Please help! No sound from Mic

[eiyosus]

Hello. Although not new to home recording, I AM very new to actually using good equipment. I used to record onto my laptop using the headphones jack but decided to upgrade to an EDIROL FA-66 interface. This supplied phantom power, but I can't seem to get my new AKG C 3000 to work. I used to use a cheap Sony mic with an on/off switch, but decided to upgrade. The problem is, I don't know how to get my mic powered. I've tried switching the phantom power swich, with no effect. Am I doing something wrong? My mic is connected to the interface through a standard mic chord. I don't really know anything about phantom power. There is no on/off switch on my mic. Can somebody help me get some sound out of this thing?

 

[dgatwood]

I'm assuming you've tried a different cable just to make sure there's nothing wrong with that, right? A dynamic mic would work even if only one of the two wires inside the cable are hooked up, and in theory, so should most condensers. That said, phantom power puts 48VDC up both the + and - wires, and it would not be too surprising if some microphones only actually drew power off one line, in which case it would be possible to have a cable that worked fine for dynamics but didn't work for that particular condenser.

Beyond that, either the mic is a dud or the 48V phantom is a dud, and the only way to know for sure is to borrow or buy a multimeter. You don't list your location, so I'll assume you're in the U.S. for vendor listing purposes. Rat Shack has 'em starting at $17 (which seems to me like about $8 too much for what you get, but...). Wal-Mart sells them, but not online, so I can't give you a price there. Try either the automotive section or the electrical/plumbing/tools section.

 

[crazydoc]

You are using a 3 pin XLR cable?

If you need a meter, Harbor Freight usually has these for under $5, if there's a store near you.
http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa...o?itemid=92020&CategoryName=&SubCategoryName=

 

[pezking]

Are you using the DC adapter?

Does your computer have a 6 pin, or 4 pin firewire connector?

 

[battleminnow]

I would also suggest to check your gain settings, as condensers some times need WAYYYYYYY more gain than you think necessary, without an extrenal preamp.


I had a standalone unit once that needed to literally be set between about 9.9 and 10 to work right.

Pete

 

[dgatwood]

I would also suggest to check your gain settings, as condensers some times need WAYYYYYYY more gain than you think necessary, without an extrenal preamp.


I had a standalone unit once that needed to literally be set between about 9.9 and 10 to work right.

Pete

Condensers should be significantly hotter than a dynamic. If it doesn't, there's probably something wrong.

 

[undergroundtoon]

Hello. Although not new to home recording, I AM very new to actually using good equipment. I used to record onto my laptop using the headphones jack but decided to upgrade to an EDIROL FA-66 interface. This supplied phantom power, but I can't seem to get my new AKG C 3000 to work. I used to use a cheap Sony mic with an on/off switch, but decided to upgrade. The problem is, I don't know how to get my mic powered. I've tried switching the phantom power swich, with no effect. Am I doing something wrong? My mic is connected to the interface through a standard mic chord. I don't really know anything about phantom power. There is no on/off switch on my mic. Can somebody help me get some sound out of this thing?

here is a pic of the back and front of the unit:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/closeup/FA66--img_rear.jpg

so before you recorded with a sony mic that pluged in to the headphone jack and never used the sony on the fa-66 with a 1/4 1/8th adapter?

what program are you using?

***did you tell the recording program to use the fa-66 as your soundcard?

did you open up a new track to see if the levels move when you talk into the mic?

when you hit record on the program and talk into the mic do the levels on the screen move.

is your mic plugged into the "output one" on the back? it needs to go into the "input 1" on the front......the only thing you need plugged into the back is the wall wart and the fire wire"the big one on the back above the made in china stamp"

the "sens" nob on the front is the gain. try turning it to strait up and adjust from their.

i dont know...post back with more info if none of this stuff works

i am guessing the one i have the *** is the problem thou.

 

[eiyosus]

Oops! I wasn't using an XLR cable! (told you I was new at this) Thank you everybody for the many responses. I feel a little foolish about it. Well, at least it wasn't a big problem! (have yet to buy the cable, but I'm assuming that's it)
Thanks again!

 

[battleminnow]

A standard mic cable IS an xlr cable...

