condenser mic and pre amp

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Music is my boyfriend
Member Since: Jan 31, 2008

hey peeps, long time!!
ok so i finally got a condenser mic and pre am cuz lexicon dont have it....opinions on this mic??? Audio-technica AT2035...payed 199.00$ ...small budget
and also got the Art Tube MP tube mic preamp....im not too familiar with this thing really, i guess i need it for my condenser mic...not sure what my volumes should be and basically the fundamentals in using this, never had too?

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Typo Szar
Member
Since: Jul 04, 2002


Dec 13, 2009 11:35 pm

From wat i remember about the audio-technica it should be could quite a sufficient mic for all around uses and most ppl have said good things about the ART tube pre, especially if ur just getting started in that world like urself

in terms of levels i dont think it differs depending on wat mic if were talking about the final recording level coz ull obviously want it to be far from clipping but not so low ur mixing in the noise floor, so basically if ur final record level is neatly in the green u should be golden. Ofcourse condensor mics with tube pres will want to get into the red alot faster than dynamics so ull have to work a bit more with it to get that optimum level. condensors r also more sensitive than dynamics to things like distance and position. best thing is to just put on some headphones and see wat happens when but like i said the end result for all mics is more or less the same, just the path to getting there has different obstacles.

Music is my boyfriend
Member
Since: Jan 31, 2008


Dec 16, 2009 05:57 pm

thanks! but now i connected everything i think the right way but all i hear is a buzzing sound, and no vocal in the mic..hmmm what did i do wrong lol????? Im dense with this stuff!!!!

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 16, 2009 06:00 pm

holy crap, look who's back!

Music is my boyfriend
Member
Since: Jan 31, 2008


Dec 16, 2009 06:00 pm

haha ai know did yah miss me or what

Music is my boyfriend
Member
Since: Jan 31, 2008


Dec 16, 2009 06:01 pm

Deleted By muzika

Music is my boyfriend
Member
Since: Jan 31, 2008


Dec 16, 2009 06:04 pm

but i need help im so frustrated cuz im so cluless with this ****!! i neeeed to start recording lol
i have the art tube mp and the lexicon alpha...plugged the mic into the tube then another mic chord from tube to lexicon...i did that right..right?...buzzing sound thats it..and no vocals...and this P-PWR and input and gain and output and ahhhhhhhhhhh!!! seriously no knoledge...i know what the P-PWR deos, but anyway 1st things 1st how do i get this stupid *** noise outta my phones???

Music is my boyfriend
Member
Since: Jan 31, 2008


Dec 16, 2009 06:05 pm

haha u can even say bum word starting with a on here can yah :P

Music is my boyfriend
Member
Since: Jan 31, 2008


Dec 16, 2009 06:59 pm

ok i think i fixed it lol..theres only now a faint slight can barely hear it buzz, but i dontwant nothin at all, im nto even sure its even noticable, may just be being too paranoid lol

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007


Dec 17, 2009 02:47 am

what your doing by going from yer tube amp to the lex with the XLR, is going thru 2 sets of pre's.

the Lex will have pre's (though not good ones) and so basicly youre going thru the 2.
Mic>Tube pre>Lex pre's>computer.

and now...to make things more confusing for you.

you'll need to go from your new Tube pre's "spdif" out, (which is digital out, at the back somewhere)

then Into your Lex's "digital in" or equivalent. This basicly bypasses the pre's in your Lex which are crap.
this,
plus you dont wanna be going thru 2 pre's. Trust me it makes a massive difference.

One thing though, you'll absolutely need to buy a "digital RCA" lead for this. Dont use an audio one, or you could kill everything.

good choice on the pre, they are supposed to be sweet.
As for the P PWR thingy did you say you knew what it was or not?

not sure what the buzzing noise is, shouldnt be there though. could well be the routing i just mentioned.

