Master VO

Greetings O Wise One.

Calgary, AB 

You have chosen wisely to venture to the Temple of Modern Modulation. Its a long walk from the Canadian High Prairie! Ye Hah~

The prognosis is very good Grasshopper Greg. You say that "Since then" your levels have been low,-20db.

Simple logic would make me ask what occurred between "then" and "now?"

Looking at your system, you've maintained your mental consistency and have chosen wisely again, component wise. THe AKG Perception is 200 is an excellent VO mic. A Presonus Firebox is a workhorse, 2 channel DI. I use one myself here in the legendary "Black Hole Of Calcutta" studio. Its real quiet. The software mixer that comes with it is a tad confusing, and if you're not recording K.D. Lang's next album for her, you really don't need it.

Adobe Audition is a favorite recording software of many. Personally, I have gone to Adobe's newer single voice track recorder "Soundbooth CS3." listen to my experts podcast review of it at:
ExpertsPodcasts

Adobe is upgrading that to CS4 and I've tested the Beta. It now has multitrack capability and sounds even better as they are using improved codecs. It should be out sometime this summer.

Your audio level problem should not be from your microphone, unless of course you dropped it. No, I think your level problems are most likely computer based. Many times, for whatever reasons, the gods at Microsoft make their operating systems mysteriously glitch, sending settings of various systems into complete disarray. Try:

#1 going into your control panel (Windows that is) and check your audio settings there. First make sure the Firebox is your default audio input source. If it is not. Make it so. Also, check the Presonus Website for any Firmware updates. IF thats all good, try raising your levels up from there (From the windows mixer). If its still low,

#2. the problem lies with the Firebox. And Its not a problem, its a setting. Use the Firebox Control (its software that came with the drivers)(The Icon has a hammer on it) and make sure it is recognizing the Firebox. Also there is a +12db boost switch on the Firebox control window. Try that and see if that raises the levels.

The Firebox sounds great when you get it configured right. Its tricky but worth it. I might suggest you get a mic pre-amp too, but the Firebox has a good pre-amp for Condenser mics, which need very little boost.

I think anyone unfamiliar with these steps can be left as dazed and confused as you were. Now however, you have become enlightend. Of course if I'm wrong, you might consider the great, personal touch, tech support service PreSonus has. They know their stuff and they respond with real humans.

Report back to the VO DOJO and let us know if that worked.

Master VO ...Out

((((((GONG)))))))

Hi Master VO,

Fred

Hi Fred,

If you read my last entry on sound cards:
Master VO Sound cards
you'd see where I stand on those.

Your mic is fine and using a mixer is smart to adjust levels. Samson's stuff is very worthy equipment for the type of work we do.

The places to upgrade are #1, get a new, faster computer. 4 years is eternity in computer years. (or 30 in dog years) Microsoft and peripheral manufacturers are sorting out the kinks with VISTA and now I think its relatively safe to invest in a computer with that pre-loaded. I of course am using a new i-Mac with the Intel duo-core processors. I love it! Its real quiet too!

Second, get a digital interface as I mentioned in:
Master VO Sound cards

Those two things will significantly improve your sound. VO is a business. Invest in that business!

Good luck!

Master VO out

((((((GONG))))))))

Oh Master VO!

I'm new to VO (studying for one year, auditioning for about a  month) and new to this site, but I have a question.  First, my equipment:  I run a modest PC (1 MHz clock, 512k memory, SoundBlaster "Audigy" sound card, lots of HD storage), and Audacity DAW software.  I have an M-Audio Firewire 410 DI (which I am not using at present) and a new SE Electronics USB2200A microphone.  I'm only using the sound card for playback, as both the mic and the preamp interface through USB and Firewire ports, respectively.  My problem is that I can't seem to get enough gain in the mic.  I run the mic volume in the DAW flat out, have adjusted the Windows mic record volumes to the max, including the +20dB boost, and have to run Audacity's "amplify" utility after recording to get enough gain to see to edit.  This doesn't seem right, but I don't know what is wrong.  Also, I get some crackle and pop in the recording, which may or may not be related.  What would you suggest to correct these problems?  Thanks for your thoughts. 

