Recording is really quiet - Help!

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brighteyes789

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Hi,

I'm new to recording at home & I'm having trouble getting a loud enough sound out of my condenser mic as I want to record my acoustic guitar. My set up is as follows: I have my mic going into a Behringer PS400 Phantom Power pre amp, then out into my Tascam DP004. Even with all the settings turned up to maximum levels the recording is still really quiet. I have the pre amp switched onto 48v which is what my mic requires. Am I missing something really obvious? - I must be!?

Please can anyone help me?

Thanks
 
What microphone do you have? Some are just really low output and need a great pre-amp with lots of range.

I do notice that your recorder has combined input jacks for mic and line (both unbalanced). You have to select Mic-external on the options menu. The PS400 is NOT a pre-amp, just a source of phantom power--its output is still at mic level.

Finally, since you're going from a balanced mic to an unbalanced input, make sure your XLR to TR jack is properly wired.

Bob
 
Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

This is the mic i'm using:

Studio/Stage Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone EM-1 - ( I tried to post a link but as I'm new I'm unable to. If you copy the above into google one of the first results is one thats on Ebay which is where I got mine)

Like I say the sound is coming through but it's very quiet & even though I'm new to this I know it's not right. I'm certain I'm selecting the right function on my Tascam so I really have no idea why it's so quiet.

Any ideas?
 
Hi again,

I've had another go at getting a decent sound but it's not happening. I noticed in your last post that you said - " The PS400 is NOT a pre-amp, just a source of phantom power--its output is still at mic level ". I thought the PS400 was a preamp? Does this mean the reason I'm not getting the sound is that I'm missing a preamp?
 
Yeah.
The PS 400 is only a power supply. It's useful for home recording where you want to use a condenser mic {or some ribbons} in a more portable situation. Say you want to record in your kitchen because the acoustics are good and you have a standalone DAW with built in preamps but no 48v phantom power. The PS400 is great because you can power up your condensers, go into your DAW preamps and away you go ! So you'll need a preamp of some description to get a useable level of sound.
 
brighteyes789 said:
Hi,

I'm new to recording at home & I'm having trouble getting a loud enough sound out of my condenser mic as I want to record my acoustic guitar. My set up is as follows: I have my mic going into a Behringer PS400 Phantom Power pre amp, then out into my Tascam DP004. Even with all the settings turned up to maximum levels the recording is still really quiet. I have the pre amp switched onto 48v which is what my mic requires. Am I missing something really obvious? - I must be!?

Please can anyone help me?

Thanks
Click to expand...

What level are you tracking at?
 
brighteyes789 said:
Hi again,

I've had another go at getting a decent sound but it's not happening. I noticed in your last post that you said - " The PS400 is NOT a pre-amp, just a source of phantom power--its output is still at mic level ". I thought the PS400 was a preamp? Does this mean the reason I'm not getting the sound is that I'm missing a preamp?
Click to expand...

Yup. However, you don't need to dash out and buy a mic pre-amp. According to the instructions for your Tascam, there's a software setting you can make to allow you to use mic level signals on your external inputs. I don't know how good they are but they should certainly be enough to get you started and let you try things out. Just be sure to use "Mic" not "Int Mic" which are the built in microphones.

Bob
 
Hi,

Yes I've tried the external mic setting & thats the only one that will pick up any sound but it's so quiet. All the others don't pick up anything at all.

In reply to RAMI: Basically the sound level is really quiet when I try to record using my mic. It's obvious now from the replies that the reason for this is I'm missing a preamp!

So can somebody recommend me a preamp that will get this mic firing please? I'm not looking to spend a fortune so just a basic one will do at this stage.

Thanks for all your help so far. As a newbie, this has been priceless help you've given me so far.
 
I'm also curious about what levels you're getting but, to Rami and Guitartastic, I've had a look at the web site for the Tascam box and the trouble is the metering is rudimentary to say the least. As far as I can see, there's no scale--just some arbitray LCD bars that bump up and down.

So, to Brighteyes789, can you tell us if you're getting any movement on the bargraphs at all when the master pot and input pot are turned up? Half way? I think we'd all be curious what you're judging as "very low". Or is it just that it sounds quiet in your headphones?

