TranceAddict Forums (www.tranceaddict.com/forums)
- Production Studio
-- My mic sounds really quiet in Live, can't figure out why?
Pages (2): [1] 2 »

My mic sounds really quiet in Live, can't figure out why?

Hello all,

I'm using this "AKG D330BT" microphone I bought off ebay, as well a Saffire Pro 24 audio interface running on PC. I am having trouble recording without the mic right next to my mouth in Live, as everything sounds really quiet even with the pre-amp gain knob on the interface turned all the way to max. I practically have to shout for anything to be audible.

If I use Skype, however... the mic sounds much louder, and I can practically be sitting across my room and carry on a speaking-level conversation. The volume level in Skype is turned to max and I've never had to mess with it.

I don't get it. Everything checks out to be using ASIO within Ableton. Is there anything I can do to fix this and make it louder within Live? Not sure how to best fix this or what I might be doing wrong. Many thanks for any advice.

More warmth.

enable 48v on the input
your mic is broken.
They are old mic and not particularly well built for the time. But Abba swears by them.

you have just received the loony treatment.

the truth ?

Click monitor on your audio channel.

I do have monitor on. Not quite sure how that relates unless I'm missing something obvious?

It's quiet as can be in Ableton but perfect audible in Skype.

Any recommendations on a budget mic that doesn't completely suck?

AKG D330BT. What you have is a pretty much the same as an sm 58. Most would say better but in that league.

do you have phantom power / 48v on the interface input ?

Sure do. Phantom power doesn't seem to make it louder or affect the volume at all. I literally have to have gain cranked to max to get a decent signal for some reason.

Well without the phantom power, it shouldn't work at all. So there seems to be something irregular with your interface if you are not getting different results. Unless there is absolutely no input at all.

quote:

Originally posted by Looney4Clooney Well without the phantom power, it shouldn't work at all. So there seems to be something irregular with your interface if you are not getting different results. Unless there is absolutely no input at all.

What the fuck are you talking about? (unless you're trolling him?).

Why would he need phantom power with a dynamic mic?

Phantom power will do nothing on that mic.

What it sound like an audio settings issue in Live. If skype is fine then it's not the mic. DO you have any other programs that can record audio like soundforge/wavelab/audacity etc?

I had another mic in mind. My bad.

But either way, no harm done. It isn't like it will damage it. And since it is a feature on the soundcard, you might as well have it on.

Really expensive ribbon and vintage condenser mics are my thing. So fuck you right in your ass.

quote:

Originally posted by Looney4Clooney I had another mic in mind. My bad. But either way, no harm done. It isn't like it will damage it. And since it is a feature on the soundcard, you might as well have it on. Really expensive ribbon and vintage condenser mics are my thing. So fuck you right in your ass.

Firstly, Being British, I would fuck you in the Arse, not ass - I have no beef with your donkey, so I won't try to fornicate with him.

Secondly, you go right ahead and plug your vintag and "really expensive ribbon mic" in and then press the phantom power button on it. Please.

Then you can call me and I'll explain in graphic detail why that irreplaceable $2000 ribbon went twang and snapped like your penile chicken string (ferenulum) when entering a minor that was just a little too tight.

And that's why composers should be banned from owning nice microphones, and why engineers will punch you in the mangina every time for suggesting to "leave on the phantom power". It only takes one composer to plug in a nice mic and behold: the most expensive 1 second crackle you'll ever hear.

but we are talking dynamic. Not a big deal. I hate how you diminish me. quit riding those nuts. The leaving on 48v because it is a feature was a funny. And i already know i know nothing. lol. That part is a hobby from just being around it. My mics are really just to loan out in exchange for being tutored. It isn't like i have that many. But as per usual, i always have 2 of everything and did go to some trouble to get matched pairs and had them all inspected, to make sure they are all in as good condition as possible. And it is only acoustic music.

There is so much stuff to know regarding electronics which i don't have time but i know alot considering. I mean i could set up any sort of array without looking confused. Starting to develop a how do you say what works with what memory ?

my newest set is another pair of 121s. I still have the newer 101s but ya. I'm never going to be great at that so it is fun for me because i don't have to be good unlike composition and production. There is also the historical aspect of recordings and the mic placements and its just a cool aspect of a part of music that is disappearing. Capturing a live recording. And it is so much funner than being in a room for hours. And being sort of an assistant and not having the stress is nice.

