mic setup

[Flange]

Hey, I havent recorded with my mic for a while so ive kind of forgotten a few things. Im using a rodes NT2 and interface is Fireface USB with total mix. I have the phantom power on but I cant hear anything unless I turn up the gain to about 30. Even then the signal in total mix and ableton is only about -24. Is this right? I cant remember having to turn up the gain so high for such a weak signal before.

[silentio246]

Is PAD active on the mic?
Check or change cable?
Does the Fireface USB work with other sources (LINE)?
Try another preamp/mixer etc with the mic?
Check totalmix, can be overwhelming sometimes.

[Flange]

Is PAD active on the mic?
Check or change cable?
Does the Fireface USB work with other sources (LINE)?
Try another preamp/mixer etc with the mic?
Check totalmix, can be overwhelming sometimes.

Hey thanks for reply.
Pad is not active
Checked cable
Fireface has a mic input and you just switch on the phantom in total mix. Not sure what you mean about line etc?
Is it possible to use a different mixer with fireface? I thought total mix was like a built in thing you have to use

[silentio246]

wrong format

[silentio246]

Is PAD active on the mic?
Check or change cable?
Does the Fireface USB work with other sources (LINE)?
Try another preamp/mixer etc with the mic?
Check totalmix, can be overwhelming sometimes.

Hey thanks for reply.
Pad is not active
Checked cable
Fireface has a mic input and you just switch on the phantom in total mix. Not sure what you mean about line etc?
Is it possible to use a different mixer with fireface? I thought total mix was like a built in thing you have to use

I would test the fireface with another source. There are mic- and line-inputs, for keyboards, synths, mixer (sources with higher output level).
Maybe the mic input of the fireface is faulty, therefore it should be investigated, that the fireface is working at all.

You could test the mic alone (without computer) with a mixer or preamp with mic input (and phantom power).
Try to test the components alone, in order to find the faulty one.

[Flange]

wrong format

Huh?

[jlgrimes]

Hey, I havent recorded with my mic for a while so ive kind of forgotten a few things. Im using a rodes NT2 and interface is Fireface USB with total mix. I have the phantom power on but I cant hear anything unless I turn up the gain to about 30. Even then the signal in total mix and ableton is only about -24. Is this right? I cant remember having to turn up the gain so high for such a weak signal before.

Hard to say.

Usually most condenser mics usually wont need much gain but it varies upon mics and preamps.

Generally I find on most preamps/condenser setups, usually anywhere from 25-50% gain will produce healthy mic signal, but in reality it can be lower or higher than this as some condensers are really hot while some vintage condensers can be fairly quiet (also need to keep in mind how loud source signal is, distance from mic etc).

Usually the issue is when you need to drive a condenser to max gain and you are hearing your preamp noise floor. This is common on dynamics but usually not on condensers.

So if you are hearing no noise and no noise when you compress mic recording to a professional level, you are probably fine.

Best thing is to read up on mics sensitivity compared to other condensers. A sensitive mic wont need much preamp gain. With that in mind try another condenser and see how high you have to turn up gain.

Only low output condenser I ran into was an AKG C12VR, but i found that there was a jumper that increased the sensitivity making it behave more/less like a "normal" condenser.

Most interface preamps (even low quality ones) are usually well designed to record a healthy condenser mic signal with no audible preamp noise. There is a youtube guy who kind of explains how mic preamp specs work. It is a bit theoretical but well put together Julian Krauss (i think).


I will say i have a RodeNT1A and it behaves more or less like a normal condenser (about 50% gain on focusrite claret) with no audible noise and a healthy signal. On an Apollo, I only needed to turn knob about 20-25% but it will be different on each preamp.

[silentio246]

wrong format

Huh?

My message had a wrong format, so I deleted it.