Firebox, a mic and NOISE!

AlanD

I have a MacBook, a Presonus Firebox and a dynamic mic and get lots of noise when monitoring and recording using the mic and I can't figure out how to get rid of the noise.

The mic is a dynamic Shure SM57 effort and when it records I just get lots of white noise while recording. I hear it too while monitoring with headphones and even then, the monitoring is poor and I can barely here myself sing.

I'm a complete noob at this and I know it's probably a setup issue....so any ideas?

eoin5

Do you find you have to jack up the gain to get any volume?

AlanD

yeah I have to pump it up to the last to actually hear my voice and then at 12Db in the firebox controller app too.

but then all i hear is barely me and LOTS of white noise...

eoin5

It sounds like its not getting enough signal in from the mic.

Have you tried a different mic and lead?
Are you using an XLR to XLR lead?
How close are you to the mic when youre singing and how loudly are you singing?

Theres a pretty big gain on those boxes so I'm guessing thats whats causing all that noise.

AlanD

eoin5 wrote: »

It sounds like its not getting enough signal in from the mic.

Have you tried a different mic and lead?
Are you using an XLR to XLR lead?
How close are you to the mic when youre singing and how loudly are you singing?

Theres a pretty big gain on those boxes so I'm guessing thats whats causing all that noise.

not getting enough signal? hhmm....thought it might have been the other way around.

Yes I have tried 2/3 different mic leads and it's XLR to XLR.

With the gains up to the last I have to be almost eating the mic to hear myself. But the predominant noise in the background is white noise, whether I sing or not.

I'm a classical singer and so would have a lot of volume when singing. But still have to be very close to get heard.

I borrowed three dynamics for a week or so to complete a recording until I get my own mics. I know I'll have to get a condenser mic, but won't be able to for a few weeks and need the recordings done a.s.a.p.

It could be that the mics are rubbish too. But can mics cause that amount of white noise?

PaulBrewer

You're not going in on a line input?

AlanD

not sure exactly what you mean. I have the mic XLR plug going in to the number 1 XLR input on the firebox.

PaulBrewer

So it's an xlr to xlr cable into 1, not an xlr to jack? have you tried it in to input 2?

AlanD

PaulBrewer wrote: »

So it's an xlr to xlr cable into 1, not an xlr to jack? have you tried it in to input 2?

yes I'm using an XLR to XLR connection and have put it in to input 2 also. Same result.

Might try an instrument in to input 1/2 to see what comes up.

As a matter of interest, with a dynamic mic, do I need to give it the extra +12db through the software app and give it much gain? What would you expect the normal settings to be?

PaulBrewer

No a dynamic should be ok

PaulBrewer

and there's no buttom marked 'Pad" or '-20db' or similar pressed anywhere?

AlanD

PaulBrewer wrote: »

and there's no buttom marked 'Pad" or '-20db' or similar pressed anywhere?

closest I can see to that would be the gain adjustment knob on the unit. If i set it to 0db then I still get the problems.

I thought it should be a simple thing of just plug, sing and that's it.....and maybe it is...

PaulBrewer

If you're sure the mic and lead are ok it sounds like the Firebox is the issue - have you tried a guitar , bass or keyboard in the jack input?

If that don't work then it's back to place of purchase, I'm afraid.

AlanD

I'll try that tomorrow or Tuesday and see.

AlanD

ok, this is what I tried this morning:

Put XLR/XLR cable attached to mic in to Mic 1 socket - result, noise

Put XLR/XLR cable attached to mic in to Mic 2 socket - result, clean recording

Put XLR/Jack cable attached to mic in to Mic 1 socket - result, noise

Put XLR/Jack cable attached to mic in to Mic 2 socket - result, clean recording

Put piano output jack in to mic 1 socket - result, noise

Put piano output jack in to mic 2 socket - result, clean recording

So, does this mean I have a problem with the mic 1 socket and the machine needs to be replaced?

PaulBrewer

From what you describe, yes.
If it's brand new and was like that out of the box most Irish dealers will replace it straight away with another unit, if it's still under guarantee they'll sort repairing FOC.
If it's out of guarantee we'd normally sort a repair - often at no cost to the client, unless it's completely melted!

Drop it back to your dealer, it should be easily enough sorted.

AlanD

Ok, thanks for your help.

Dealer is in the UK so I'll get in touch with him and see how to sort it out.