I hope this posting works

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

I'm a writer and what I'm trying to do is record my latest book for DVD or
CD. I've got good computer skills and should be able to understand nearly
anything you tell me.

I have a good sound card, a Sound Blaster Audigy 2 24 bit card. I have good
software, SoundForge. And, I have a mic that I used when I played in rock
bands not long ago. So, my equipment is fine, or should be.

BUT, I can't get anything worth working with. The Noise level is so high
that I can barely make out what I've recorded. I know there are several
possibilities for areas that would cause the noise, but I've not been able
to track it down.

Any help? Thanks a bundle

Holden

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

"Jeff Foster" <jfoster79@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:CN1_d.16009$yp.6810@newssvr11.news.prodigy.com...
>
> "Holden" <holden@powerverbs.com> wrote in message
> news:nK1_d.11191$C47.1235@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
>> I'm a writer and what I'm trying to do is record my latest book for DVD
>> or
>> CD. I've got good computer skills and should be able to understand
>> nearly
>> anything you tell me.
>>
>> I have a good sound card, a Sound Blaster Audigy 2 24 bit card. I have
>> good
>> software, SoundForge. And, I have a mic that I used when I played in
>> rock
>> bands not long ago. So, my equipment is fine, or should be.
>>
>> BUT, I can't get anything worth working with. The Noise level is so high
>> that I can barely make out what I've recorded. I know there are several
>> possibilities for areas that would cause the noise, but I've not been
>> able
>> to track it down.
>>
>> Any help? Thanks a bundle
>>
>> Holden
>>
>>
>
> two questions...
>
> 1: What kind of noise are you getting? Is it a hum? Is it white noise
> (hiss)? Etc.
>
> 2: How is your mic connected to your PC?
>
> Jeff


And what brand and model of mic?

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Wow... I've not heard of mics using RCA plugs very often. Audio-Technica's
website lists that mic as having a standard Male XLR plug. If you are using
an adapter to take the XLR plug to an RCA and then another to take it from
RCA to 1/8th", check you adapters to make certain that they are connecting
the right pins to the right places. I.E. Pin2 on the XLR is the positive.
Pin 3 should be combined with pin 1 at one of the adapters. Neither pin 1
or 3 should be combined with pin 2.

The mic should be fine for recording speech. First, I would check to make
certain that you have the mic plug/adapter plugged into the "mic" in port
and not the "Line" in port. Second, check your windows recording mixer or
your software settings to ensure that the "mic" channel is turned up to a
decent level. If the mic setting is near the bottom of the slider area,
move it up towards the top end.

Check those and post back...

Jeff


"Holden" <holden@powerverbs.com> wrote in message
news:Gh2_d.11201$C47.3390@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
> THe noise is white nosie. I believe the problmem could be with the
> connection to the computer. The mic uses an RCA type connector. I've had
> to reduce that to a tiny plug that will fit into my sound card. That is
> very suspect!.
> The mic is an Audiotechnia ATM41A. It's not the world's greatest, but
> worked fine with the band as a voice mic.
>
> THanks for your help.
>
> Holden
>
> "John L Rice" <Drummer@ImJohn.com> wrote in message
> news:113hb2u3hf253e8@corp.supernews.com...
>>
>> "Jeff Foster" <jfoster79@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:CN1_d.16009$yp.6810@newssvr11.news.prodigy.com...
>> >
>> > "Holden" <holden@powerverbs.com> wrote in message
>> > news:nK1_d.11191$C47.1235@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
>> >> I'm a writer and what I'm trying to do is record my latest book for
>> >> DVD
>> >> or
>> >> CD. I've got good computer skills and should be able to understand
>> >> nearly
>> >> anything you tell me.
>> >>
>> >> I have a good sound card, a Sound Blaster Audigy 2 24 bit card. I
>> >> have
>> >> good
>> >> software, SoundForge. And, I have a mic that I used when I played in
>> >> rock
>> >> bands not long ago. So, my equipment is fine, or should be.
>> >>
>> >> BUT, I can't get anything worth working with. The Noise level is so
> high
>> >> that I can barely make out what I've recorded. I know there are
> several
>> >> possibilities for areas that would cause the noise, but I've not been
>> >> able
>> >> to track it down.
>> >>
>> >> Any help? Thanks a bundle
>> >>
>> >> Holden
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>> > two questions...
>> >
>> > 1: What kind of noise are you getting? Is it a hum? Is it white noise
>> > (hiss)? Etc.
>> >
>> > 2: How is your mic connected to your PC?
>> >
>> > Jeff
>>
>>
>> And what brand and model of mic?
>>
>>
>
>

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Good Greif! This looks like I may have started something that will soon
have me spending more money than I want and still have me in over my head.
But I've done this before with my computers so what's new. Please pardon my
lack of vocabulay in describing what I have. Yes, it is an XLR connector,
typical of old bands. I have felt very uncomfortable with the adapter to
get the plug down to a size that fits into my computer, but I don't see the
alternative. Except, the idea of a preamp could solve the problem to some
extent. Perhaps that is my starting place. The $150 price is more than I
planned, but not out of my reach. I will look up the one you recomended.

Again, thanks for your help. Makes sense that the first place to look is
the preamp and also see if there is a connector that will not have to go
thru the XLR to a plug that fits my computer. That's a bg of trouble right
there.

