Is my mic messed up? Vocals are coming out sounding weird

SpeedKing9 · 13th August 2006, 03:39 AM

I'm using a Soundelux U-195 with a Great River Me-1NV mic pre and a distessor.

Haven't recorded anything in about 3 weeks, but I just tried to yesterday and the vocals are coming out like shit. It sounds like theres an exaggeration of hi end, almost as if there's a plugin and it's also been requiring a higher boosted signal from the Great River. I compared it with my last recording, and there is DEFINITELY something ****ed up.

Does this sound like a common problem? Is my mic messed up, my mic pre, or something else in my chain? Vocals before this problem were coming out CRYSTAL CLEAR but now it sounds like theres some super hi pass filter going on, and I checked the mic settings they are all set to what I had before.

shanabit · 13th August 2006, 11:48 AM

Connect just your U195 to your I/O to see if the problem is still there.
If not, add the Great River, and so on till you find the bad guy. Maybe a tube bad in the mic? Just a thought

danasti · 14th August 2006, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shanabit

Connect just your U195 to your I/O to see if the problem is still there.
If not, add the Great River, and so on till you find the bad guy. Maybe a tube bad in the mic? Just a thought

Other than needing an amp for the mic and no tube in the mic

I think it's pretty solid troubleshooting advice.

First unplug the distressor and reset the great river. Check all the cables by unpluging them and plugging them back in.

Try a different mic if this hasn't worked. Try using the DI and line input. Put the distressor back in.

You should be able to tell what device it is.

If you have a problem it's possible it's on playback or output. What are you playing back through? Where are you monitoring? Give us all your specs.

Kris · 14th August 2006, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danasti

Check all the cables by unpluging them and plugging them back in.

And swap them out... could just be a bad cable.

SpeedKing9 · 14th August 2006, 09:25 PM

OK, I just plugged in a 421 to sing vocals through and it's definitely the mic, because the output was loud and clear on the Great River and Distressor. When I had the U-195 plugged in, the output was totally out of whack and I had to gain boost it to a point where it sounded like crap.

My mic is fuct up? Anyone know if there is an easy, common solution to this?

I'm going through a Lynx2b card, NS-10s as monitors with a Bryston 2b amp powering it, but I've tried other mics and it's definitely the U-195 that sounds like shit.

Help!

Jonboy79 · 14th August 2006, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpeedKing9

OK, I just plugged in a 421 to sing vocals through and it's definitely the mic, because the output was loud and clear on the Great River and Distressor. When I had the U-195 plugged in, the output was totally out of whack and I had to gain boost it to a point where it sounded like crap.

My mic is fuct up? Anyone know if there is an easy, common solution to this?

I'm going through a Lynx2b card, NS-10s as monitors with a Bryston 2b amp powering it, but I've tried other mics and it's definitely the U-195 that sounds like shit.

Help!

I'm not real sure there's an "easy" solution for a thousand dollar mic. I mean you can't dance around it for five minutes or get on your knees and beg it, and I certainly doubt you'd want to take it apart and fix it yourself. The easiest solution would be to contact Soundelux and get the ball rolling with them.

shanabit · 14th August 2006, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danasti

Other than needing an amp for the mic and no tube in the mic

I think it's pretty solid troubleshooting advice.

.

She hasnt got that there tube LOL

BradD · 14th August 2006, 10:33 PM

Not to be a smartass, but sometimes it's the simple things that we forget to do. Make sure phantom power is on with the Soundelux, whereas you don't need it with the 421. Just a thought.

danasti · 14th August 2006, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shanabit

She hasnt got that there tube LOL

details ... details

seriously!

check the phantom (good call). Ok check. Check the pad on the pre and the mic. The 421 has much lower output, right?

There is a filter AND a pad on the mic, right? what are they at?

Same mic cable?

If the mic is still doing this then you need to send in the mic I suppose.

But see... You were able to troubleshoot by plugging in another microphone...

SpeedKing9 · 14th August 2006, 11:38 PM

I checked the phantom power, and it was turned on.

All switches on the 195 were set normally.

Could this have been a possible phantom power fukk up? I may have unplugged the mic while phantom power was still on and such, but could that cause the mic to sound like it's dead?

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13th August 2006, 03:39 AM	#1
SpeedKing9 Gear Head Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 69	Is my mic messed up? Vocals are coming out sounding weird I'm using a Soundelux U-195 with a Great River Me-1NV mic pre and a distessor. Haven't recorded anything in about 3 weeks, but I just tried to yesterday and the vocals are coming out like shit. It sounds like theres an exaggeration of hi end, almost as if there's a plugin and it's also been requiring a higher boosted signal from the Great River. I compared it with my last recording, and there is DEFINITELY something ****ed up. Does this sound like a common problem? Is my mic messed up, my mic pre, or something else in my chain? Vocals before this problem were coming out CRYSTAL CLEAR but now it sounds like theres some super hi pass filter going on, and I checked the mic settings they are all set to what I had before.

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13th August 2006, 11:48 AM	#2
shanabit Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 996	Connect just your U195 to your I/O to see if the problem is still there. If not, add the Great River, and so on till you find the bad guy. Maybe a tube bad in the mic? Just a thought

14th August 2006, 09:25 PM	#5
SpeedKing9 Gear Head Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 69	OK, I just plugged in a 421 to sing vocals through and it's definitely the mic, because the output was loud and clear on the Great River and Distressor. When I had the U-195 plugged in, the output was totally out of whack and I had to gain boost it to a point where it sounded like crap. My mic is fuct up? Anyone know if there is an easy, common solution to this? I'm going through a Lynx2b card, NS-10s as monitors with a Bryston 2b amp powering it, but I've tried other mics and it's definitely the U-195 that sounds like shit. Help!

14th August 2006, 10:33 PM	#8
BradD Gear addict Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Kansas City Posts: 342	Not to be a smartass, but sometimes it's the simple things that we forget to do. Make sure phantom power is on with the Soundelux, whereas you don't need it with the 421. Just a thought.

14th August 2006, 11:38 PM	#10
SpeedKing9 Gear Head Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 69	I checked the phantom power, and it was turned on. All switches on the 195 were set normally. Could this have been a possible phantom power fukk up? I may have unplugged the mic while phantom power was still on and such, but could that cause the mic to sound like it's dead?