Microphones

contour · Post by **contour** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 4:58 pm

Hi - thanks for the help so far & hoping I got names right in my replies.

I've now started doing voice overs with audacity and making progress.

One problem though:

My Sony One Point Stereo Electret Condenser Microphone ( maybe twenty years old) produces clear but very low level input. I've managed to boost it with the rubber band and other options in VS 11.5 Plus but it is not really enough.

What my options are please?

Can I use a reasonably priced pre-amp or will I have to buy a new microphone? I've converted its pair of .25 inch stereo output plugs to the single twin motherboard input (using a Maplins UK converter).

Thanks in anticipation, warmest regards

grif.

2Dogs · Post by **2Dogs** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 5:17 pm

Hi Grif,

glad to hear you're now Audacious!

Have you made sure that you have the input levels turned up in the Windows sound control settings?

On my system, which has onboard Realtek audio, I have a "speaker" icon in my system tray. I can click on that, or go to "Control Panel > Sounds and Audio Devices" then click on the "Advanced" button which brings up the "Master Volume" window. Click on "Options > Properties" which will bring up the "Properties" window. Check the "Recording" radio button and in the large box you should see "Stereo Mix" , "Microphone" and "CD Player". (maybe even some others, depending on your system)

You can check all of these, but certainly at least the "Microphone" box. When you click the "OK" button, you are returned to the "Recording Control" window. In that, make sure that the select box for "Microphone" is checked, and that the slider is all the way up. On my Realtek audio, there is an additional "Advanced" button under the Microphone settings. Clicking on that gives access to a "microphone boost" button which might just help.

If all the relevant volume sliders described above are already maxed out, you could be out of luck...

P.S. all of the above would have been much simpler with captured screenshots of the various windows, but I have yet to find a way of including those without linking to image hosting sites, which is a bit too clunky for quick replies.

contour · Post by **contour** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 6:10 pm

Thanks 2 Dogs

I think I've tried all that you suggest both in Windows Master Volume and in Audacity. But, after supper, I'll read your response more carefully.

I seem to recall that the ECM-99 always was a "quiet" microphone. I bought it for use with a portable Sony Stereo Tape Recorder TC - 152 SD and it gave good results. but that was a good twenty years ago.

warmest regards

grif

dazzler2 · Post by **dazzler2** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 8:28 pm

Hi,
One of the best investments I've made for sound recording, narration etc was to purchase an Olympus Digital Voice VN-4100PC recorder for about $70. It functions as;
a An external voice recoder creating a new file which it places in one of its four folders each time you start/stop recording.

b It has an immense capacity and can record high quality music.

c functions as an external quality mike, feeding the recording directly into the PC instead of having to transfer the file later.

d Permits high quality narrations.

Dazzler2

contour · Post by **contour** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:17 pm

Thanks Dazzler2

Sounds interesting, will check out here in the UK

warmest regards

grif

GuyL · Post by **GuyL** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:36 pm

I use a Samson CO-1U mic. It is a USB mic that works very well. I have it on a stand that sits at the coner of my desk and I have the arm coming over to hang the mic just above my eye level. The mic is upside down. I look like I'm playing radio host but it works very well.

http://www.samsontech.com/products/prod ... rodID=1810

contour · Post by **contour** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:23 am

Thanks GuyL, will study your suggestions. I'll let you all know how I get on with my eventual outcomes.

warmest regards

grif

mykoalabear · Post by **mykoalabear** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:32 am

I bought a clip-on microphone from Dick Smiths for $9 and surprise surprise it's rubbish! Same problem as the OP, low levels - you have to almost touch the thing to get any volume, and then of course you get distortion and breath noise.

I guess you need to shell out for a decent mike if you're going to do voice-overs on a regular basis. Nothing much on eBay unfortunately...

Paul

contour · Post by **contour** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:48 am

Thanks Paul and thanks everyone for the help given.

I've bought a stereo phono pre-amp for £25Gb from Maplin SP-24B www.maplin.co.uk I think. Whilst unfortunately I have to use the line input to my computer and there is some acoustic feedback if I'm not careful, I'm getting good quality voice overs with room to manouvre either way volume wise.

I've also bought a USB turnable from the same source and it seems OK at £79.99GB.

Thanks all

grif

2Dogs · Post by **2Dogs** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 3:49 pm

So now your master plan for world domination is almost complete, Grif!

Should we expect to hear your eery voice as all our TV screens are taken over by your fiendish plot?

contour · Post by **contour** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 4:24 pm

Yes 2Dogs - its a Celtish plot so beware of the melifluous tones.

Yet, there's still a lot of elevation still needed on the 11.5 plus learning curve to achieve that domination. It could take a long time with lots more questions to be put.

Incidentally, there seems to be reluctance to show a GB pound sterling sign in these postings, I've noticed from my last posting.

Remember, never forget the tripod.

warmest regards

grif

2Dogs · Post by **2Dogs** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 4:39 pm

You're right - I'd never noticed that before with the GBP's - but I tend to convert mine into $$, since the exchange rate has been pretty good for a while!

¢G is what I get from the GBP sign on my (UK spec) laptop on this forum. There might be a way of using the character map to generate the real character - perhaps sjj1805 could point us to one of his tutorials on the matter!

mykoalabear · Post by **mykoalabear** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:32 am

Interesting. I can insert the Pound sign, Yen and Cent symbols in the text box by using the ALT + commands, but when you preview, they're all replaced with ?

Paul

mykoalabear · Post by **mykoalabear** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:33 am

Interesting. I can insert the Pound sign, Yen and Cent symbols in the text box by using the ALT + commands, but when you preview, they're all replaced with ?

Paul

Clevo · Post by **Clevo** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:45 am

I was impressed with the levels but for a mic I was forced to use a logitec combo headphone/mic I bought for my partner for her Skype account.

After some experimenting I found if I tuck the swivel mic under my chin and not move my head around too much I get good clarity and volume.