G+_Walker Hymes Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 Hey Know How group. I'm looking at getting into pod casting and have purchased pretty much everything I need. The only issue that I have ran into though is that when I try to record on my mic I have to turn the gain all the way up. Like ALL THE WAY. It will then barely register on lights on the right of my mixer and I have yet to have the clip light light up on my mixer even when I yell or clap right in front of the mic. The main issue is that there is an extremely annoying hiss when the gain is up that high. The hiss only appears when the mic is powered on and gain is high. I got a 6 pack of GLS XLR cables and have tried 3 different ones thinking it might be the cable but it still persists. I have tried plugging it into mic 1 and 2 on my mixer. Same thing. So this leads me to believe that it is the mic (it is a condenser mic and yes it is getting phantom power from the mixer) . It is a cheap mic off of amazon ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Q4RGQHY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1) but before I go buy a more expensive mic I want to make sure that this is what the issue is. Does anyone have any experience with this mic or other cheap mics? If I were to run the mic into a separate preamp, then to the mixer would that work? I also don't believe that it would be room noise...but maybe? Below is my setup. Floureon BM-800 Condenser Sound Studio Recording Broadcasting Microphone + Shock Mount Holder Behringer Xenyx 1202fx Mixer BEHRINGER U-CONTROL UCA222 converter GLS Audio 6ft Patch Cable Cords Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Eddie Foy Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 I won't get into the holy wars over condenser vs dynamic mics. But try one out from your local music store. They may/should let you test them out there, on site. Especially if they rent equipment. Bring your rig with ya. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Robert Gauld Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 Are you sure it's a front address mic? What happens if you talk to the side of it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Eddie Foy Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 A quality noise gate is a must in my eyes. A compressor is a nice extra. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Walker Hymes Posted August 16, 2016 Author Share Posted August 16, 2016 Thanks Eddie Foy I might have to do that. There is a guitar center next to my work so I might swing by on my lunch. Robert Gauld I did test to make sure that I was talking into the directing the mic is firing (or receiving I guess) lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Walker Hymes Posted August 16, 2016 Author Share Posted August 16, 2016 Eddie Foy are you referring to a pop filter or one of the foam "bulbs" - i dont know the technical term - as the noise gate? I am using both. I did compression and noise reduction in Audacity and that got a majority of the excess noise out, however I am going to be recording with 1 or 2 more people "live" and if all of the mics have the same hiss it will be unbearable when we are trying to monitor while recording. Thanks again for the suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Eddie Foy Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 No. A noise gate will drop/cut the signal when there is no discernible sound. Cuts out background noise and such. (also cuts out the hum/feedback on a guitar, which is where I mainly use it) It will have threshold and decay and possibly other controls. I'd much prefer to do this long before it hits the computer. Clean it up as it enters the mixer. Compressing in software I don't see a major problem with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Robert Gauld Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 Have you tried a different channel on the mixer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Walker Hymes Posted August 16, 2016 Author Share Posted August 16, 2016 Yes ive tried 1,2 and 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Robert Gauld Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 I'm starting to think there's some faulty equipment somewhere. Have you tried a different mic with the mixer or a different mixer with the mic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Stede Bonnett Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 With most condensers the output is really hot - my SP B3's have a low-cut and -10dB pad so they don't overcook the inputs in high SPL. If you are yelling and not overloading the input - something is wrong. After reading Robert Gauld's comment I noticed you can see the mic capsule through the screen in the photo so I found a teardown on YouTube and this is definitely a unidirectional cardioid side-address microphone. As with most of this type you face the side with all the logos toward you. I assume your mixers phantom power was turned on for testing (and that you correctly don't leave it on when you are plugging things in/out of the XLRs; I assume this because it is off in your photo). It could be your cable - if pin 2 (or 3) isn't connected you won't get phantom power and your unpowered gain will also be cut in half. You could poke the cable with a multitester to verify. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Ron Tostevin Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 OK, I'll jump into the holy war...:) For a starter rig, I always recommend a dynamic. They are much more forgiving, generally cheaper for the quality and more rugged. Check out the Shure SM48 ($40 on Amazon), or if you can afford $100, you can't go wrong with a Shure SM58. The last line of the description of the Floureon mic on Amazon would have caused me to click away..."If better sound prefered, the sound card will be needed." :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Ben Reese Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 Does your mixer support phantom power? If so, make sure that's turned on. Some mics require it and you'll get the very effective if it's not on. If it doesn't have it, I think they make external adapters to go between the mixer and mic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Ben Yanke Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 My bet is on the phantom power too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Walker Hymes Posted August 16, 2016 Author Share Posted August 16, 2016 Phantom power is on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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