Microphones & P.c.s

[Old_Geezer]

Ok hoping we have some electronic savvy musicians or music savvy engineers around.

I bought a condenser microphone from the Net; XLR plug, apparently.
Opted not to get a USB one as that seemed less general/more specialist. Knew I'd need to get some kind of cable/adapter to connect it to the PC. In the event, As I had the usual 3.5mm TRS sockets as microphone input on the back of the PC I opted to buy (again from the Net) a cable that allowed 2 such microphones to the back panel.

Just received delivery of the cable. Connected the cable, windows showed no indication that it had found something new connected. Connected the microphone. The same; no indication. So testing the microphone results in nothing.

I'm hoping to avoid blindly trying stuff in the hope it'll start working, especially as I have no idea if either of the two new items are faulty. And was wondering if the problem was obvious to someone.

Am I missing a power source ? Is it just a case of needing specialist audio software running ? Or do I need to get Windows 10 to search for new kit connected ?

I tried Voice Recorder but it says I need to set it up in settings. I tried settings and it has a microphone in the list but the only button it shows is "remove device" ???

Stuck with nothing working and not knowing if it is something simple or faulty goods.

[pinkyboyid]

It may be a power source issue. There is some very useful info for XLR MIc connections to PC at:

[Buenchico]

Microphones (like speakers) aren't 'recognised' by Windows. They're just seen as an input source. Have you checked that your microphone is enabled in 'Settings'?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7Kb8kN5MYE

[Old_Geezer]

In "Privacy" ?!?!?

Ok thanks both, I'll check those two out. Had a quick glance at the second which thus my incredulity at where one had to look. (I'd been in settings; obviously in devices/connected devices.)

[Old_Geezer]

Shoot ! $100 of audio interface ?!
This was a big (expensive) mistake by me then.
Life should be so much simpler.

I turned on the Voice Recorder switch in Privacy/microphone and the Voice Recorder now seems to try to record. But all I get is silence.

Meanwhile anyone know where I can buy a good "audio interface" for a fiver ?

[Old_Geezer]

Dang ! Other pitfalls too ! From Amazon re a less expensive i/f:


Q. Does it do 48vdc phantom power?

A. It says it does in the product website and box, however I haven't tested it yet, looking for a proper mic nowadays. When I do, I'll give you an update.

A. No it does not!

A. No phantom from core1, you have to use Mic with internal battery if your Mic is condenser type


This is a minefield for the unknowing.

[Old_Geezer]

Is anyone expert enough to be able to say with assurance if this would be suitable between a Samson C01 and a PC ?

http://www.juno.co.uk/products/alto-zmx52-5-channel-compact-mixer/519819-01//?currency=GBP&flt=1&gclid=CP7vlPOZp8oCFUKeGwodwjIHzw

It was the cheapest interface/mixer/whatever I found that claimed phantom power. Unsure which the outputs are, I think it is saying that are all ¼" jack RCA sockets, which would mean that the the dual XLR to 3.5mm TRS cable will be a wasted purchase. Unsure what cable I would need. RCA to TSR ? RCA to USB ? Or maybe neither are suitable. Just trying to ensure I'm not slinging away good money after bad.

Cheers.

[bazwillrun]

Most condenser mics with XLR wil need a 48V phantom power supply source
Which is where a mixer or audio interface of some sort comes in...
A USB mic would have been better theres some pretty good ones available.

[Old_Geezer]

It gets worse. Unfortunately no one had an informed opinion on the mixer I'd found, so I went back to the brand shown\advertised on the video, ordered a Focusrite, but a Solo model as it was cheaper and seemed to cover the need. Not cheap though.

Then, when I receive it, I get some surprises.

a) I find, to my surprise it doesn't connect to the mains, so I am having to assume it generates the 48v somehow from the USB ?!?

b) according to the box lid (which states an URL address that always fails because something continually adds a further www. to the front when one tries) it seems there is obligatory registration and personal data entry demands, software to download, all sorts of nightmare one is trapped in. Should be illegal. I've bought the kit, it should work out of the box without further contact; not used as a way to abuse the buyer.

c) But that aside, of course I find that I now need an XLR to XLR cable, so I have to order and wait for another cable. sigh. (I did try to push the microphone directly in, but it won't go despite both being XLR.)

Of course the XLR to 3.5mm TRS cable is now defunct. Money wasted. Plus, apparently, I have to find speakers with a phono connection (or buy a phono converter to whatever they have) to hear anything. For now I'm assuming that's an optional extra and the PC will play it anyway. I sure hope so.

"Minefield" was far too soft a word. I take that earlier comment back.

[Old_Geezer]

Ok, gone through the pain of watching the Focusrite video and the manipulation of having to register whether I wanted to or not, at both Focusrite and Ableton. And noted that the video shown is out of date and the instructions not necessarily relevant anyway; not that I know what to do with the sound software I wasn't intending to install until it seemed I had no choice.

