Boosting Mic Level

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Wed May 02, 2001 7:45 am

I have a microphone that I would like to use for recording vocals. The trouble I don't think it's a very good one and the signal going in to pulsar is very weak even when I turn the gain up to full. Is there any device/method I could use to boost the signal? It's the first time I have attempted to record vocals so if anyone has any tips it would be appreciated.

Thanks

Nikibuzz · Post by **Nikibuzz** » Wed May 02, 2001 8:27 am

Run the mic thru a compressor before Pulsar

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Wed May 02, 2001 8:28 am

Simple as that!

Thanks

subhuman · Post by **subhuman** » Wed May 02, 2001 10:03 am

Even better, run it through a mic preamp on your desk, and have Pulsar be an Aux send, so you can preamp the mic signal and feed Pulsar a line-level signal. There is also something called a "DI box" which sometimes have tubes in them to 'warm' the sound before you convert Mic to LineLevel (which is what Pulsar is looking for).

A compressor is sort of a cludge-fix, since you may not want your vocals compressed to the point where the signal is hot enough for line level.

Doing anything inside Pulsar (ie: a Pulsar device) will only increase the signal in the <i>digital</i> domain, which will give you a higher noise floor and more artifacts. Better to do any gain in the analog domain first...

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: subhuman on 2001-05-03 11:15 ]</font>

horrn · Post by **horrn** » Thu May 03, 2001 8:32 am

what????

a di-box is sometimes something with a tube in it???
and: di-boxes to convert mic to line level???

are you sure? surely not!

di-boxes are still to transfer a signal true without ground! absolutely contactfree because of using spoiles... further more details for using di-boxes are known but nothing has to do with converting mic-levels!

sorry, but that´s all!

t.

subhuman · Post by **subhuman** » Thu May 03, 2001 10:16 am

Sorry, slightly misworded, thanks for telling me. Here's an example of a <a href=http://www.musicvalve.com/dboxreview.html>DI BOX</a> so you can understand what I'm talking about.

Air_PoLLo · Post by **Air_PoLLo** » Wed May 09, 2001 10:47 am

please make sure to *NOT* use the AUX sends on your desk. The amps on the AUX are too noisy!

Instead try to bus the signal. If there are no buses then use the "inserts" on the desk.

subhuman · Post by **subhuman** » Wed May 09, 2001 10:49 am

Huh, my AUX sends are through Litepipe. Not noisey at all

Air_PoLLo · Post by **Air_PoLLo** » Wed May 09, 2001 10:50 am

I forgot to mention, but most mic preamps have a line output or a +10/-4Db switch.

U shouldn't need a DI box in most cases.
There are cheap 1U racks with preamp, phantom power, compressor, EQ and even deEsser for cheap bucks! (they all have line outs)

Air_PoLLo · Post by **Air_PoLLo** » Wed May 09, 2001 10:51 am

subhuman, heh the "usual" low end desk is noisy when it comes to AUX

subhuman · Post by **subhuman** » Wed May 09, 2001 10:55 am

You would only need the DI box, if Pulsar is your only tool. If you have a mixer, Mr. Apollo is right, you can use the preamps on the mixer.

Air_PoLLo · Post by **Air_PoLLo** » Wed May 09, 2001 11:42 am

yes, or do like I do, use a RAMSA desk

Digital 24bit moving fader ADAT optical ect
HAh

It's not mine. I only work with it