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Subject:improving sound of voice recording
Posted by: nursescott
Date:4/27/2005 6:44:06 PM

I'm brand new to editing. I'm hoping to get advice on improving the sound of voices (recorded speech). I'm using a professional XLR condenser mic, which I first tried running through a tube pre-amp, but it produced way too much background hum. I've switched to an M-Audio mobile pre-amp, which is quieter but not perfect. I'll live with the hum until I can afford Noise Reducer.

So here is my question: The voice sound quality is good, but the driver on the tube pre-amp made the recording sound much richer than the current amp. What can I manipulate to warm up the recording to compensate for the shortcomings of this pre-amp?

Subject:RE: improving sound of voice recording
Reply by: musicvid10
Date:4/27/2005 8:59:49 PM

Umm, the first question is pretty obvious: what "professional XLR condenser mic" are you using?
Other, less obvious, but equally significant issues, are:
1) You shouldn't notice any significant difference in hum between a tube preamp and the M-Audio, unless you have a ground loop/polarity issue. Does your tube preamp have a ground lift button? What model is it?
2) Is the preamp your only inline device between the mic and the soundcard? If not, a passive direct box with ground lift is your quietest option, assuming the sound card can provide the needed gain-without-noise.
3) What audio interface or sound card are you using?

Subject:RE: improving sound of voice recording
Reply by: jumbuk
Date:4/27/2005 9:09:16 PM

Does sound like you have a problem with input levels or groundloops or something like that - your audio should have very little background noise at all, no hum.

I assume you are using phantom power on the input to the pre-amp. You should have your input gain set so you are getting a reasonable level on the metering in the pre. If there is a headphone socket on the pre-amp, try this to check that the audio going in is hum-free. Otherwise, try plugging the ouput from the pre straight into a monitor input (or your home stereo if no monitors) and check that it is clean.

Where are you plugging the pre into on your soundcard? Are the gains and impedances matched or set right? Does the pre have balanced or unbalanced outs?

Subject:RE: improving sound of voice recording
Reply by: Andreas S.
Date:4/27/2005 10:06:10 PM

Like the others, it sounds like a bit of a ground loop issue, though your mic seems a bit suspect. I've never heard any hum or buzz except out of really OLD mics which need new tubes etc.

I actually use a solid state mic for vocals (even the Studio Projects C1 is nice - and inexpensive) and in portable/remote situations I use an M-AUDIO Audio Buddy for phantom power and an ART DI/O - a digital IO preamp with tube processing (pre AD) which allows me to add/remove tube warmth if I want it (or not - keeps me covered in various situations).

But rather than worrying about processing out the buzz/hum, find the source of it first. First easy step: change mics and see if the problem persists. If it does, then you know it's probably your mic pre-amp...or some other ground loop issue.

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