Noise with n-track

  • Thread starter Thread starter fizer
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fizer

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I'm wondering if anyone has any noise problems while recording with microphones. I use n-track studio, and a good quality condenser mike. I have turned the mike booster on and off trying new things. When I turn the booster off, naturally the noise is less audible, but so is the sound of the voice. I have a soundblaster live card. Can anyone Help!
 
The SBLive is a noisy, gaming soundcard.

Upgrade. $100-200 will get you a good 24-bit card now...
 
fizer said:
I'm wondering if anyone has any noise problems while recording with microphones...
Click to expand...
What does the noise sound like?

In addition to the soundcard as a likely culprit, your computer, particularly the fan, could be contributing. Condenser mics are quite sensitive and pick up things like furnace fans and air coming through the vents, refrigerator compressors, outside traffic, and mice screwing in the walls (those excited little squeaks you sometimes hear).

You need to make sure you've taken care to exclude ambient noise from the room where you record.
 
Hey thanks for the quick response.
First, fan noise, yes thats what it sounds like, but I moved it away from the computer and actually it got noiser, in the quiter part of the room. Also, when I monitor the sound in my headphones, the noise gets worse. Almost sounds like feedback. The mike is a ATM11 AUDIO TECHNICA.(its an old mike, but not abused) I used it with my 4 track yamaha, and the voice sound was great. I also have a good quality Shure mike, but I don't find it as good. I really have to play alot now to get the voice up to par.
About upgrading my sound card, I'm at a loss what to buy.
 
Are you plugging the mic directly into the soundcard through the mic input? If so, this may be a lot of your problem (I don't know the mic - I assume it's an electret and uses a battery.) You need to plug it into a preamp of some sort, then into the line in of the soundcard.
 
noise with n-track

crazydoc said:
Are you plugging the mic directly into the soundcard through the mic input? If so, this may be a lot of your problem (I don't know the mic - I assume it's an electret and uses a battery.) You need to plug it into a preamp of some sort, then into the line in of the soundcard.
Click to expand...
Yes I am plugging directly into the soundcard, through the mic input. You guessed it right about the mic (you seem to know your stuff) What kind of preamp do you suggest?
 
For starters you might be able to use the preamps in your 4 track if you still have it (I assume it's a cassette recorder?) Plug in the mic to the 4 track and set it up to record. Take the stereo outs from the 4 track into the line input of your soundcard (you may have to get a Y adapter of RCA plugs to a stereo 1/8" miniplug to do this.) Hit record (without a tape if it will do it - if not, with a tape in and pause on) and fiddle with the gain on the recorder and your soundcard software until you get good levels without distortion.

A better way, of course, would be to buy a preamp. An Audiobuddy
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=10658&Category=Audio_Processors
or DMP3
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=10268&Category=Audio_Processors
would be reasonable first choices. If your mic has a 1/4" phono plug on it (or 1/8" - you can use an adaptor), it should plug into the 1/4" inputs of these, though there might be some minor impedance issues.
 
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