noise level and preamp differences

[guitboycom]

Hello all,

I am an unexperienced 'home producer' without any productions made so far I am going to record an acoustic guitar mostly.

I have just bought my first equipment. It is Avantone CV-12 Mic and FNR RNP Preamp. I have also borrowed the interface RME Fireface UCX. This is probably a pretty advanced equipment for a greenhorn - but I like buying a decent stuff since it is cheaper in the end in the most cases.
Of course RME have it's own preamp so I do not need to use FMR at all (but it should give better results, isn't it?)

However I am very disappointed by the sound of my equipment. Maybe I am doing something wrong but I discovered that FMR's level of amplification is lower than RME's one. My mixing software (audacity) says that 66dB of FMR gives approximately the same level of output signal as RME gives with 54dB setting. Again, FMR's 54dB is much more quiet than RME's 54dB. How is that possible?
Moreover my signal contains a pretty high level of noise. I thought that with the equipment of that level the noise should not be a problem. Was I wrong? Have I to remaster each recording and do some noise filtering?

You can see my samples of some song. Of course I have not changed the signal in any way in audacity. I can not put links here so please copy the URL.

FMR 66dB: https://soundcloud.com/guitboycom/66db-withfmr
FMR 54dB: https://soundcloud.com/guitboycom/54db-withfmr
Without FMR 48dB: https://soundcloud.com/guitboycom/48db-wofmr
Without FMR 54dB: https://soundcloud.com/guitboycom/54db-wofmr

I would really appreciate any comments.

Best regards

 

[ecc83]

I downloaded the last of the samples (cos I had trouble with the others!) and TBH I don't see much of a problem?

The noise level is down at 70-66dBFS and your average recording level (a bit hot) at a final -15ish. I would struggle to get my room much quieter. Do this test.

Setup the mic and get a guitar level averaging -18dBFS run record and then pull the mic plug (actually, better, turn off P power) . Now you will see what the ultimate noise floor is. Be better to do this in two stages. Live then same setup but with an XLR loaded with 150-200 Ohms.

I doubt the mic is the problem since the spec gives a sensitivity of 17mV (IF -35dB reffs to 1volt/Pa!) and a good but not exceptional noise figure of 17dB.

Be interesting to see what the "pros" here get, noisewise for gently picked geetar!

Oh and a spectrum of the noise alone shows it falling with frequency (mic ?) but with a fair old 100Hz hum.

Dave.