Holden


"Richard Crowley" <richard.7.crowley@intel.com> wrote in message
news1ac7l$qai$1@news01.intel.com...
> "Holden" wrote ...
> > THe noise is white nosie. I believe the problmem could be with the
> > connection to the computer. The mic uses an RCA type connector. I've
had
> > to reduce that to a tiny plug that will fit into my sound card. That is
> > very suspect!.
> > The mic is an Audiotechnia ATM41A. It's not the world's greatest, but
> > worked fine with the band as a voice mic.
>
> According to Audio Technica, the mic uses a male XLR connector
> (on the back-end of the mic) You must have a cable with a female
> XLR connector and something on the "computer end". Seems unlikely
> that it is "RCA", perhaps it is a 1/4" phone plug? What did you use
> it with before?
>
> In any case, the quality of the mic preamps in typical compter sound
> cards ranges from marginal to horrible. You appear to have demonstrated
> that for yourself. Of course you should confirm that all the connections,
> adapters (which you didn't mention?), etc. are working "nominally" (as
> they say at NASA). Does your sound card have a "+20Db boost"
> function?
>
> Your Sound Blaster may not be as highly regarded in this circle as you
> might hope. You will likely need, at minimum, an external mic preamp
> that feeds line-level into your Sound Blaster. Many people who are
> looking for a bit better quality use external mic preamp/USB interface
> products like the M-Audio Mobil Pre USB (<US$150 street price)
> This provides a decent mic preamp, phantom power (for condenser
> mics), and a clean audio path into (and out of) your computer.
>
>

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Holden,
Have you considered the possibility that pro audio (like professional writing)
may look to an outsider like "anyone can do it," but that this may not be the
case? Maybe a pro could give you much better results faster, without the
hassles. It would be worth checking into, in my biased opinion.

Yours,
Dan Popp
Colors Audio
USA

Holden wrote:

> I'm a writer and what I'm trying to do is record my latest book for DVD or
> CD. I've got good computer skills and should be able to understand nearly
> anything you tell me.
>
> I have a good sound card, a Sound Blaster Audigy 2 24 bit card. I have good
> software, SoundForge. And, I have a mic that I used when I played in rock
> bands not long ago. So, my equipment is fine, or should be.
>
> BUT, I can't get anything worth working with. The Noise level is so high
> that I can barely make out what I've recorded. I know there are several
> possibilities for areas that would cause the noise, but I've not been able
> to track it down.
>
> Any help? Thanks a bundle
>
> Holden

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

It sounds like to me you are missing a crucial ingredient... a mic pre
amp. You can't just plug a microphone directly into the soundcard, or
even into a stereo amp... you need a mic pre. You can buy a cheap
little mixer that will do the trick, but it's still not going to sound
like the profesionally recorded audio books which are done in real
studios (with real actors), unless you spend some money on better gear
and learn how to use it properly. And you might also need some
outside talent to do the reading if your voice doesn't cut it.

Al

On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 02:12:34 GMT, Dan Popp <ColorsAudio@neo.rr.com>
wrote:

>Holden,
>Have you considered the possibility that pro audio (like professional writing)
>may look to an outsider like "anyone can do it," but that this may not be the
>case? Maybe a pro could give you much better results faster, without the
>hassles. It would be worth checking into, in my biased opinion.
>
>Yours,
>Dan Popp
>Colors Audio
>USA
>
>Holden wrote:
>
>> I'm a writer and what I'm trying to do is record my latest book for DVD or
>> CD. I've got good computer skills and should be able to understand nearly
>> anything you tell me.
>>
>> I have a good sound card, a Sound Blaster Audigy 2 24 bit card. I have good
>> software, SoundForge. And, I have a mic that I used when I played in rock
>> bands not long ago. So, my equipment is fine, or should be.
>>
>> BUT, I can't get anything worth working with. The Noise level is so high
>> that I can barely make out what I've recorded. I know there are several
>> possibilities for areas that would cause the noise, but I've not been able
>> to track it down.
>>
>> Any help? Thanks a bundle
>>
>> Holden

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

In article <DU2_d.11213$C47.10333@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com> holden@powerverbs.com writes:

> Good Greif! This looks like I may have started something that will soon
> have me spending more money than I want and still have me in over my head.

Yes, that's a problem when you get into audio recording on a computer,
and you expose yourself to Usenet, where everyone likes to spend
someone else's money.

> Yes, it is an XLR connector,
> typical of old bands. I have felt very uncomfortable with the adapter to
> get the plug down to a size that fits into my computer

As well you should. Hanging an XLR on to a mini jack will ruin the
jack very quickly. Spend the money. You'll get rich from your book.
(isn't that the idea, any way?)


--
I'm really Mike Rivers (mrivers@d-and-d.com)
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me here: double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Holden wrote wrote:

> I have a good sound card, a Sound Blaster Audigy 2 24 bit card. I have good
> software, SoundForge. And, I have a mic that I used when I played in rock
> bands not long ago. So, my equipment is fine, or should be.

Looks to me like you mave a mediocre soundcard, no decent mic preamp,
and the wrong mic for the job. Your equipment is probably not fine.

--
ha