Will a better mic help reduce noise?

  • Thread starter Thread starter MrLip
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MrLip

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Right now I'm using a SM57 to record audio. My setup is rather noisey. I'm not sure whether it's because of my cables or because of the electricity in my house. It's random, sometimes it's there, sometimes it's not. Sometimes it's loud, sometimes it's soft. It is more prominent at night. Luckily, during the day it's either not there or it's low enough that I am able get some recording done.

I wanted to buy a condenser since I'm not completely satisfied with the sound of my SM57. I understand that condenser mics have higher output. Will a higher output mic make my noise less prominent? Should I go for a condenser or should I try to correct my noise problem first?

I almost bought a condenser a few months ago but I decided not to because I didn't think it was a good idea to invest a lot of money in a mic when I have this chronic noise problem plaguing my recordings.

What do you guys think?
 
Hi Mr. Lip!...although I can't explain why, occasionally you will pick up "line noise" from other appliances and so forth plugged in to the same electrical circuit as your recording equipment. One solution is to switch your equipment to an isolated circuit (easier said than done)and see if that eliminates the noise. Another would be to turn off the various other appliances that are plugged in to the same circuit as your equipment and hopefully by process of elimination you could find the "culprit". If you live in a large building (like an apartment, condo, or townhome)however, neither of the aforementioned possible solutions may be practical. There are devices that eliminate line noise in electrical circuits which you can purchase. I can't give you a manufacturers name or model number 'cause I don't have the thing in front of me at the moment, its in the studio. I'd be happy to find out the name of the one we use if you'd like and I could let you know. It looks like a small box with four outlets. You plug the box into an available wall socket and the equipment into the outlets in the box. Somehow it filters out the line noise...don't know for sure if this is the problem your having but it is one possibility. I heard "Wait" back when you first posted it and everything, including the vocal(s) sounded INCREDIBLE! Thats one song that I wish I would've D/L'd and kept, especially since its not available anymore! If you EVER post it again or offer it for sale PLEASE let me know. So, if you got the funds and want a new mic...go for it! But seein' as your stuff sounded great with the SM57 already, you may want to check further into the cause of the noise. Cables could be another cause but we ran into a situation where we were using monster cables and couldn't eliminate the noise until we plugged into that filter box. Hope this helps.
 
MAC2: Thanks for the compliments on "Wait". How much do those line noise filters cost and in what kind of store could I purchase one?

So you don't think it's dumb to get a condenser in light of the noise? Do you know if the higher output would allow me to reduce my noise levels (if I were unable to get rid of it)? I wasn't planning on shelling out too much. I had the sub-US$200 Rode NT3 in mind.
 
I was just at your website tryin' to listen to the MP3 of Wait but kept getting a message that says the server is too busy or "broken".....glad to see the song is still posted though...I'll have to try again later....as far as the filter, I'm guessing you could find it at a Radio Shack or similar store.....don't know about the cost...the one we use was handed down to me from my father...I'll be in the studio tomorrow and check on the name of the thing etc., I'll post back on it by Monday....my experience with condenser mics is that they're EXTREMELY sensitive and pick up everything (including humming refrigerator motors, planes flying overhead and traffic outside). Buck62 built a "vocal booth" to overcome such noises (along with the monster cables and a Mindprint Envoice Mic-Pre). We've gotten very good results with our AKG3000. We've done vocals and have put amps in the booth miced with SM57's and the results have been excellent. If you'd like to check a song we've done recently using the booth for recording acoustic guitar check MP3.com/smartapple for the song "Doin'Nothin".
 
we must be online at the same time

Smart Apple? You're working with Teddie? That's great. I don't know what is wrong with my ISP but for some reason I absolutely cannot download files from mp3.com.

Thanks alot for checking out that stuff for me. It's no rush. I've been tolerating this noise for the past 1-2 years so I'm in no hurry. I'm quite used to it, although it is discouraging at times.
 
Just a dumb question:
Are you sure that the noise really is higher during night? Usually everything is more quiet at night, so it might be just that you hear the noise more because there are no outside noises creeping in?
 
Sorry this took a little longer than I said....we're using a Model IB4 "TrippLite" ISOBAR GS Noise Filter and Surge Suppressor. I really have no idea where you might locate one or how much it would cost.I believe if you can't find the same one I'm sure someone must make something similar.(Although the thing we have works really well!) I haven't been able to listen to "Wait" off your website. Is there any way I can obtain a copy of that song?
 
regebro: naw, it shows up while tracking. It's not noise from the environment.

MAC: Thanks a lot for the info. I'll put "Wait" up again soon since people have been asking for it. I'll post it in the mp3 forum.
 
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