Microphones

[alacritous]

Hello,

I have an Optimus Unidirectional Dynamic Microphone (something similar, but not the same like http://support.radioshack.com/support_audio/doc61/61692.pdf). The differences are minor in the specifications. I'm trying to hook this up to my computer. I have all the correct cables to plug it in, but when I try to record it, the volume is really low, even though I have all my sound settings high. The question is: [b] is this a "soundcard problem" or a "microphone problem"? When I hook in a CD player through line in, the sound is normal/loud. Same thing goes for a normal talking microphone (made for computers). Are the Optimus Microphones not made for digital (computer) environments? Or is my sound card struggling on these microphones? My soundcard is just a general Creative Live! SoundBlaster card. I'll have more specs when I find them, sorry.

Thanks in advance,
alacritous

[alacritous]

I went to a local CompUSA and one of their employees said that if we put the microphone cord into the microphone jack, instead of the line in, it would be louder. And of course, it was. Although, we have two Optimus microphones, so we can't have stereo. So, do companies make sound cards with a left AND right microphone jack?

alacritous

[kaihirst]

Hi,

bare in mind that mics are MONO not stereo and dont have channell output the same as speakers do, so try different outputs and inputs on your sound car, eg line in, mix out ETC.

ta

Kai

[alacritous]

Well, I already said though that line in doesn't produce enough volume, remember? So, that's not an option.

I know that microphone is mono, that's why I'm looking for a sound card that has perhaps 2 microphone inputs, if there is one. If not, I'm looking for any other solution.

[kaihirst]

Hi,

Ok then..

If it volume on the line jack isnt waht you want, and there are no other options, why not look at a mic with a bigger output/bigger amplifier/slightly more sensetive?

Kai

[dglienna]

Inside of the Mixer (in XP) if you add the microphone, and click Advanced, you will have a check box that says "Boost" which is a small pre-amp for the signal.
Your only other option would to get a system that has a pre-amp built into it, and plug the line-out's of it into the line-in's of your sound card. Look at a cheap DJ mixer that has 4 mike/line/phono jacks. A phono jack is a very high powered pre-amp, and prolly won't do what you want with a microphone plugged in. The benefit is that you can pan each channel to the left or right side of your soundcard, and then record it.

[alacritous]

Yeah I figured out the boost. That works fine, but only for a mono channel. So for stereo, I've kind of narrowed it down to having to get hardware, which is a bummer. So ya it's definitely hardware and not the microphones.

Thanks,
alacritous