Semi-Emergency - Please Help

[SurfingMusicMan]

For some reason, my condensor mic (Studio Projects C1) is distorting very badly. It does the same thing regardless of which preamp I use. My SM57 is not doing it through either preamp, so I'm pretty sure the problem is with the condensor.

The output on the condensor is VERY loud now. I have to turn the preamps all the way down, plus lower the trim control significantly on my EMU 1820m just to get a signal that doesn't clip. Even when I get it to not clip, the signal is extremely distorted, even when miking quiet sources.

I have a new client coming over tomorrow - please help!!!!

Thanks!

[e-cue]

Is this a new issue, or is this the 1st time you are trying this mic?

What pre's are you using? IME, the DBX tube pre's are a deady combo with any of the Studio Projects mic's.

Are you using the pad on the mic? There's a good possible you are clipping the input into your pre, and throwing the pad on (-20 if extreme) should fix this. This would be the most obvious guess.

Report back.

[SurfingMusicMan]

The preamps I'm using are Groove Tubes The Brick (tube preamp) and the preamps that come on the 1820m.

I had a similar issue arise a few years ago when I was confused about the connection I needed to use to plug in The Brick to the audio interface. When I had that problem, I was plugging The Brick into another preamp (which I am NOT doing now).

This is the first time I've experienced this problem with my current connections. I just purchased the EMU 1820m, but the connection I'm currently using worked about 3 days ago.

Please help!