I ruled that out. From what I've been able to gather, it seems the popping is coming from the cloudlifter. With it plugged in, but the microphone not, I still experience this popping. I, however, don't experience the popping with nothing plugged into the interface.

Attached here is an example recording of the popping issue that I clipped during a Discord call with some friends.

Please let me know if you've encountered this issue before, if there's a simple fix I'm somehow missing, or if you have any helpful info/tips for me.

Thanks y'all!
 
Dave Matthews said:
What happens when you plug the SM7B straight into the Scarlet?
Maybe the Cloudlifter is bad.
Click to expand...
I'll have to give it some more time, been testing it tonight but since the popping happens at random I'm unsure. So far no pops while plugged in directly, however I do have to have my sensitivity at max to even hear anything from the mic. I'll give another update sometime tomorrow, thanks for the suggestion (y)
 
Well, that’s not a pop, it’s crackle, and is a fault 100%. It’s either a simple one. As in a dry joint, or even a doggy connection in an XLR cable, or it’s a fault inside the cloudlifter. In cases like this when you hear crackles, you remove things. First thing here, remove the cloudlifter. If you get a crackle free result but just quieter, then you are there, and you know the issue. If removing the cloudlifter dos no5 change the crackle, then remove one of the two mic cables? If that fixes it, you’re done. Wiggling is also a crackle locator. If your SM7B is not far from your mouth then you probably will get away with not using the cloudlifter, they are NOT essential unless you use distant miking, despite what many will tell you.

usually in this kind of crackling it’s cables or connectors as the cloudlifter is making it worse when it’s power is interrupted. First thing I’d do is open up the XLR cable that goes to the cloudlifter. I bet it’s broken inside and pin 2 or 3 is hanging off.
 
rob aylestone said:
Well, that’s not a pop, it’s crackle, and is a fault 100%. It’s either a simple one. As in a dry joint, or even a doggy connection in an XLR cable, or it’s a fault inside the cloudlifter. In cases like this when you hear crackles, you remove things. First thing here, remove the cloudlifter. If you get a crackle free result but just quieter, then you are there, and you know the issue. If removing the cloudlifter dos no5 change the crackle, then remove one of the two mic cables? If that fixes it, you’re done. Wiggling is also a crackle locator. If your SM7B is not far from your mouth then you probably will get away with not using the cloudlifter, they are NOT essential unless you use distant miking, despite what many will tell you.

usually in this kind of crackling it’s cables or connectors as the cloudlifter is making it worse when it’s power is interrupted. First thing I’d do is open up the XLR cable that goes to the cloudlifter. I bet it’s broken inside and pin 2 or 3 is hanging off.
Click to expand...
Hi Rob, thanks for the response!

I unfortunately already replaced the cables with a pair that came in today and the issue persisted, so I don't think cables are the issue.

I've been testing the mic today without the Cloudlifter and so far haven't run into any crackling issues, so I'm afraid that it may be the issue. I won't know for sure without a little more testing though, since the crackling happens at random.

for now I'll continue to use the mic without the preamp, however even with talking into it directly I still have to have the gain maxed out.

Once again, thanks for the help and suggestions 👌
 
Really? I didn't realise the Scarlett was lacking in gain. At least you now have solid backup with the cables - so if it does misbehave with the crackles - pulling it from circuit is a quick job. Does it burst into crackles as soon as you plug the cloudlifter in the circuit? If so - I suspect it's broken!
 
rob aylestone said:
Really? I didn't realise the Scarlett was lacking in gain. At least you now have solid backup with the cables - so if it does misbehave with the crackles - pulling it from circuit is a quick job. Does it burst into crackles as soon as you plug the cloudlifter in the circuit? If so - I suspect it's broken!
Click to expand...
The Solo only has 56dB of mic gain Rob and with THE least sensitive mic in common usage, the new chap is going to feel the lack!
Yes, if he cranks the gain to max I am sure he will lay down an adequate level but newbs seem very reluctant to do this.

I agree BTW. The CL is up the Swanee.

Dave.
 
Jimmy3Nuts said:
Hi Rob, thanks for the response!

I unfortunately already replaced the cables with a pair that came in today and the issue persisted, so I don't think cables are the issue.

I've been testing the mic today without the Cloudlifter and so far haven't run into any crackling issues, so I'm afraid that it may be the issue. I won't know for sure without a little more testing though, since the crackling happens at random.

for now I'll continue to use the mic without the preamp, however even with talking into it directly I still have to have the gain maxed out.

Once again, thanks for the help and suggestions 👌
Click to expand...
If you have cracked with the CloudLifter inline - you probably have it with too much gain.
 
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