My new renovations are almost done. Will have a recording room! Nothing commercial. Just for my own use and friends. The hardest part was convincing the girlfriend. I had to buy her a pair of stupid italian boots imported from like this village. Fucking ridiculous.

ah i forgot to mention the cole 4038s. Both vintage. I had to get them repaired as 1 was in rough shape tho but still. Ugly looking.

quote:

Originally posted by Looney4Clooney but we are talking dynamic. Not a big deal. I hate how you diminish me. quit riding those nuts. The leaving on 48v because it is a feature was a funny. And i already know i know nothing. lol. That part is a hobby from just being around it. My mics are really just to loan out in exchange for being tutored. It isn't like i have that many. But as per usual, i always have 2 of everything and did go to some trouble to get matched pairs and had them all inspected, to make sure they are all in as good condition as possible. And it is only acoustic music. There is so much stuff to know regarding electronics which i don't have time but i know alot considering. I mean i could set up any sort of array without looking confused. Starting to develop a how do you say what works with what memory ? my newest set is another pair of 121s. I still have the newer 101s but ya. I'm never going to be great at that so it is fun for me because i don't have to be good unlike composition and production. There is also the historical aspect of recordings and the mic placements and its just a cool aspect of a part of music that is disappearing. Capturing a live recording. And it is so much funner than being in a room for hours. And being sort of an assistant and not having the stress is nice. My new renovations are almost done. Will have a recording room! Nothing commercial. Just for my own use and friends. The hardest part was convincing the girlfriend. I had to buy her a pair of stupid italian boots imported from like this village. Fucking ridiculous.

Awww, I feel bad now. You know I'm only reaching around as a joke but I now know where the confusion comes from though: the Royers are one of the very few Ribbons that actually require phantom power. Older vintage ones can get fried, but the Royers are condenser ribbons for lack of a better description. but technically you should never leave 48v on as it sends a surge to the op amp when hot plugging, blah blah blah.

tbh, you know far more about engineering than just about any composer I've ever met (maybe with exception to one who was an engineer for 10 years before becoming a fairly big/mid name composer).

Learning that memory is key: it's what meyserson and foster have in such detail. You could nearly exchange the terms experience for memory. "how do setup a decca tree?". bang. answer without blinking.

The 121'a are fucking phenominal. I can't think of a project that we did, where they weren't heavily featured. You can use them on so much; as overheads, as the main rooms, close distance mic for cello or double bass, on guitar cabs, close on flute.....they are just beautiful on the detail and so fucking diverse.

Honestly, they are one of the mics that you just have to put in your top 3 just in terms of usefulness alone, let alone sound. Any they're not wimpy like other ribbons - you can be a bit dirty with them and they don't break every second.

I like the 101 but the 121 steals the show. Royer got it fucking right with both of those though.

Congrats on the live room! I had no idea you were doing that. Pics when you get a second - would love to see it. Dod you do a booth or just a room? I am lightly offended you didn't fly me there to build it for you but you'll just have to make it up for me in rage powder when I'm finally there.

no control room other than my current production place. It really is for live acoustic recording. No isolation booth. Most of the money was spent making the room sound nicer. Wasn't really a big investment.

quote:

Originally posted by Looney4Clooney no control room other than my current production place. It really is for live acoustic recording. No isolation booth. Most of the money was spent making the room sound nicer. Wasn't really a big investment.

Nice.


And get splashtop2 - control room in the palm of your hand. Don't ever need to leave the live room now.

I'm using one of the artist mixes in the recording room if i don't want to keep going to other room but it is hidden and out of the way. Although they are right next to each other ( rooms) . Girlfriend would not go for a window and in a way i didn't want it to look like a recording environment if that makes sense. There is a general utility out if i need monitors which is probably more for disco parties i might have. But ya , its more for colleagues to come say play or maybe play a piece of mine and record. People i know and trust. And i imagine some of their kids. its cute.

Thanks for the help guys.
Since there's no options in Ableton to control this sort of thing I'm led to believe this used mic is busted somehow. (ASIO is on... that's about the extent of Ableton's options panel.)

What might you all recommend for a budget mic that doesn't suck? Something in the under $150 range would be preferred.

I just use the one I use for world of warcraft. It also has headphones on it, so they double as production head phones also! And they don't become any less cool because of the picture of an orc on the side, let me tell you that. I got it at a gamestop, and it only cost me 29,99. I highly recommend it.

But all the cool people play Guild Wars now.

It doesn't make my certified World of Warcraft 5 year Anniversary Limited Edition wireless headset any less cool.

quote:

Originally posted by Astralist Thanks for the help guys. Since there's no options in Ableton to control this sort of thing I'm led to believe this used mic is busted somehow. (ASIO is on... that's about the extent of Ableton's options panel.) What might you all recommend for a budget mic that doesn't suck? Something in the under $150 range would be preferred.

I highly fucking doubt it's the mic - it's pretty damn difficult to damage a dynamic mic like that.

Answer a few of these questions:

1, What driver version are you using for the saffire?
2, What computer do you have?
3, What settings are you using on the Saffire control panel?

Hi RANN,

This screenshot should answer most of those questions. I'm on a self built PC with Win 7 x64.

I plugged in a crappy headset just now as well and noticed I have the exact same issue with the 2nd mic. I can't find any settings that seem to actually affect this sort of thing, and the drivers are the most recent version from what I can tell.

Let me know if I can provide any other info to help troubleshoot.

Powered by: vBulletin
Copyright © 2000-2021, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.