Need help with Behringer C1 usb condenser

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PaulMac22

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Hi everyone im a newbie and I recently purchased the C1U usb microphone but when I record with it using cool edit pro or audacity its just too quiet. I have turned the mic volume playback/recording even my speakers to the highest from control panel but I still feel its not right. At first I thought maybe thats just how loud it records but I know these mics are ment to pick up every little sound but mine doesnt pick my vocals up from about a foot away my mouth has to be within centimetres of it to get a decent recording level. When I was reading up on it on the website it mentiond in a diagram that the led light will go blue when it recieves phantom power, mine stays green what does that mean does that have anything to do with it ?. Also does anyone know other factors apart from volume levels that would make the recording quiet i.e could my soundcard be outdated as my pc is about 5 years old running xp any information anyone can give me would be great.
 
Had a look at the reviews and it scores quite well.
I'm thinking that your USB port is the problem. Make sure you have USB2.
Try your mic in different USB ports.
Also, pop into "Device Drivers" and look for any yellow flags.
You may have to uninstal your USB drivers and restart the computer.
 
If your led on the mic states that there is no phantom power present - you must have it or you get nothing or next to nothing at max volumes.
 
Behringer C1U condenser mic

thanks for your responses I have done some re-search and also tried behringers technical support all they did was tell me make sure all volumes are turned up after me telling them I had done so. I read the manual and it says a green led indicates no phantom power and blue led indicates that its getting that if there is no power like you said the quality is very poor.I know It gets the phantom power from the usb port like one of you guys said it requires a USB 2 interface. My computer is about 4-5 years old and was thinking that I didnt have that maybe thats the problem but I checked and I have 2 usb ports on the back and two on the front. The two on the front have USB 2 written at the top and I checked device manager and there is one that says Intel(r)....DBM USB 2 EnhancedHost Controller which im thinking it does have USB 2 but why is it only showing one and not two. Im thinking its down to my usb not providing the power but it does say USB 2 do any of you guys have ideas ? I was going to go out and buy a USB 2 PCI but dont really want to waste the money if I already have that and its another problem thats stopping the mic getting full power.
 
Well I have an old Dell pc running xp 4 or 5 years old and I run smart live with it to analyze rooms in live sound application and I use an Earth works condenser mic with a XLR cable and an adapter down to TRS to go into the mic in port and I get phantom there ...oops sorry i just realized you stated that its a c1u USB mic.
Is there somebody or somewhere you can test that mic on an other computer? That would let you know if you have a bad mic from the factory for it does happen.
 
C1u

well just to be sure I purchased a USB 2 Interface today and also tried the mic on my friends laptop, still no joy. Tried behringer again and twice they sent an email saying to check all the volumes which I had allready told them I had done to begin with. I said to them the led is green not blue which I know it should be and said I had tried everything he told me so the mic must be faulty. Im waiting on one more response before I ask for a replacement but does anyone know if I would have to send it back to where I bought it from. It was purchased from an online website but I was thinking maybe behringer would deal with it surely it has a manufacturers warranty or something
 
ive got one of these, and i cant get a blue light

however i have no problem with recording levels with the green light, so may be defective, but then again ive read quite a few stories like yours
 
I have recently got one of these and im getting the green light.

Originally the sound was very quiet until I downloaded the ASIO drivers which made the sound better but not great. Im also finding alot of background noise too, hissing etc which im struggling to combat.

Would be good to keep this thread going for tips etc. But to the OP, try the ASIO drivers first, there is a link at the bottom of http://www.behringer.com.au/EN/Products/C-1U.aspx

Let me know how you get on
 
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