Background noise meteor mic recording even though completely quiet in room

[wredwood]

Mac Version: 10.15.4 (Catalina)
Mac:(13-inch, 2017, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
Audacity: 2.3.3
Mic: Samson Meteor Mic (USB, condensor) http://www.samsontech.com/samson/produc ... meteormic/

Hi
My Problem: There is a high background noise on every audio recording I'm doing EVEN THOUGH IT IS COMPLETELY QUIET IN THE ROOM. (listen to file in attachment, maybe crank up your volume) What causes this background noise? Is there a way to make sure it won't be recorded? (I know there are ways to filter it out afterwords with audacity, but I would love not to have that noise in the first place as I am planning on recording many many audios)

What I have tried so far and hasn't had any impact:
-using different usb 3.0 Adapter ports
-downloading the mic-specific software: Samson Sound Deck -> there is an option that sais "digital noise reduction" but it doesn't make any difference whether it is checkd on or off (unless I am too stupid to turn it on correctly -> see screenshot)
-detaching power cable of mac
-Background noise doesn't seem to depend on recording software: Same background noise if audacity or Quicktime is used.

Can anyone help me with this? If you need more specifics pls let me know and I am more than happy to help!

Thanks a lot already
Best,
Chris

[kozikowski]

(I know there are ways to filter it out afterwords with audacity

Maybe not the way you think. I used Mosquito-Killer 4 followed by Medium Noise Reduction and Filter Curve > Low Rolloff for Speech.

background_noiseFiltered.wav

(1.32 MiB) Downloaded 10 times

Microphones make noise. Your job is to make your voice loud enough so the microphone noise isn't a problem.

You have multiple problems. Did you boost the volume before you posted that file? One of the noises is a USB error we've been calling Frying Mosquitoes. There is a very quiet eeeeeee sound in addition to the soft rain in the trees shshshshsshshsh.

How far from the microphone are you? If you have no pop and blast filter, you should be about a Hawaiian shaka away from the microphone.



You can get closer and louder if you use oblique microphone placement (B position).



Closer and louder may be all you need. When you finish reading and before you apply any corrections, your Audacity blue waves tips should be at about the 50% mark. Your posted file should be what the waves look like when you stop reading.

If that was a raw reading, then the microphone may be broken. But I don't think so. I think you're reading very quiet and that's the mistake.

Koz

[wredwood]

Hey Koz

Thank you so much for your very helpful reply!!
I was too far away from the mic - the hang loose rule is awesome.
I still have the high pitched noise in the background but because I spoke louder / closer it is less of an issue and basically noise reduction of audacity did the rest.

So all good, problem solved!

Thanks again and have a good one!

Cheers,
wredwood

[kozikowski]

the hang loose rule is awesome.

You are exactly the first person who recognized that.

That noise is the digital USB system interfering with the analog voice. We have published a Mosquito Killer effect plugin to specifically deal with it.

Mosquito-Killer4.ny

(363 Bytes) Downloaded 21 times

"8 mosquitoes" is usually enough.

That's less likely to damage your voice than heavy Noise Reduction. Reduce the mosquitoes first then use as light a noise reduction as you can get away with. Heavy noise reduction will damage your voice. Many home users find Noise Reduction of the Beast is valuable, 6, 6, 6. At 12, 6, 6, you can hear distortion sneaking in.

Koz

[wredwood]

Hey Koz

You are definitely right about that the noise reduction is also damaging my voice.
I'd like to download the Mosquito-Killer4.ny but didn't work.
-> Is this a mac version (as I am using a mac)?
->if so, what application do I need to download to open the .ny file? Or since it is a plugin - is it opened directly in audacity?

Thanks a lot for your help already - you really are helping me out here.
Best,
wredwood

[wredwood]

...I figured it out in the meantime.

Thanks tho for everything!
Cheers

[wredwood]

Another question:

Could a mixer solve this problem? Becuause, yes, I can do it now. But am planning to do a lot of video recordings (with audio through the meteor mic).
But this will still result in the frying mosquito noise.
So I was wondering if there is ANY way, the frying mosquito noise will be eliminated / not even recorded while recording?
I red somewhere that this might be hard, when working on a laptop (which I am).

Best,
wredwood