What is wrong with my mic?Please help!

[Phonix]

OK, I just bought a brand new Apex 170 Condenser. It was recommended to me by the salesperson at the music shop because it was very suitable for studio vocals. I am recording in CEP, but I mean, my old mics sounded better than this one! I know there has to be some setting or some configuration or SOMETHING that would explain the noise I'm getting. It's more static than anything else. I tried 4 different cables, with no luck. It's running on a battery since I have no mixer with Phantom power, plus it's connected directly to my computer. If someone would be so kind as to try and help me fix this problem it would be greatly appreciated, since I paid almost $200 for this mic I don't want it to be a waste. My AIM s/n is "Yo I Be Lynxxx" . I can send you a sample of recorded silence if you think you could better understand it that way. Thanks in advance guys!

 

[baekgaard]

Eh...

OK, I just bought a brand new Apex 170 Condenser...
...for studio vocals...
...since I paid almost $200 for this mic I don't want it to be a waste...

OK... let me see if I get this right:

You paid 200 USD for this mic:

http://www.musiciansbuy.com/APEX_170_INSTRUMENT_CONDENSER_MICROPHONE.html

... that can be had for 89 USD?

You bought a live instrument mic with a limited frequency range for use as a vocal mic?

The mic is not working?

And you want us to tell you it wasn't waste of money ;-)

For 200 USD, you can do much better than this. At least you should be able to get a working mic for that price, and probably also one that is more suited to voice.

Run back and get your money refunded, and buy something else. Test before you buy in the store! Mics are like shoes; some fit your voice and some don't.

You could get a SM57 (dynamic mic), a SP B1 or a MXL V67G plus a preamp like the VTB-1 for a bit less than or a bit more than 200 USD -- just to get you started. Used, you can get an even larger variety.

... apologies in advance if I misunderstood something in your post.


-- Per.

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

That mic is hardly a vocal mic... I'd return it if I were you.....

 

[Phonix]

It does work

It does work, just has static. And the specs on the box say it's main use is for vocals. And it was $200 Canadian hehehe. And I tried to get the money refunded, but they'll only do an exchange. Isn't there anything I can do to better the sound quality?I'm desperate! (Thanks for the reply)

 

[Phonix]

oh...

and I have an SM57 and an SM58, I hate their sound, but they're better than this, like on the real, I honestly spent my wife's birthday gift money on this mic, and I didn't have it to spend, but I need to get this home studio running asap.

 

[Big Kenny]

Take it back and get your wife a birthday present, goof. Then get an Oktava 319 that are getting sold out at $59 AT gc

 

[Raw-Tracks]

Have you tried fresh batteries? Just a thought. btw, what is the exchange rate these days?

 

[baekgaard]

Well...

It does work, just has static. And the specs on the box say it's main use is for vocals. And it was $200 Canadian hehehe. And I tried to get the money refunded, but they'll only do an exchange. Isn't there anything I can do to better the sound quality?I'm desperate! (Thanks for the reply)

OK -- good it wasn't 200 USD ;-)

If you're determined that you're gonna keep the mic, it should at least work without any noise. If the mic is really faulty, then you should get the deal cancelled and the money back... that would be common consumer rights where I am, I guess.

Now, I'm not really sure about your comments above: Is it so that 1) The mic works and you like the sound, but there is some "static noise" or 2) You don't like the sound (and there is still noise)?

If the only problem is noise, then it is either a defect mic (test it elsewhere, in the store, with a friend, whatever), it is the cables and/or your environment or it is your soundcard and/or PC setup. Try to eliminate the possible source one by one; use the same cable with another mic, etc. Are you sure you didn't install anything on the PC that made it behave differently and start crackling? Have you tested with another pre-amp, etc.

Maybe it would help if we could here what the actual problem is?

If it is a problem with the way the mic sounds, then... well... what is it you don't like? Please be a bit more specific.

