No Mic Input

[Aerathi]

So I went out and dropped all this money on a Fostex MR8, a set of Marshall mics (a condenser & a normal), and some other stuff like mic stands etc. The problem is, my MR8 is not recieving any input from the mics. I have it set to the Mic/Line input, tried mics in both inputs A & B. I'm not sure what to do, as I've played around with everything.

Anyone have any ideas, or might I just have been screwed? I find it incredibly odd that neither mic work...

 

[andydeedpoll]

what do you mean by 'normal' - i'm presuming dynamic? if they're Both condensor (i'm thinking about that set of a large-diaphram and small diaphram condensors that MXL do... is it that?) then you'll need phantom power.

i don't know if the fostex doo-dah has phatom power, but if it doesn't, you're going to need a phantom power supply. costs about £30 here in Britain... which probably means it costs about 5 cents in America (if All music equipment is so rediculously cheap in comparison to Britain )

might be helpful to give some more information on exactly what mics you've bought.

Andy

 

[whyseye]

...I'm thinking preamp......

 

[Aerathi]

Yeah, it came in a pair, they are the MXL mics.
MXL990 Condensor & MXL991 Condensor. I didn't realize they were both condensors either. Is that bad?

Also, the MR8 has those phantom mic inputs, but I guess it could need another power source for the mics. I figured the guy at guitar store would tell me, since I basically had him set me up with everything I'd need. I'm a nub at this.

 

[Aerathi]

This is the recorder: http://www.fostex.com/index.php?file=products/digital/mr8

 

[treymonfauntre]

the mr8 doesn't have phantom power. you'll either need a phantom power box which i've seen at guitar center for $30 or you're gonna want to invest in a preamp. and to be honest the mr8's doesn't have the best gain so you'd probably want to get a seperate preamp between the mic and the mr8 anyway. you should really start looking into the used market if you're starting out and are on a budget. mr8s go for about $200 or less, that mxl pack will go for like 60, and you can get a preamp for as low as like $40.

 

[Psycho15]

get a phantom power adaptor

you need phantom power, dumbass

 

[wx3]

you need phantom power, dumbass

This is the newbie fourm asshole, that's what it's for, asking newbie questions.

 

[Gorty]

This is the newbie fourm asshole, that's what it's for, asking newbie questions.

NICE WORK wx3,
Just remember psycho, you may need help with something one day, what goes around comes around.

 

[Markaholic]

NICE WORK wx3,
Just remember psycho, you may need help with something one day, what goes around comes around.

Well said!

 

[MONKEY!]

external phantom power is easy and cheap

 

[Carter]

you need phantom power, dumbass

I had to hit you with bad rep for this comment.... I dont think you know it all being that you are only 15 yo...

 

[daav]

I have an MR8, there are a number of posts in the Fostex forum with those of us who are in a love-hate relationship with the little red feller. Basically, the tug-of-war is that it is a great and inexpensive tool for getting into recording, but quickly starts to show limitations for stepping beyond intro recroding stuff.

That said, let me reccomend that you get somehting with decent preamps AND phantom power. As mentioned earlier the pre's in the MR8 are pretty crappy. You need the phantom power for your mic's, but getting a small mixer with decent pre's will make your recordings much better.

Daav

PS in anticipation of the next post, look around for some of the earlier threads about small mixers to get to go into the MR8, there have been a bunch of folks in the same situation as you before, you can learn a lot.

 

[reshp1]

Maybe a M-Audio DMP3? You could get away with a little mixer like this

 

[daav]

Maybe a M-Audio DMP3? You could get away with a little mixer like this

LOL, funny how these things repeat, there should be a forum called:
SM57 (or substitute your marshall condensors or any other entry level set or mics)->Behringer U802 -> Fostex MR8.

So anyway, that will defninately work, and i think that the idea of a true preamp like the DMP3 will probably give a much better signal than using the U802 by itself (which i do, no problems getting decent gain from the dynamics i have been using so far).

Daav.

 

[Jonny Unitus]

My problem is that I have an Mrs 8, an Mxl 603S Condensor and I managed to borrow a preamp with phantom power off a mate...still not working though! I'm getting very little response off he mic and that's when I talk loudly ibto it...absolutely no response from my acoustic....please help!

 

[choctaw]

Know first...then buy. It saves lost money

Well said!...don't call others dumbbutts it upsets them.

Right after he learns to record on this somewhat of a play toy....then he finds out it won't do many things that will be needed to make a nice product. Sometimes the sales people know little more than the cleaning people. They sell you a little motor for a big boat, then sell you a bigger motor......then you need a bigger boat.......etc.

Having a true concept of where you want to go......and by thinking in terms of what you will need after the idea sets in that you really know very little about the BIG picture to start with. This recording stuff is a real bitch to understand..........I fight it all the time, but it's good to have a challenge that requires direct daily involvement and keeping up on what the Jones are doing. A very good place to start is looking at what others are doing with various things....reading where they made their mistakes....For in life it is always better to learn from someone elses mistakes...rather than bear the pain of buying the wrong thing and being stuck with something you wish was up some sales persons nose. Heck I am not sure I have said anything here.
Choctaw

 

[Jonny Unitus]

Please help!!!!