iMic volume/noise issues

[steve]

XLR leads are much preferred for microphones.

[kozikowski]

It's not the only thing I can think of.

According to the specs on the Mic Pre, the output is a balanced RTS connection. That's very different from what the iMic is expecting. There you need an unbalanced connection to simulate plugging in a computer microphone.

<<<My mic was plugged into its large jack and then the preamp plugged into the iMic>>>

Wait, you're not plugged into the XLR3 female on the MicPre? I'm getting a headache. Where did you plug in to the MicPre and what does the connector say?

The microphone cable doesn't match on both ends, does it? It's probably female XLR3 on one end (three holes inside) and Something Else on the other. Does it look like this...

http://www.ace4parts.com/Products/Unbal ... -1590.aspx

If that's not it, find a picture on line that shows us what you do have.

And winding this down, What kind of computer do you have that features no audio connections? Macs have no provision for microphone connections, but you posted in the Windows section.

And don't buy or sell anything further until we figure out what you already have. I personally think you have the the makings of a very nice sound channel. We just have to unscramble it a little.

Koz

[Aidan Weisz]

Extensive sound shaping through the use of various microphones can minimize such disturbances and enhance the sound, but it's much simpler and therefore cheaper to begin in a pristine audio environment.

[steve]

Aidan Weisz - while contributions to discussions are most welcome, this is not a free advertising space so please stay on topic. Your irrelevant advert has been deleted.

[tymime]

The microphone cable doesn't match on both ends, does it? It's probably female XLR3 on one end (three holes inside) and Something Else on the other. Does it look like this...

http://www.ace4parts.com/Products/Unbal ... -1590.aspx

If that's not it, find a picture on line that shows us what you do have.

Yes, that's exactly what my cable looks like. It's all I've got at the moment.

And winding this down, What kind of computer do you have that features no audio connections? Macs have no provision for microphone connections, but you posted in the Windows section.

As I said in my first post, I've been running Windows via Boot Camp, but lately (after being hit by Conficker) I've been using the Mac half of my computer. I admit I'm pretty much a Mac convert now, so it's probably best to move the thread.

[kozikowski]

You should probably leave it here for a bit. This is also the down side of holding a message stream for hundreds of postings. All the elves answer multiple questions and the longer ones are hard to follow.

There is no provision for plugging your microphone directly into a Mac.

So you need a mixer or microphone preamplifier adapted to either the 1/8" analog High Level in, the 1/8" optical digital in, or the digital USB in. I think there are FireWire solutions, too, but they're rare.

I understand this is total overkill, but I use one of these...

http://www.zzounds.com/item--SHUSM58

...through one of these...

http://www.amazon.com/Shure-2-Channel-S ... B0006NL5T6

Which plugs directly into the analog input of my MacBook Pro.

The mixer allows me to plug my headphones in to monitor the show and mess with the mix and volume, but the most important thing it does is make up the thousand to one difference between the microphone level and the Mac level.

Most sane people opt for one of the many nice USB devices, some of which are reviewed here...

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

Koz

[kozikowski]

<<<Windows via Boot Camp>>>

Does that mean you're using Mac/Intel/Leopard?

Koz

[tymime]

Does that mean you're using Mac/Intel/Leopard?

Uh, yeah.

You know, I'd really rather not buy a new microphone or preamp. I picked out the mic specifically for capturing my voice (guitar too), so I'd like to know what I need to get what I have working. I'm sure the money-back-guarantee period is over on both items.

[kozikowski]

<<<Uh, yeah.>>>

Me, too.

I thought I'd mention that you're on the wrong Audacity. There is no unconditionally stable Audacity 1.2 for us. We need to be on 1.3.7 or whatever is current.

Koz

[kozikowski]

We're still missing one piece. The iMic that I had and hated had 1/8" (3.5mm) connections on it, not 1/4" (6.3mm) phone sockets. We know what the microphone is. Show us the web site of your iMic.

Koz