It may be you can at least to some extent improve the sound by mic positioning: Sing straight into the mic, try to aim it downwards a bit so you address it at an angle, hold it closer or further away, etc. It may also be the room you're in: Try to move to another room, or reposition yourself. You can also resort to some EQ'ing.

You are using a pop-filter, right?


But I would still recommend some of the other proposals mentioned here. If you would be using a better pre-amp (maybe the mic could be exchanged for a DMP3 or VTB1), it could even improve the sound of your SM57 and SM58. And if it doesn't, then what Big Kenny mentiones could be a rather good suggestion also (although you would still need the preamp).

What is your soundcard, btw?

Oh... and may I recommend getting your wife a present still, even if it then has to be less expensive than originally planned ;-)


-- Per.

 

[Innovations]

1. You do have a preamp, right?

2. You have a good stand and aren't hand-holding the mic, right?

Then I would take it back and have it tested at the store.

 

[noisedude]

My guess is you bought this simply because it runs off a battery and you don't have phantom power. Correct? Either way - take this turkey home because it's NOT what you were after. Then you need to be looking at a half-decent preamp, i.e. either a Yamaha MG10/2 mixer, SP VTB-1 pre or something else good of that price range, and if you're desperate for a condenser mic you can use it then.

Do NOT NOT NOT just plug a mic straight into your soundcard because - and here's the rub - it will sound crap. Bottom line. And those Shures you have probably sound better because the ARE better.

Don't be timid, admit a mistake (I've made enough) and take this mic back.

 

[Phonix]

I have no pre-amp at all, and my sound card is a crappy old ESS card. I'm looking into a pre amp, anything under $100 would be fine. I tried a few different rooms and cables, I'm thinking it may be caused by a grounding problem, also the wiring in my house has been known to produce magnetism, as I can't run a few of my cd players in it, because it messes it up. If I get this preamp, I need to find it on a site that will accept COD payment to Canada...SO... that's like nowhere. I made another trip to the music store, he took the mic out back to the studio, hooked it up without a preamp just like I did, and recorded and said "See there's no noise!" When even visibly there was haha. I'm tired of being treated like this, I want my money back, I even spoke with the manager, they refuse. If anyone has AIM I can send them a sample of recorded silence and maybe you can better help explain what the source of the problem could be.

 

[producerkid]

Okay, you are using an old ESS sound card? Umm........lol. If you're having a noise issue I can almost guarantee you that your card is the issue. I just threw away 2 or 3 of those old ESS ISA cards because, frankly, they are worthless unless you are playing "Pong" on a 486 or something . Anyways, I'll try and AIM you when I get home today and get that sample. If I am correct, not only will it be noisy but you will also hear maybe a whirring noise and some clicking here and there? If so, it's your fans' and hard drive's electrical noise bleeding in through the card. All the ESS cards I am aware of have the same electrical bleed problem. They suck, lol. If you want a decent card for 100 bucks (well, in USD anyways), get an M-Audio Delta, which have good clean line ins/outs, MIDI control, and digital SP/DIF I/O.

And you must have some sort of preamp, even if you get the M-Audio, you will need something to amplify the signal and do it well. I would recomend a Presonus BLUEtube for the money and budget you are on. No it's not the best pre by any means but it will work substantially well in your situation and with your budget.

Hope this helps, man.

the kid

 

[slobbermonster]

maybe you should have bought a book first.

 

[voxman]

i once rented two of these mics for a live show and they sounded fine going into mackie pres, so i thought 'hm, why not try them as oh for my drumkit?'. well to put it mildly, i thought wrong. although i didnt notice any line noise, the sound i got from these mics was very harsh and not detailed at all, but what can you expect from a condenser that can be had for less than $100CDN at your local long & mcquade? i rented it for 6 bux though, and used it for live, so i was satisfied

 

[guitarlover]

you what!!!

Your wife's b-day money? Good Lord, I hope that was a joke cuz if it isn't, I don't check into the newly-divorced-former-home-recordist-forum all that often and I would surely hate to see your first post!

Steve