Shure PG-58 won't record.

[fullmetalfunk]

I have been using Audacity for about a month and a half now. I was using a cheap Radioshack microphone that that just had a 1/4" jack on it, which I plugged into an 1/8" adapter to use on my computer. It worked fine but I needed a little better audio quality so I went out and bought an XLR to 1/4" cable to use my Shure PG-58 mic. However, now it will not record, all I get is a flat line. The radioshack mic still works but the Shure will not. The cable is fine and so is the mic. So my set up is: PG-58--> XLR to 1/4" cable--> 1/4" to 1/8" adapter--> Computer. If anyone could help me I would greatly greatly appreciate it. Thank you.

[kozikowski]

Your eventual goal is one of these...

http://www.kozco.com/tech/audacity/UnbalBalAdapter.jpg

That is a Balanced (three-wire) to Unbalanced (two wire) converter. That converter will plug straight into the Mic-In of any PC. The trick is to make that converter. I don't know of any way to get there without constructing it with tools and soldering irons. That's the wiring formula on the top of the diagram, by the way, if you know somebody handy with tools.

The expensive way out is a USB sound adapter with a 3-pin XLR input.

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

There's nothing wrong with the microphone. Manufacturing a microphone like that allows it to send its very high quality signals over hundreds of feet of microphone cable with no damage. Home microphones have problems with cables much over about six feet.

Koz

[fullmetalfunk]

Thankds man. I actually figured out the problem. Instead of XLR to 1/4" instrument cable it's XLR to 1/4" TRS. Evidentally my adapter won't take TRS. I just need to find a different cable. Thanks though.