Problemooo..

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Santini5389

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Okay so, Hello, my name is Dave.

So let me just get to the point here, I obviously am having problems recording onto my computer. Up until now, I have been running my condensor microphone through a phantom power box straight into the microphone input on my laptop high-def soundcard, with the use of a quarter-1/8 inch adapter. From there I am recording into adobe audition 2.0. So it records and everything, but I have been noticing that I can't record vocals without clipping. So I figured the only way I'd be able to get around this is by buying a pre-amp for the microphone. So i bought that ART Tube MP preamp and now it's sitting in the middle of the signal. Mic>ART>Sound Card. Now when I record I lower the gain on the preamp (phantom power on duh), both input and output, but it's like the pre-amp isn't there. Because the SAME signal level is hitting the computer and it's still clipping just as much as it did without the pre-amp.

Oh another thing, idk if any of you have used this Tube MP thing, but it's the second day I've had it and when I plug it in the thing lights up but the green light isn't going on.. I don't know if any of you have any kind of experience with this product, but any help is appreciated!

Thank you,
Dave.
 
Santini5389 said:
Okay so, Hello, my name is Dave.

So let me just get to the point here, I obviously am having problems recording onto my computer. Up until now, I have been running my condensor microphone through a phantom power box straight into the microphone input on my laptop high-def soundcard, with the use of a quarter-1/8 inch adapter. From there I am recording into adobe audition 2.0. So it records and everything, but I have been noticing that I can't record vocals without clipping. So I figured the only way I'd be able to get around this is by buying a pre-amp for the microphone. So i bought that ART Tube MP preamp and now it's sitting in the middle of the signal. Mic>ART>Sound Card. Now when I record I lower the gain on the preamp (phantom power on duh), both input and output, but it's like the pre-amp isn't there. Because the SAME signal level is hitting the computer and it's still clipping just as much as it did without the pre-amp.

Oh another thing, idk if any of you have used this Tube MP thing, but it's the second day I've had it and when I plug it in the thing lights up but the green light isn't going on.. I don't know if any of you have any kind of experience with this product, but any help is appreciated!

Thank you,
Dave.
Click to expand...
Input into the line-in instead of the mic-in.
 
oh man if that's the problem then i must be screwed because my lap-top only has a mic in.. crappp :-\

edit: would this mean that I need a USB interface of some sort? The money just keeps flowing lol..
 
Santini5389 said:
oh man if that's the problem then i must be screwed because my lap-top only has a mic in.. crappp :-\

edit: would this mean that I need a USB interface of some sort? The money just keeps flowing lol..
Click to expand...
Usually with a laptop, you have an option to chose between mic and line in within control panel sound options. I don't actually know. I've never really recorded with a laptop with built-in soundcard, but I've heard that many have this option.
 
As pandamonk said, on a lot of modern sound cards, it will use the same jack for both mic-in and line-in. You will need to check your sound card by opening the Windows Volume Mixer. There should be a little speaker/mixer icon at the bottom right corner of the screen in the system tray.

If not, you'll need to go to Control Panel, Sound & Audio Devices. Once you have the Windows Volume Mixer open, you should go to: Options -> Properties -> Recording. Check all the boxes that you see and click OK. Then check the box under "Line In". This will set your card to record from Line-In. You may need to keep this window open while you record in case your recording software (Audition) changes it.

If Line-In isn't there, then your card might not have one.
 
The inbuilt cruddy preamp on the mixc in is your prob. You need a better interface - even a cheapie like the Behri stereo in UCA202 or similar would be a great leap forward for very little cash.
You've been addeding a preamped/increased signal to a preamped input.You should be able to adjust the levels on your current soundcard by double clicking the little speaker icon near the bottom right of your screen.
You'd be better still to get a USB interface though.
 
danny.guitar said:
As pandamonk said, on a lot of modern sound cards, it will use the same jack for both mic-in and line-in. You will need to check your sound card by opening the Windows Volume Mixer. There should be a little speaker/mixer icon at the bottom right corner of the screen in the system tray.

If not, you'll need to go to Control Panel, Sound & Audio Devices. Once you have the Windows Volume Mixer open, you should go to: Options -> Properties -> Recording. Check all the boxes that you see and click OK. Then check the box under "Line In". This will set your card to record from Line-In. You may need to keep this window open while you record in case your recording software (Audition) changes it.

If Line-In isn't there, then your card might not have one.
Click to expand...

Well i'm working with windows vista and when I go to the recording options it says mic/line-in and there is no checkbox to select either one, any ideas?
 
hmm so i guess a damn usb interface is my only choice.
 
I went for a firewire interface, simply becuase I use USB for everything else (mouse, keyboard, external HDDs etc) and I wanted my audio interface to have its own 'world'.
 
Santini5389 said:
hmm so i guess a damn usb interface is my only choice.
Click to expand...

It's not really your only choice Regardless if it's a mic or line input.

Assuming you can't figure out how to set it to line in (or it's not possible), we assume it's a mic input now. This IS a preamp. A cheap crappy one.

You can go into your sound options (via control panel, or start programs accessories menu), and turn the gain (probably called volume) DOWN. I bet it's at 100% right now, which is why it's clipping. Set that to, maybe 50% and see how it works with your outboard preamp and mic now.

Additionally, in some programs (such as N-track), you can to set the gain in the program as well. So make sure that is also not at 100 percent, if that is the case. I haven't used NTrack for years, but I do remember having that problem.


So yeah, if you don't want to spend any extra money, just do what I said. It by no means will sound amazing, but you get what you pay for, and you're paying 0, so it should be fine.
 
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