Noob ?'s

Mike Sommer · 05-11-2009, 03:04 AM

Yes you would up the gain at the mixer.

Sibilants could be from the mic itself. Try setting the mic at a 30° angle and see if that helps. But MXL 990 is known for being thin sounding mic, easy to distort and not the best for voice work.

chucktaylor · 05-11-2009, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Sommer

But MXL 990 is known for being thin sounding mic, easy to distort and not the best for voice work.

I would say any thinness could possibly come from improper mic technique. I use a 990 for guest interviews all the time with the eq set flat, using a behringer board and pre and get a great sound out of it. In fact here's a snippet of a guest I had in the studio today on my 990. And I would say that the sound I have is not thin, unless our definitions of thin differ

Chuck

JoeActor · 05-11-2009, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chucktaylor

I would say any thinness could possibly come from improper mic technique. I use a 990 for guest interviews all the time with the eq set flat, using a behringer board and pre and get a great sound out of it. In fact here's a snippet of a guest I had in the studio today on my 990. And I would say that the sound I have is not thin, unless our definitions of thin differ

Chuck

Here's a sample from my MXL990-USB (see attached) for comparison...

Opinions welcome,
Joe J Thomas
www.JoeActor.com
www.SoundsGoodToYou.com

Razorback · 05-17-2009, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Plack

Brian, you may be stuck with some hiss until you graduate to a better audio chain. For some reason, low-cost audio interfaces powered off the computer's USB port, which is what the bottom-half of your mic has inside it, seem prone to poor signal-to-noise ratios. Many manufacturers of USB mics don't even provide a self-noise specification.

Ok, after moving the laptop further didn't work, the wife asked 'Maybe it's the (wireless) internet?'.
Damn, I love that woman. Random hissing/popping/noise is pretty much gone now.
Just an FYI to the rest of you.

JoeActor · 05-18-2009, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razorback

Ok, after moving the laptop further didn't work, the wife asked 'Maybe it's the (wireless) internet?'.
Damn, I love that woman. Random hissing/popping/noise is pretty much gone now.
Just an FYI to the rest of you.

So, did you move your router farther away from your mike, or turn it off?

(mine is next to my setup too...)
Joe

FLZapped · 05-18-2009, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJHawke

I have a condenser mic... it's just an MXL990 but still a powered mic... I have the gain on the MobilePre set at about half. Any higher and it clips. If I want to up the gain I do that with the mixer. Haven't noticed any problem with noise... other than the ones created by my lack of experience and poor mic technique LOL I need some coaching to cool off those sibilants...

Then you're in good shape. Something like an SM7B would get you in trouble.

-Bruce

Razorback · 05-18-2009, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeActor

So, did you move your router farther away from your mike, or turn it off?

(mine is next to my setup too...)
Joe

I should try turning it off, now that you mention it.
I have 3 computers in the house, all on a set up wireless. The router is in the living room with a desktop in the next room. There is another desktop in the craft room, which faces the street. I record in either the bedroom or the walk in closet in the bedroom, using the laptop, which is at the rear of the house. The router is almost directly between the two rooms, so I get pretty good signal, so I might unplug while recording. I believe I was gettting signal from the USB wireless card.
I did notice, while practicing last night, that I would get intermitten 'noise' while in the bedroom itself.
I popped the card in and checked. Besides my router, I could pick up 5 other connections of varying strength, including the libary and court house.
I think I'll try to isolate myself in the closet from now on.

shenecke · 05-18-2009, 01:09 PM

I must be lucky! I've got 3 computers and a wireless router, cell phone, cordless phone, powerline x10 signals, all within a couple of feet of each other in my office/recording area with no interference! Also see 3 of my neighbors wireless router signals!

JoeActor · 05-18-2009, 02:56 PM

I suspect some good shielded cables would help my setup.

Lots of stuff in close proximity - hard to isolate...

Joe

Paul Plack · 05-18-2009, 05:40 PM

It's highly unlikely wireless devices more than a few feet from your audio gear will cause you trouble. But if the computer itself is equipped for wireless, absolutely.

Getting near wireless gear of any sort can really expose poor practice in running shields and grounds. Setups which use insert cables often result in multiple ground paths among pieces of equipment. Another common source of ground loops is the grounding pin on power plugs. I've always carried one of those 3-prong-to-2-prong plug adapters on remote projects, because sometimes the only way to eliminate wireless noise, interference from light dimmers, etc is to lift that ground pin on the cord from the computer.

My old Dell laptop was unusable for audio recording without the power ground lifted. My new Compaq doesn't have the problem.

My current studio setup uses unbalanced insert patches between the mixer and the processor, and I was expecting the worst. I lucked out...I can even leave my cellphone sitting on top of the mixer without that electronic "chicken-clucking" sound getting into my audio.

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05-11-2009, 03:04 AM	#11 (permalink)
Mike Sommer User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,164	Yes you would up the gain at the mixer. Sibilants could be from the mic itself. Try setting the mic at a 30° angle and see if that helps. But MXL 990 is known for being thin sounding mic, easy to distort and not the best for voice work.

05-18-2009, 01:09 PM	#18 (permalink)
shenecke Steven Hennecke, Voicer Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Central California Posts: 239	I must be lucky! I've got 3 computers and a wireless router, cell phone, cordless phone, powerline x10 signals, all within a couple of feet of each other in my office/recording area with no interference! Also see 3 of my neighbors wireless router signals!

05-18-2009, 02:56 PM	#19 (permalink)
JoeActor Administrator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 2,911	I suspect some good shielded cables would help my setup. Lots of stuff in close proximity - hard to isolate... Joe

05-18-2009, 05:40 PM	#20 (permalink)
Paul Plack User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Murray, Utah, USA Posts: 496	It's highly unlikely wireless devices more than a few feet from your audio gear will cause you trouble. But if the computer itself is equipped for wireless, absolutely. Getting near wireless gear of any sort can really expose poor practice in running shields and grounds. Setups which use insert cables often result in multiple ground paths among pieces of equipment. Another common source of ground loops is the grounding pin on power plugs. I've always carried one of those 3-prong-to-2-prong plug adapters on remote projects, because sometimes the only way to eliminate wireless noise, interference from light dimmers, etc is to lift that ground pin on the cord from the computer. My old Dell laptop was unusable for audio recording without the power ground lifted. My new Compaq doesn't have the problem. My current studio setup uses unbalanced insert patches between the mixer and the processor, and I was expecting the worst. I lucked out...I can even leave my cellphone sitting on top of the mixer without that electronic "chicken-clucking" sound getting into my audio.