Audio Problems, XLR to 3.5mm MIC constantly on, FL not recognising MIC

[waterpistol]

Good Morning, thanks for being here for me to at least ask some questions about sound problems I'm experiencing. I have spent literally hours trying to find answers under my own steam!

Basically, my first problem lies with the fact I am using an 'Audio Technica XM1' microphone, plugged straight into my RealTek High Definition Audio card; into the pink MIC point at the back of my PC. Now the problems I have are:

1. The sound is constantly on, i.e. if I tap the microphone it always comes through my speakers, which are Creative 2.1, plugged into the same sound card.
2. The microphone is really quiet, this maybe to do with the amount of voltage coming back from the 3.3mm jack on my sound card to power the MIC. I have raised the booster level but that induces a LOT of hiss, which is no good for me as I want to use the MIC to record audio in Fruity Loops (I have posted on the Image Line forum also but questions of such a basic level as this don't seem to get answered!

I have been into the sound settings a lot of experimented with different combinations of settings. I also have a Logitech 9000 web cam which I use for Skype but this is a USB device, it may be interfering with the sound card?

Lastly, and this is something more pertinent to Fruity Loops 9, but maybe a problem with how I have set my sound on Windows 7. Is that when I try to record live audio it's not picking up my MIC at all, as far as the programme's concerned I don't have a MIC when in fact I have two. IS this the problem? Is there a way to have the Logitech 9000 specifically used for Skype and nothing else and a way to have the Audio Technica MIC specifically used for recording audio in a quasi-studio environment?

Thanks for reading and thanks for any input.

icnic: :grouphug:

 

[fireberd]

I have a home recording studio using Sonar X1 and soon to be converted to Pro Tools MP9.

The first order of business is the audio technica microphone, which from what I can find is basically a standard PA type microphone. If this is the case, the output level of PA/studio mics is very low and really too low for a PC mic input which requires "consumer line level" (-10) for proper operation. The voltage from a PC mic jack is 5VDC and also too low to run a standard condenser mic that requires 48VDC.

Unless you mute or set the input level to 0 (off) you will normally always hear an input and the reason you can always hear your mic.

I don't know how a USB mic would affect the system sounds, depends on how or what you have setup in the Control Panel/Hardware and Sound/Sound panel's recording section. If you have the System Mixer (may be called Stereo Mix or SoundBlaster calls it What You Hear) set as the default playback device then any recording input that you have enabled will be heard in the PC's speakers.

As far as the recording program, it has to be setup for whatever input device you have, which is apparently your PC's sound card, not a separate recording device. I don't know anything about FL but in both Sonar and Pro Tools there are setups for the sound device, including whether it's an ASIO or WDM type device and the input channels you want to use. When recording, whichever channel input you want is then selected for the track you want to record.

 

[waterpistol]

Thanks for your reply fireberd. Ok, so I think we can safely say that the Audio Technica XM1 is not suitable for the Realtek Sound Card my budget PC came with. The solution? Purchase an average to decent USB MIC or buy an ASIO Soundcard with a suitable amount of amperage going through an XLR jack? Any recommendations? Also, is it possible to buy an external piece of kit, such as a pre-amp, with XLR which then goes to your soundcard?

Would you suggest my soundcard is up to the job of powering my recording needs?

Also, I am still puzzled as to why I can't mute or disable the MIC from Control Panel. I disabled it, I lowered all the levels and still... There was an audio feed to the speakers! IS this right? I am surprised at how unresponsive and fruitless my audio interface experience has been thus far.

As for my software; I have installed the latest 32bit drivers for my soundcard and ASIO4ALL which is a virtual ASIO soundcard right? But stilll I have experienced [roblems with it recognising my audio inputs and outputs. Do you have any info regarding MS GS Software Wavetable Synth issues? As this MIDI definition seems to cause a lot of problems for a lot of amateur audio bods such as myself.

 

[fireberd]

I have had problems with ASIO4ALL and it corrupted my HT Omega Striker 7.1 sound card for regular PC sounds along with not being able to use it in my recording program. I don't recommend ASIO4ALL because of this (and I've seen other reports on recording forums of problems with it).

Best option is to get an inexpensive USB connected recording unit and use that with the FL recording program and save the PC sound card for "regular" PC sound only.

Something such as this Lexicon Alpha unit won't break the bank. Lexicon Alpha USB Desktop Recording Studio: Shop Pro Audio & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend

 

[waterpistol]

Well, I ended up buying a MAYA 44 audio card, and it is very good! I have now just splashed out on an Acer Aspire Desktop and guess what... The Maya 44 is PCI and the Acer only has PCI-E slots!

Have you had any experience with issues like this? I see there are adaptors for this kind of thing but get the feeling that space is a big issue in squeezing the audio card in.

Little bit disappointed, especially as I have pretty much voided my warranty by opening up my PC to discover this!

Thanks Bro!

 

[fireberd]

Usually, opening the PC does not void the warranty. I can't speak about Acer but I've had a Gateway and a Dell and neither void the warranty if the case was opened or even if an add on card or memory was added (but they can have you remove any added parts before giving warranty support).

PCIeX1 card slots are the standard anymore. Some PC's only have the PCIeX1 slots (and a PCIeX16 for video) and some have at least one PCI slot.

I would return the PCI card, if you can.

Generally I see most use an external audio interface unit, either USB or Firewire.