Music is my boyfriend
Member
Since: Jan 31, 2008


Dec 17, 2009 04:58 pm

ya thats what im doing no? i have one part of the mic chord goin into the output on the tubeMP, then the other part of it is in ..well the only mic chord hole there is in the lexicon...I was told that there was so pre amp in the lexicon?? ok so i have that hooked right then ay? i figured out that the major buzzing left after i slowly turned up the gain then back down, then the noise went away, theres only a tiny slight buzz now can barely hear, but still cant have that..I do know what PPSR is yes...an dya my voice now iwht this mic and preamp is so much smoother, alot better...

Music is my boyfriend
Member
Since: Jan 31, 2008


Dec 17, 2009 05:00 pm

oh and whats this digital RCA thing? why do i need that what sit for where deos it go lol??

Music is my boyfriend
Member
Since: Jan 31, 2008


Dec 17, 2009 05:00 pm

Deleted By muzika

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007


Dec 17, 2009 07:27 pm

the RCA input is usually for audio, but in this case its for digtial info.
you would use this on your Lexicon digital in and on your tube amp digital out. they are also known as "SPDIF" in/outputs.

does the Lexicon have that input? your tube amp will do for sure.
if the Lex does, then i would use that input. but remember to buy a proper digital cable from the music shop, dont use just any chord that looks like it will fit.

I could be wrong but, it sounds like you are going thru the Lexicon's mic input as well as the tube amps mic input at the same time.

this can be a bit dodgey and could be the reason your getting this buzzing noise. something could be peaking out.

when you hear this buzzing, check all your level metres and make sure they arent in the red.

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Dec 17, 2009 09:34 pm

Which Lexicon unit to you have? I was under the impression that all of their series of interfaces had built-in mic pres. You'll know by looking at how the inputs are labelled. If they say "Mic input" then they're preamped. If they say "Line input" then they're not.

Putting a signal through more than 1 preamplification stage is a recipe for excessive noise. So I'm thinking that the Lexicon has preamps in it already.

The Tube MP is probably about the same class of preamp as the ones in the Lexicon. It's probably darker, less high frequencies than the solid-state ones in the Lexicon. I don't own a Lexicon but I do own a Tube MP Studio and all I use it for is a bass DI. It made my recordings too dull sounding when everything in the mix was sent through it. It adds up when all the tracks are stacked on top of each other and the high frequency loss gets pretty noticable. It's not a terrible pre, but I tend to use the ones in my mixer instead.

Oh, and the Tube MP doesn't have S/PDIF. Just the normal analog 1/4" and XLR inputs and outputs.

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007


Dec 17, 2009 10:34 pm

yeah i was thinking of a different pre. I had a lexicon a while back and that one had pre's. i dunno that theres much out there these days that dont have pre's.


Music is my boyfriend
Member
Since: Jan 31, 2008


Dec 17, 2009 11:41 pm

well my lexicon is the small lexicon alpha box, in the front its got the instrument plus/headphone plug/line in instrum./line 2 mic/monitor mix/output level, and a stereo button..now thats in the front, and in the back in see one mic chord plug/line in one and 2 which are like smaller round holes and line out L R which are the same, then 2 smaller ones one red R one white L...that the best i can explain lol can i get pics on here? anyway and on my art tube MP its the smaller one again, its one got in the front input knob, then gain button, then PPWR botton then phase reverse button, then the output knob, thats int he front, then in the back its got the in and out mic chord holes in the middle and on each end the smaller black holes, input and output..i dont knwo all the technical terms so hopefully u can picture what the heck im saying lol..
now on the lexicon they say LINE input..now the buzzing is so faint now barely noticable, but its still there u know...whats XLR output and input? Anfd the reason i had to buy the tube MP was cuz there was no P PWR in the lexicon, i had no choice, BUT i find my vocals with this tubemp sound SOOOO much smoother, better sound, they pick up my vabrato better, i like what it deos there...

