[ThunderForge]

Ok, I got a radio shack microphone (Looks like a regular mic with a three prong plug in the bottom) from a friend. I bought the 1/4" to 1/8 inch adapter and plugged the sucker into my sound card. Here's the problem, I can only get it to work if I put it right next to the amp. It has a really low amount of gain compared to the cheap desktop mic I was using. Even when it's right up against the amp the sound is still really low. I would have to crank the amp to get a decent volume. I have the microphone volume all the way up and the 20db boost on. Is there something I'm doing wrong? Or will this type of mic not work properly with a computer sound card?

[Tekker]

I've never tried it that way, so it's very possible that an XLR mic may not work very well with a standard sound card. You may need a mic preamp (such as an Art Tube MP or similar).

I highly recommend a preamp because standard PC sound cards are not meant for audio recording and the preamps in the mic input are terrible and very noisy. So not only will you get more volume, it'll sound much better also.

-tkr

[Doug]

Is it a condenser mic or dynamic? If condenser, it needs phantom power to charge the transducer and power the circuitry. So if you're looking at pre-amps you may want to select one with switchable phantom power. The one Tekker pointed to has phantom power.

[Dewy]

Take this as anecdotal, not factual. Its how it sounds... not the electrical facts.

Lo-Impedance, aka Lo-Z, three prong plug, XLR, also occasionally seen as a RTS (ring, tip, sleeve like your headphone plug) is a pure, balanced but weak input. It often needs additional pre-amping for traditional amplifiers (Home Stereo, computer, guitar amp).

High Impedance, aka guitar jack, line out from home stereo components or guitar amps, most cheap mics (computer, radio shack, no-name brands from the music store) have a stronger but less defined signal, and are more prone to noise & Feedback.

In the professional studios even the Hi-Z inputs get a lot of pre-recording processing... via compressors & noise gates. Lo-Z works well with devices like P.A. mixers & home studios that have built in pre-amps.

[Rockerbob]

You might get better results with a transformer instead of just an adaptor. It will change the impedance of the mic to High and make it work better with the high impedance input. Radio Shack also sells these.

RadioShack.com - Cables, Parts & Connectors: Connectors & connectivity: A/V connectors & adapters: A3F XLR Jack-to-1/4" Plug Adapter/Transformer

[ThunderForge]

Originally Posted by Doug

Is it a condenser mic or dynamic? If condenser, it needs phantom power to charge the transducer and power the circuitry. So if you're looking at pre-amps you may want to select one with switchable phantom power. The one Tekker pointed to has phantom power.

It's dynamic. I think I'm going to just suffer with my computer mic. I really can't afford a preamp right now. Thx

[Tekker]

Originally Posted by ThunderForge

It's dynamic. I think I'm going to just suffer with my computer mic. I really can't afford a preamp right now. Thx

The adapter Rockerbob mentioned would be a much cheaper alternative to a preamp.

I thought the mic input was low impedance (because mic inputs usually are for recording equipment) but for standard PC sound cards they are indeed high impedance. So the adapter should do the trick.

-tkr

[knight46]

I am trying to mic an acoustic with a dynamic mic (XLR connection) through a Toneport UX1 with phantom power why isn't the volume for the acoustic higher? I have to actually have the mic touching the top of the acoustic to get any volume at all.

[Doug]

First off, if it's dynamic, don't turn on the phantom power - it's only required for condenser mics. Can you hear anything through the headphones? With the supplied software are there any controls where you have to select the mic input rather than some other input? Do you have access to any other preamps to test your mic? Do you have access to any other mics to test your preamp? Do you have the gain turned up to 11?

[knight46]

Thanks for the reply Doug,
Actually I can't see where the Toneport has an On/Off switch for the Mic input.
Unfortunately I can hear all to well through the headphones so without looking at the recording levels I am not sure what is being recorded until playback.
The software is Gearbox and the mic is selected. When doing vocals I use the same mic and settings and get all of the volume that I want.
The only gain that I normally have is the gain in waistsize...

[muchojackdaniels]

It might need phantom power

[Tekker]

Originally Posted by muchojackdaniels

It might need phantom power

Dynamic mics don't need phantom power. Only condenser mics need it.

-tkr