Worth saying I did not plug in speakers to the interface when instructed. The idea isn't to play stuff off separate speakers (which I don't have anyway) but save to disk for playing over the PC speakers.

But the big issue is that there is still something wrong.

After loading the driver the interface box lit up, which was a good sign. I tried to set the newly downloaded Ableton sound software but the old versin instructions meant that most was wrong and guessed. And finally I used Voice Recorder to see if anything worked. When I tapped the microphone the shown line blipped suggesting it had detected sound, but on stopping recording and playing all I heard is ... nothing.

I'm hoping someone knows what PC setting I've missed such that Voice Recorder (or something called Groove Music, whatever that is, which opened when I clicked the file) doesn't actually send anything to the PC speakers.

Jeeze why is this so damned complicated ? Anyone would think I was setting up a professional sound studio ! All I wanted was to connect and use a decent microphone.

[Old_Geezer]

... VERSION ...
Like I typed !!!!!!!!

[pinkyboyid]

Have you tried the following sound recording settings:

- Right-Click Windows Start Icon and select:-
- Control Panel
- Hardware and Sound
- Sound
- Recording
- Right-Click your Microphone Device and select Properties
- Select Levels and adjust / increase the Integrated Microphone Array and Boost settings
- Click OK

[Old_Geezer]

Thanks pinky. Wasn't sure anyone would spot the old thread updated, or read through (I have problems being succinct).

I have that open. It's seen as a 'line in' rather than a microphone, presumably because it goes via the interface and a USB socket.

There is just the one thing on that tab, 'Main Volume' and it's already set to 100%. No arrays nor boosts.

Cheers.

[pinkyboyid]

You are correct there is only a Microphone level for

Is your Microphone device set as Default device which you can set when you Right-Click your recording device on the Sound panel?

[Old_Geezer]

Yes. On the screen I was looking at when right clicking properties it claimed it was the default device. Surfing from the bedroom now. If you think of what I can check further, I'll have to check it in the morning. Thanks for the suggestions.

[Old_Geezer]

Update. Checking again today I discover the recording has been made but at such a low level that I need to turn the speakers to 100% to hear the whisper. This is in direct contrast with anything else that runs on the PC, that needs 33% to 50% max.

I had not properly adjusted the gain on the Focusrite so went through the procesw, ensuring it was only just not clipping and retried. It was louder but not anywhere near enough to be acceptable. Which confirms that the Focusrite is simply not up to the job it is meant to do. Probably unsurprising since it came with no mains power lead.

So I have another question. If the answer the Cloudlifter CL-1 as used in the video ? If so at £126 on top of the £60 for the interface, on top of the microphone that I thought would be the only thing I needed (besides the cable I suppose) has got ridiculous.

Is there a cheaper alternative to the Cloudlifter, which seems to just add functionality that ought to have already been in the interface ?

[Old_Geezer]

... process ...
!!!!

[Old_Geezer]

Is the answer...

%^$"£^£%&^%£* !!!!!

[Old_Geezer]

Looking at the video again he has the Cloudlifter between the microphone and the Focusrite Solo, so I can not see how that would help me. I've already set the gain on the Solo to just not clip, so boosting the signal beforehand will just change that gain knob setting. Gain coming out of the Solo or maybe whatever happens inside the PC is going to be the issue.

Suggestions as to how to fix the issue, welcomed.

[pinkyboyid]

Does your Windows system have any other Audio software / drivers installed, for example SRS Audio or Realtek Audio etc. If so, check using that softwares management interface (check the Windows Control Panel) to see if there are any additional sound recording settings.

Also try testing with other recording software such as Audacity http://audacityteam.org

For info, I have a Samsung C01U Condenser Mic which has a USB connection and it fully works ok with Windows 10 plugged direct into the PC USB port.
Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[Old_Geezer]

Not that I'm aware of, although I downloaded and install Goldwave earlier today to aid in my testing.

Unsure which part of Control Panel I should be looking. Looking in the uninstall list doesn't have anything stick out. VLC is installed, something called RadioSure, something called RarmaRadio, Audacity 2.0.5 is already installed.

In the sound section playback has speakers ticked, headphones shown not plugged in, two lots of digital Audio (S/PDIF) whatever those are, marked as ready, and the Scarlett Solo Line Out. Recording shows two lots of microphone shown not plugged in and 2 Line In, one being used as the default device for Scarlet Solo.

Beyond that I'm unsure what to check.

Hmmm... Audacity 2.0.5 seemed to record loud enough.

Oh this is ridiculous. something I have changed has done something unexpected. Voice Recorder is now recording loud enough. And Goldwave is also playing at the same volume as the other two, too, but I have all my test recordings shown there, and it is suddenly a much larger signal than before that was recorded.

I don't know what to make of that. No idea what changed. It *may* be ok now but I wish I knew why.

Thanks.