I wouldn't suggest that you dash out and by a mic preamp just yet. The thing is, since your Tascam claims to have external mic inputs on the menu, it must have some kind of basic mic pre inside. They might not be the best in the world but, unless there's something seriously wrong with your mic, you should get a vaguely usable level at lease. Before suggesting you spend money, I think you should rule out a fault with the mic or, as I mentioned before, a wrongly wired XLR to unbalanced quarter inch adaptor lead.

Bob
 
What Bobbsy says ^^^

Have you found the setting that switches input from line level to mike level?
 
Volume is the function of the volume knob - it's not particularly interesting... do you have a way of telling us what level you're tracking at, as guitaristic/drumtastic has mentioned... this is a much more important question.
 
RAMI said:
Define what you mean by "really quiet".
Click to expand...

brighteyes789 said:
In reply to RAMI: Basically the sound level is really quiet .
Click to expand...

Yeah, I got that the first time. I was pretty sure you weren't talking about the light level. You still haven't answered the question though. You don't have to answer it for my benefit, but more for your own. "Volume" isn't an abstract concept...it's measurable. "Really quiet" doesn't really mean anything.
 
Last edited:
Are you able to tell what color your bar graphs are at? IE green, yellow, orange, or red?
 
m.g. eddie said:
Are you able to tell what color your bar graphs are at? IE green, yellow, orange, or red?
Click to expand...


Alas, the answer will be black, black or black. HERE'S a picture of the Tascam device the OP has. It's not the most useful or accurate metering I've seen. I'd be happy just to hear whether he's getting any deflection on the bar graphs at all--my suspicion is still that he's somehow in line level and/or the conversion from balanced to unbalanced in the cable has gone wrong.

Bob
 
Ok so I gave the mic another test last night. I really don't know what level I'm tracking at as I'm completely new & don't know how to tell. How do I go about checking?

The mic is registering with my tascam as the level bars move up & down albeit not very loud but it does register. I'm definitely selecting the 'mic' function & not line level. Just to be sure I've gone through them all & 'mic' is the only one I get some sound with anyway.

Is there a way I can find out what level I'm tracking at as this could make things more clearer to understand?

Thanks again

ps, I'm getting there slowly!
 
brighteyes789 said:
Hi,

I'm new to recording at home & I'm having trouble getting a loud enough sound out of my condenser mic as I want to record my acoustic guitar. My set up is as follows: I have my mic going into a Behringer PS400 Phantom Power pre amp, then out into my Tascam DP004. Even with all the settings turned up to maximum levels the recording is still really quiet. I have the pre amp switched onto 48v which is what my mic requires. Am I missing something really obvious? - I must be!?

Please can anyone help me?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Brighteyes,

I know this sounds silly but I wouldn't ask if I had seen it multiple times. Since this is a side-address mic, are you certain you're recording into the correct side? They are NOT the same in a cardioid mic. And one other thing to check is whether that mic (can't find much in the way of specs on the web) has a pad switch. If so, make sure it isn't set to -10db.

Good luck.

Ken
 
Hi Brighteyes! I don't know if you were following this thread HERE but somebody else had a similar problem to you. After some experimentation, it was found that the mic level inputs on your Tascam are designed for high impedance microphones (i.e. cheap and nasty unbalanced ones) and will therefore give you a noisy, low level recording of your mic.

That thread lists some options for a basic balancing transformer or else getting a mic pre amp and using the line level input.

Hope this helps,

Bob
 
Bobbsy said:
Hi Brighteyes! I don't know if you were following this thread HERE but somebody else had a similar problem to you. After some experimentation, it was found that the mic level inputs on your Tascam are designed for high impedance microphones (i.e. cheap and nasty unbalanced ones) and will therefore give you a noisy, low level recording of your mic.

That thread lists some options for a basic balancing transformer or else getting a mic pre amp and using the line level input.

Hope this helps,

Bob
Click to expand...


Hi Bob,

Thanks for the link to the other discussion. It seems the other guy & myself have the same issue. I came to the same conclusion as him that a preamp is needed. I'm holding on to see how he gets on with his as he said he is going to purchase one & then post feedback.

I get the feeling it maybe a Tascam issue as although I'm new to this I've managed to get a good sound using the built in mics & the line mics for my keyboard/electric guitar no problem. I'm certain I'm doing everything right!. I'll keep an eye out to see how the guy gets on & then post back what I decide to do.

Thanks again
 
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