Connecting PG58 to PC

JonathanAnon

Hi guys,

I have an old enough soundcard, a Creative SB0240 (Audigy 2), which I've been using for a few years.. I wanted to connected my PG58 to the 3.5mm mic input using one of these cables.http://www.thomann.de/ie/cae_20035_kamerakabel.htm, but I'm doing so and am not getting any sound.

I'm sure that the input is working cos I can plug in my standard (telesales type) headset and I can see the audio appearing in audacity. However when I plug in the PG58, I can a line appearing where I click the mic from the off to the on position, but nothing when I speak.. Do I have to amplify the signal before plugging in to the mic input? And how come I dont have to do this with the headset mic, do these have built in amplifiers circuitry?

thanks.
J

Dravokivich

Could it be a Gain thing?

JonathanAnon

Yeah I have done a lot of googling since, and they say that I need a preamp. I'm a bit confused though because I have used it successfully with this computer before without a preamp.

artvandulet

headset mics like that get power from the soundcard, much like phantom power, but 5v. Though the input connector looks like a stereo jack, its not. The ring carries the power.

Your cheapest option is to use a DI box to change the signal to line level and then use line in input, but really you should buy a USB audio interface if using a mic.

JonathanAnon

Just posting to say I got this sorted .. it's a bit odd though.. I have my digitech vocalist, with built in phantom power, so I hooked PG58 to Vocalist and Vocalist to 3.5mm mic ... Still didnt work... plugged it in to the 3.5mm line-in and hey presto works... the 3.5mm mic must have an electronic fault..

(headset mic still works in mic in though... very confusing .. but sorted at least)

madtheory

So instead of using the oddball mic pre on the soundcard, you're using the line input with an external mic pre. Simples. It'll sound better that way too.

The Digitech Vocalist is a cool machine, isn't it?

JonathanAnon

madtheory wrote: »

The Digitech Vocalist is a cool machine, isn't it?

I was only using the headset as a test that a) the level were okay with the soundcard software and b) that the port was actually working.. but I have a solution that means I dont have to buy anything else (priority number 1)

The Vocalist is amazing.. I bought it thinking that it would only for for major and minor chords, but it works for nearly everything. I posted up a sample here before with a few songs I did in a sequence to test it out. Even More Than Words, with the broken chords, it harmonizes properly. Beatles stuff sounds particularly good as well. Say youd pick up one on the cheap now with the recession.

madtheory

Ya got one for €150 on ebay germany. I don't think recession makes any difference though...

JonathanAnon

madtheory wrote: »

Ya got one for €150 on ebay germany. I don't think recession makes any difference though...

Yeah that's a good price, assuming it's the two part vocal version.. (if it's the four part, its a VERY good deal). Used it live once and it worked well, but bringing all the extra cables and hooking it up in a confined space is a pain in the ass though. Also, I've moved my effects and tracks to the mic stand, so I'm trying to keep stuff off the floor. Stop idiots kicking/spilling stuff on them.

madtheory

Yes it's the 4 part rackmount one. Nice tidy setup you have there.