Weird presence problem

[TamaBxSx]

I get this weird problem from time to time. It seems like when I close mic something, be it an amp or a voice or a drum, the mic doesn't have any presence. It seems like the source is far away and all the room ambience washes it out. Its happened with my sm57, and with my octava large diaphragm condencer mic. I've tried using preamps both on the mixer and external, changing the room environment. Its very strange and oh so embarrasing when I'm trying to record clients and I have to tell them that I dont know why it sounds shitty. Does anyone know what could be causing this? Any Help on this would be appreciated.

 

[orksnork]

bad cable?

 

[c7sus]

Feedback loop through your mixer.

That will make your source sound like it's in a tunnel, kinda flangey.

 

[TamaBxSx]

I know its not a bad cable because its happened using different cables. Its not a modulation sound...just a distant sound...but if it is a feedback loop, how is that problem fixed?

 

[c7sus]

Make sure you aren't passing signal through your room monitors while recording.

That's one type of feedback loop.

If monitor levels are high enough the mic will seem to pickup way more "room" than source.

The other source of loops I've had to deal with are mixer routing issues. Once you realize what is causing the loop it's easy enough to fix. You just have to re-think your monitor scheme a bit.

 

[littledog]

Turn down levels. Something may be clipping.

 

[SRR]

Did you turn on the right channel?

 

[TamaBxSx]

"Did you turn on the right channel?"

all I can say is...wow!!


Anyway, my room monitor speakers are off when this thing happens, so its definatly not that, but is it possible I am getting the feedback loop from the headphones, I wouldnt think so because I'm using good iso headphones, and no sound is apparent when I'm not singing.

Also, this is not a clipping issue, this is an input issue.

 

[SRR]

"Did you turn on the right channel?"

all I can say is...wow!!

Hay I haven't done it myself, but have read about peeps turning on a mic ten feet away from the source they wanted to record and wondered why it sounded crappy, as in picking up to much room noise.

 

[orksnork]

hey!!! fuck you!!!! hehehehe

after recording a few things for myself, when i 16, i starting recording local bands....

one band wanted to slap 3 songs down, quicklike...

i couldn't get the guitar mic to not sound like crap....placement was fine...amp sounded good....

just said fuck it and recorded....

and the preamp was actually hooked up to a 57 that was 6 feet away...off axis...sitting on a metal folding chair!

i gave them their money back and redid the guitars...they were accepting of the mistake and i did their next 3 demos