Question about SHS Mic and Tube Preamp

[eggma blowtorch]

Hi all. I have an A.R.T. Tube MP Project Series Mic/Instrument Preamp and I'm using it with an SHS OM-450 microphone. The trouble is, though, the microphone input is not very loud. I'm using it for micing my acoustic guitar and I have to use the +20dB gain and put the gain knob at 12 o'clock with the output knob at max to get a very quiet signal. If I put the gain knob at max, it's really loud, in fact it's too loud because I can hear the things I have going on in the background (PC fan mostly).

What am I doing wrong? The microphone is low impedance so I set the tube amp settings appropriately, but it's still too quiet. Does the preamp need to warm up? When I use instruments with this preamp, it's definitely louder and sounds great. I definitely think it's the microphone.

The only applications I have for this mic are acoustic guitar, vocals and micing my electric guitar amp. Should I just exchange this mic for a condenser or something? Please help.

* The SHS OM-450 is a cheap SM57 ripoff but when I bought this mic a few years ago, I didn't think there would be a difference. Would a real SM57 not have this problem? :/

 

[crazydoc]

It sounds like you have enough gain, but the trouble is you're getting too much room noise when you get the guitar sounding loud enough. An acoustic guitar is a relatively quiet source, and when you amplify it enough, you're just amplifying everything else too. A condenser will probably make that worse.

I see that you have three solutions:

1) (best) Modify your environment so you are recording in a quiet room. Put the PC in another room, or at least isolate it with some barriers. Make sure other machinery (refrigerators, furnaces, fans, clocks, etc.) aren't on when you're recording. Hopefully outside noise such as traffic, planes, wind, birds, barking dogs and coyotes aren't audible.

2) If this isn't possible, you need to mic the guitar closer. This will change the way it sounds for better or worse, but will make the unwanted noises less audible.

3) Get a microphone with a hypercardioid pattern. This may be more than you want to spend, but will better reject noises that are coming from the sides and back of the mic.

 

[eggma blowtorch]

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, it's the PC that's too loud, everything else in my environment doesn't cause any problems. I'm sure there are ways that I could make the computer quieter that would be cheaper than buying a new mic, but I'm not really sure.

Putting the guitar closer is kind of difficult; as it is, I'm pretty cramped for space and if the mic gets any closer it gets difficult to play well. I wish I had more room but I just don't.

I guess I'll see about modifying the environment. I appreciate the response and I'm also curious: do tube preamps need to warm up? If so is it usually quicker than with a regular tube guitar amp or does it take about the same time?

Thanks again

 

[pohaku]

Yes, they normally do. I usually let my tube preamps warm up for at least 10-15 minutes before I use them. Longer than I let my guitar amps warm up.

 

[dgatwood]

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, it's the PC that's too loud, everything else in my environment doesn't cause any problems. I'm sure there are ways that I could make the computer quieter that would be cheaper than buying a new mic, but I'm not really sure.

No mic will fix a noisy room. At best, a tighter pickup pattern will reduce it a bit, but that's like spraying air freshener in a garbage dump.

Fix the computer. The biggest problem with computer is usually loud fans, so start by replacing those. Then, move on to the hard drive if it is still too loud.

 

[eggma blowtorch]

Thanks everyone, I definitely appreciate the help.