Rick

Good questions Rick!

Well for starters, your modest computer is, well....modest. 1 mhz is pretty stone wheel slow compared to today's Intel Duel Core processors. If your running new hardware, like your SE 2200A USB mic, you may have some compatibility concerns. Those of us who have been building our VO businesses over the past 5 or so years have upgraded to the latest technology. MY old Mac PowerBook G4 wasn't hacking it anymore and new software required more computing power. You may have upgraded to a very nice USB condenser mic, but you may have left yourself with a computer that will only go so fast and most likely can't keep up. That's #1.

#2, We did a column on USB mics back in December of 2006.

Master VO 12/06

Back then, (an eternity by today's technology standards) we reported that there may have been compatibility issues with USB mics, specifically BLUE's "Snowball" USB mic, and Audacity. I don't know if this is still an issue, but it may be worth looking into. A quick solution to that is to bite the bullet and try another recording software. Last week we did an experts Podcast on this very subject. Check it out!

Master VO EXPERTS Podcast 1/08

#3. Generally, with USB mics, the manufacturer, in this case SE Electronics, release the mic with proprietary software to run the mic and interface with your recording software. Usually, that software has a gain control tab. The rule of thumb for audio processing is to get as much gain up front in your audio chain to avoid amplifying noise further down. You say you're running the audio through Windows sound utilities. That tells me you are probably not utilizing the companies software. If you are bypassing SE's software, your are not making full use of the features SE has provided you. My dad always said, especially to me.."When all else fails, read the instructions!" Your overloading of your Windows audio software may be causing your crackles and pops too.

USB mics are really cool for making your business portable. Also, as a beginner, they are a less costly alternative to the recommended audio chain of Mic-Preamp-mixer- Digital Interface. I would consider the SE 2200A to be a very top end (and 4 times as expensive!) USB studio condenser mic, as blogs I've been reading say that some big studios are using them for vocals and other purposes. Using your SE 2200A as your primary mic in your studio though, especially if you are having problems, seems unwise until you figure it out. Once you do however, you should have very clean audio.

My Samson C01U USB condenser mic that I bought in 2006 works great when I'm on the road. Its no comparison to my Neumann TLM 103 however. At home, I use the traditional studio set-up and audio chain I mentioned above, using a quality, Class A Pre-amp with my 103. That gives me tremendous control over my input signal as far as initial gain is is concerned. Perhaps I have to do a column on Preamps. That's a whole nother ball o' wax that is even more confusing!

Just remember to try and get as much gain as you can on the front end!

Try that solution Rick, and report back to the Master VO Dojo.

Master VO... out

(((((GONG))))))

Greetings, O Wise 1....

I've been in the freelance VO world for a few years now (35 in the radio industry, though - still at it, too) and have a good home studio set-up, but I've always wondered about my sound card, which is an integrated version in my Compaq Pressario. It's a Realtek AC97. From time to time I've been dogged with flutter and stutter while tracking (which I only discover on playback), which is frustrating, to say the least. I've upgraded the memory, closed down unnecessary programs, and it still happens. I have a good condenser mic, nice dry environment, good pop filter, and I know how to work a mic so it isn't that.

The computer geeks I talk to say the integrated sound card is crap. I broke down and got an Edirol UA-4FX USB external, but not sure if it's what I need. I may wind up returning it.

What's the best sound card for VO out there? I've heard Delta is good.

Gordon

Continue reading "Sound cards are a big no-no!" »

Oh, Wise Master!

Michael

Continue reading "Adobe Audition subtraction" »

Dear Master VO,

Tony Gentile

Continue reading "Recording Software - Some Hard Choices? No not really..." »

Dear Master VO,

Jacob H.

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