Subject:help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: TheLostSkittle

Date:2/8/2002 8:36:00 AM

every time i try to record the level won't go over a certain point and just distorts no matter what level the input is at. The highest it will go now is -13dB. does anyone know why this is and how to fix it?

Subject:RE: help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:2/8/2002 9:33:43 AM

Can you give us some information on your setup? What are you recording from (mic, cd, keyboard, etc)? How is it connected to your computer (directly connected, through a mixer, from the headphone jack, etc.)? What sound card do you have?

My initial guess without knowing anything more is that your distortion is coming before the signal ever gets to the computer. If you're using a mixer of some sort you probably have the input gain set too high and the output level too low.

Subject:RE: help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply by: TheLostSkittle

Date:2/8/2002 1:54:23 PM

Thanks for writing back
it's the same whatever i record with. i usually just put an output lead from the device i'm recording from into the mic connector on my speakers. anything i record through the mic connector only goes up to 13dB no matter what the output from the mic, cd player or whatever is. if i try bring the level above 13dB it just distorts and stays at 13dB. the sound card is just a standard thing that came with the computer. it shouldnt matter though because it used to work fine but then i had to format the hard drive because of viruses etc. and when i re-installed sound forge i had these recording problems.

Subject:RE: help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply by: BrentA

Date:2/8/2002 2:30:13 PM

Sounds like you are overloading the mic input by trying to send a line-level signal. But you say it used to work before you reformatted your hard drive, so it's kind of a puzzler. I presume the mic input on your speakers is just some kind of pass through to the mic input on your sound card (unless maybe you have some kind of digital speaker setup?) Double check your sound card and see if there is a jack on it for "line in". If so, that is the one you really should be using. Best of luck! Regards, Brent

Subject:RE: help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply by: rraud

Date:2/8/2002 10:06:16 PM

From what I can gather, You are trying to record off a speaker output... which is way to hot... even for line level. To put it simply you need to come off an RCA/Phono jack, like on the back of your stereo. So you will probably need a RCA to stereo mini-jack adaptor. Then make sure your sound card is selected to "line level".
and you are pluged into line level. To put it Bluntly : Speaker level ie:off the back of a guitar amp)to line level (espeically unbalanced -10db... DOES NOT COMPUTE)
For best results; you need to mic the amp or use some kind of attenuator, Like a Power soak or Direct box. However, I suggest buying a Shure SM-57 or 58, $80-100 cheap, they are pretty much indestructable, they do not wear out and will last a lifetime... If not slolen or in a fire! Ask any pro musician or sound person. (I do not work for Shure) Thousands of platnum selling alblums have been recorded with these mics on a number of instruments.(including vocal)
And get a low cost Mackie mixer, feed this to your sound card ..line level.. and it should sound decent and way beyond your expectations.

Subject:SM57 and Mackie good;

Reply by: pb

Date:2/8/2002 11:37:18 PM

Agree with rraud on both counts. I am still using SM57s and SM58s connected by low tech mic cable to a snake which runs into a Mackie 1607 something or other. I also have two of the little Mackies (12xx something) between the analog BetaSP decks and the two NLE systems. As you can see, I am not really good at remembering the model #s of peripherals, now camera heads, lenses, dockable backs, tripod heads, lighting instruments are a different story..... ;-)

pb

Subject:RE: SM57 and Mackie good; you technique VERY bad!

Reply by: rraud

Date:2/9/2002 7:50:11 PM

What do you mean ..Bad? I hope this is a lanquage mis-communication. Do you have the f----- money for a AKG-414 or U-87 not to mention a Neve or other high-end mic preamp? In the hands of a pro engineer an old EV going direct to a TEAC will sound better then an amature with a Neve/Studer combo. And you should also have a pro sound card with good A/D - D/A converters too.
Yeah.. I am one of the owners of a video/film shooting service in NYC. I handle the audio and leave the cameras and lighting to my partner.
FYI: I have been in the music & sound biz for over thirty years..... I feel old some time! And I don't know how I got along without computers. Does anyone remember razor blade editing? Thousands of edits... never once cut myself... But I dropped a hard drive on my foot... lol
Rick

Subject:RE: SM57 and Mackie good; you technique VERY bad!

Reply by: Rednroll

Date:2/9/2002 8:39:39 PM

It sounds like he's not too concerned about getting pro results, he probably just wants to get good results with no distortion overload. You need to check your windows mixer settings. Make sure "Record what you're hearing" is unchecked, otherwise it could be causing a feedback loop and giving you the distortion any time you raise the level of the input....that would be my first guess, I ran into that problem when I reloaded win2k on a system. Also go into the "Record" section of the mixer and uncheck all the other inputs except for the Line input...or if you just have a mic input then go into the "Advanced tab" and make sure "Mic level 20db Boost" is unchecked, because like it previously mentioned you are at Line level or above and having that checked will definitely distort the signal. Some cheaper sound cards or in my case my Laptop just has a Mic/Line..single input and you have to make sure that "mic boost" is turned off....if you do this you might have a chance to lower the input to fader to keep from distorting coming from a speaker output. Also lower the volume of the speaker output if you have that option, you can then get down to the correct line level this way.

Hope that helps,
red

Subject:RE: SM57 and Mackie good; you technique VERY bad!

Reply by: pb

Date:2/10/2002 9:56:09 PM

Original post with header did not contain "you technique VERY bad.." Guess someone has a way to edit messages. I am not one who throws insults on forums and though my typing ability is poor, I don't wite in ebonics, i.e.: you technique is BAD. Sorry about the miscommumication.

On another note, what do you think of a Sony C74, c/w serviceable zepplin for 200USD? I got a call from a guy going out of business and though the mic is 1986 vintage, it worked well the last time I borrowed it. Is that a fair price?

peter

Subject:RE: SM57 and Mackie good; you technique VERY bad!

Reply by: rraud

Date:2/12/2002 5:41:46 PM

I think the C-47 is an old Sony shotgun mic. 200 US dollars sounds good if it works, especially with a Zep. A new Ricote Zepplin/mount cost more than $200 alone. Make sure you have something to power it. I think the Sony's were Phantom powered. Some of the older Sennheiser 415/815s ect. were "T" (AB) powered.