Audacity Forum

Hi there guys,

First of all im sorry, im not amazing when it comes to computers and especially not when it comes to microphones.

Basically my problem is that i recently brought a new microphone with the intension of recording voice only. I purchased a 'Shure, dynamic cardioid microphone, C606. Neodymium magnet. 15' cable, XLR 1/4". I also brought a little converter sleeve that goes on the Jack lead so that it will fit the Line-In on the front/back of the computer. Now the guys at the store warned me that this could damage my sound card if i plugged it in. So i took a deep breathe and shoved it in anyway. The sound card is apparently intergrated into the motherboard by the way.

Nothing was damaged thankfully but the mic wasnt picking up much sound, infact i had to speak pretty loudly/shout into it to get it to work even a little.

I spoke to a friend who advised that its probably because the mic is 'Phantom Powered' (which i have no idea about) instead of battery powered. He then went on to say i would need somthing to boost the sound and he mentioned a external sound card or a mixer.

My questions is basically what should i get/do! I really like the mic ive brought, but i dont know if its worth having to fork out a loud more money! Thought it wouild be nice a simple

Thanks in advance!

WOODY

<<<Shure, dynamic cardioid microphone, C606. Neodymium magnet.>>>

Shure Brothers makes very nice microphones. A Dynamic microphone works by moving a thin coil of wire in front of a powerful magnet. It generates electrical signals on its own from the power of your voice and doesn't need phantom power or batteries.

Neodymiun is a type of powerful magnet. Cardioid microphones pick up mostly from the front, not all around.

It is extraordinarily difficult to damage a dynamic microphone.

Did you plug the microphone into the Mic-In of your computer? Sometimes it's a pink connection. Open up the Windows sound panels and turn the volumes all the way up?

Does your Windows panel have a setting for "+20dB Mic Boost?" That's important for this type of microphone. If you don't have that, the performance capture will probably always be low. Your only option is to capture as it is and then boost the volume later with the Amplify tools in Audacity.

Sometimes computer makers do this when their sound system is very noisy. If yours is like this, then you will probably always get noisy recordings no matter how you amplify them in post production.

<<<i would need somthing to boost the sound and he mentioned a external sound card or a mixer.>>>

Now there we agree.

http://audacityteam.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=9477

Koz