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007


Dec 18, 2009 12:00 am

if you have a line in on the Lex then i would be pluggin the tube pre into that.

im pretty sure that will be ok.

mic inputs have a gain knob and a pre.

line inputs have no pre and no vol knob so its good for you to go thru that from your tube pre.

when you use 2 mic inputs there is too much poweer going on there and you could fry something

try the line in and see if that kills the buzz.

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Dec 18, 2009 12:06 pm

OK, now that you're using the Tube MP as your preamp and sending it into a line input of your Lexicon Alpha, the noise has been reduced. But you say that it's still audible.

The ART has balanced outputs and the Alpha has balanced line inputs. So you can use a balanced cable between the two to help reduce noise.

XLR cables are the standard type of cable used for most microphones. They're the larger, 3-pronged cables with the locking latch that holds them in place. These cables and the sockets they plug into are balanced by nature. You probably have one of these cables plugged between your microphone and the ART.

The smaller connectors are known as 1/4" connectors. They are the standard connections for amplified musical instruments. They come in 2 varieties, balanced (TS) and unbalanced (TRS). Since the outputs on your ART are balanced and the line inputs on your Alpha are balanced, you can use balanced cable to connect them. Next time you're at the music store, ask for balanced 1/4" cables or TRS cables and they should be able to point you to the right cable.

For reference, here's an XLR connector:


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Xlr-connectors.jpg/180px-Xlr-connectors.jpg



And here's a 1/4" connector (both TS and TRS...look at the number of little black bands around the connector to tell them apart. 1 black band [TS, or Tip Sleeve] means unbalanced, 2 black bands [TRS, or Tip Ring Sleeve] means balanced):


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Jack_plug.png/300px-Jack_plug.png


Music is my boyfriend
Member
Since: Jan 31, 2008


Dec 18, 2009 01:46 pm

yes i have one XLR connector from mic to tubmp, then anopther XLR connector from tubeMP to lexicon...thats the way to do it, ot should i be using those 1/4" connectors from the tube to lexicon and not the XLR's??
what are the 1/4" connectors for? intruments right? not the mic? like do i have this connected right lol?

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Dec 18, 2009 04:56 pm

The XLR inputs on the Alpha are going to be preamped. I'd recommend using a 1/4" cable to connect the ART and the Alpha, preferably a TRS cable. A standard instrument cable will work and will probably get rid of the hum by allowing you to use the line inputs on the Alpha instead of the mic inputs.

If you're going to plug a mic directly into the Alpha, use the Mic input. If you're going to plug a preamp into the Alpha, use the Line inputs.

Hopefully that'll get you going in the right direction. The way you've got it hooked up right now, you're preamping the signal twice, which will almost always cause hum or noise.

Music is my boyfriend
Member
Since: Jan 31, 2008


Dec 19, 2009 02:29 pm

ahh ok so i got it wrong haha , darn now i gotta go buy one of those TSR cables....so is that what i ask for a balanced TSR cable? 1/4"?
and i would use that then for the mic and instruments? im more concerened bout my mic right now...

Music is my boyfriend
Member
Since: Jan 31, 2008


Dec 19, 2009 02:31 pm

oh would a guitar cable work for the mic???

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Dec 20, 2009 01:25 am

Yes, an instrument cable will work fine going between your ART preamp and the line input of the Lexicon. If you still have noise with the instrument cable, then you'll probably want to try a balanced TRS 1/4" cable.

I don't think that a balanced cable will work for instruments though. The 3-conductor design might not agree with the input jack on a guitar, but I've never tried it myself.

Here's a good page that gets into detail about the different cables you'll find in a studio or home studio (scroll down a bit to the "Common Analog Cables" part):

www.tweakheadz.com/all_about_cables.htm

Music is my boyfriend
Member
Since: Jan 31, 2008


Dec 20, 2009 02:20 pm

ok i will do all this, and let u know..thanks so much for your help, geez i dunno what id do without u guys!! ;)

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