What were you plugging the mic in/to/with?



Pete

 

[undergroundtoon]

input 1/L on the front is where you plug the mic.

just take a quick peek at these pictures for reference:

the cable that you plug into the mic end will look like this
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_clo...nt_of_view/macro/69010_xlr_cable.php?id=69010


and now here is where you get a choice. that input1/L on the front is designed to take 2 different cables. it does not matter which one you use. so on the other end of the mic cable it will look like one of these 2 pics, but both will work.



the other end of the mic cable will look like this:
http://www.4electronicwarehouse.com/products/monster/m-sl-st.html
that will slide right into the middle of the hole

or like this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jbjon/58793492/
that will cover the whole pot

most mic cables look like the second one. most getar cables look like the first one. so you do not need a new cable...yours will work fine. you sound as confused as i was at the beginning(and still am).

what program are you using to record?
you need to go to the top of that program and find the prefrences
so you can disable your internal sound card that the computer came with. the box you got is the NEW sound card so you got to tell the computer that. until you do that the mic will not work. it is like trying to watch a tv thats not plugged in. it is not going to happen.

if you tell us what program it is we can take you button by button thru it and you can be recording today and having fun.........

 

[pohaku]

input 1/L on the front is where you plug the mic.

just take a quick peek at these pictures for reference:

the cable that you plug into the mic end will look like this
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_clo...nt_of_view/macro/69010_xlr_cable.php?id=69010


and now here is where you get a choice. that input1/L on the front is designed to take 2 different cables. it does not matter which one you use. so on the other end of the mic cable it will look like one of these 2 pics, but both will work.



the other end of the mic cable will look like this:
http://www.4electronicwarehouse.com/products/monster/m-sl-st.html
that will slide right into the middle of the hole

or like this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jbjon/58793492/
that will cover the whole pot

most mic cables look like the second one. most getar cables look like the first one. so you do not need a new cable...yours will work fine. you sound as confused as i was at the beginning(and still am).

what program are you using to record?
you need to go to the top of that program and find the prefrences
so you can disable your internal sound card that the computer came with. the box you got is the NEW sound card so you got to tell the computer that. until you do that the mic will not work. it is like trying to watch a tv thats not plugged in. it is not going to happen.

if you tell us what program it is we can take you button by button thru it and you can be recording today and having fun.........

Umm no. The 1/4 inch connector you link to is a TRS connector whereas guitar cable connectors are only TS. If he needs phantom power (which he does), a TS cable isn't going to do it. It isn't clear what kind of cable he has been trying, but I assume it is some kind of TS connector which is why the mic doesn't work. I'd be surprised if he has a TRS/XLR cable. He should simply get a standard XLR mic cable and be done with it.

 

[undergroundtoon]

Umm no. The 1/4 inch connector you link to is a TRS connector whereas guitar cable connectors are only TS. If he needs phantom power (which he does), a TS cable isn't going to do it. It isn't clear what kind of cable he has been trying, but I assume it is some kind of TS connector which is why the mic doesn't work. I'd be surprised if he has a TRS/XLR cable. He should simply get a standard XLR mic cable and be done with it.

Hey, Thanks dude.... I never tried it before. I just assumed (made an ass outta myself) it would work because I have seen xlr to 1/4cables.

http://www.epinions.com/HOSA_F_XLR_F_STEREO_1_4_PHONE_15ft_STX115F

I have always used xlr to xlr for mics and 1/4in to 1/4 in for guitar.

You learn something new every day. So does this mean the 1/4 is on a different cable grid than the xlr (so as not to run 48 volts thru it). I have never tried it.

What if you have 48 volt phantom in the ON position and then plug a guitar in? I am sure someone has done it so no need for me to test the limits. Auto cut off is my guess( or a loud humm). Not worth wrecking gear to try.

And again thanks for correcting me.
I did not mean to give him totally incorect advice just trying to get him up and running....

 

[undergroundtoon]

never mind ...i re-read your post witht my brain in the ON position. the third pins the hot one not connected to the di that is t/s....duhhhhhh

someone needs sleep........ME!!!!

I will go put on my hat and shut up.