Why does my Microphone sound so bad? - Hardware & Software

Okay it sounds like a total noob question but I'm not a total noob when it comes to Audio. [URL="https://soundcloud.com/timewilltell-2/test/s-suEaB"]Soundcloud Link[/URL] I'm using a studio mic so there is no reason the sound quality should be so bad. I've got the sample rate on 44.1khz and the bit depth at 24 At first I tested my headset mic and thought it was that but today I received a battery to power my Condenser Mic and I was shocked to find it sounded exactly the same. I should also mention it isn't the mic that's the problem, it records perfectly on my phone. This recording was done in Adobe Audition so it's not a problem of poor software - it also sounds the same using the default windows sound recorder. Any help would be appreciated. [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/34938612/asgggggg.JPG[/img] [editline]9th October 2013[/editline] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/34938612/ffdsff.JPG[/img]

Can you describe your entire hardware line from mic to interface? You're using the VIA integrated ADC for your interface? I'd say that's your weak spot.

Condenser mic [B]-->[/B] Xlr - 3.5mm jack [B]-->[/B] 3.5mm Mic-In port I'm on a laptop, I wasn't expecting the soundcard to be great but neither was I expecting it to be [I]this[/I] bad considering i payed £880 for it.. Is it worth investing in one of these USB soundcards or am I likely to have the same problem?

Are you aware that most condenser mics need a 48v phantom power supply? [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_power[/url]

[QUOTE=taipan;42467369]Are you aware that most condenser mics need a 48v phantom power supply? [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_power[/url][/QUOTE] He has a battery in the mic. If he didn't have phantom power it wouldn't work at all. Are you making sure you're using a proper cable? Some mics require balanced XLR, that converter might not work correctly. I'd recommend you get like a inexpensive mic interface for maybe 40 bucks. That will guarantee it's going correctly into the laptop.

Yeah I used the cable on a video camera back home - I also used a similar cable on my computer too, the difference being that one had 1 Male XLR per channel. The problem is definitely the sound card, which is very dissapointing.. I'll look into some cheap interfaces, I would like one that had 3.5mm too so I can used my headset mic too. [editline]9th October 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=taipan;42467369]Are you aware that most condenser mics need a 48v phantom power supply? [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_power[/url][/QUOTE] Read the OP fully before replying please. - I'm not an idiot - I stated that I was using a battery

Do you have an external sound card to test with?

No. There is nothing to test. It's my Laptop that is the problem.

I know on my old desktop I used the the motherboards audio. It was terrible. I'd just say that because your laptop has a cheap soundchip on it, it's producing these results.

Yeah, it's just surprising because I was using my computer's motherboard for it too and I never had any problems, always got high quality audio through it. Ah well, will one of [URL="http://www.amazon.co.uk/tag/usb%20sound%20card/products"]these [/URL]cheap things do or will I need something more expensive?

[QUOTE=Wickerman123;42470957]Yeah, it's just surprising because I was using my computer's motherboard for it too and I never had any problems, always got high quality audio through it. Ah well, will one of [URL="http://www.amazon.co.uk/tag/usb%20sound%20card/products"]these [/URL]cheap things do or will I need something more expensive?[/QUOTE] Why would you use £880 on a mic and then $10 on the soundcard? Get at least something like this if you're gonna do recordings and stuff (I think there's a version with only one input as well, but I can't seem to find it on Amazon): [url]http://www.amazon.co.uk/FOCUSRITE-SCARLETT-2I2-Audio-interfaces/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381383645&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=forcusrite[/url]

Exactly mic model did you buy actually?

Something like this would probably do fine as well: [url]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blue-Microphones-XLR-USB-Microphone-Condenser/dp/B001EW5YQS/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1381398418&sr=8-7&keywords=XLR+mic+interface[/url]

[QUOTE=GoDong-DK;42475038]Exactly mic model did you buy actually?[/QUOTE] The mic didn't cost £880, god no - my laptop cost that much. The mic is an AKG C 100s that my dad bought when he once ran a small studio. [editline]10th October 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=Brt5470;42475069]Something like this would probably do fine as well: [url]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blue-Microphones-XLR-USB-Microphone-Condenser/dp/B001EW5YQS/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1381398418&sr=8-7&keywords=XLR+mic+interface[/url][/QUOTE] Seems a little steep, I also don't have an XLR-XLR cable with me. [editline]10th October 2013[/editline] The mic is just something to use instead of my headset mic - well that was the thinking anyway. I'm yet to actually achieve a good comparison between the two. I'm also on a course that may require doing some filming later down the line for a project so having a good mic would be really useful. I'm definitely not going to be doing any recording, I simply wouldn't have the time or the space.

[QUOTE=Wickerman123;42476772]The mic didn't cost £880, god no - my laptop cost that much. The mic is an AKG C 100s that my dad bought when he once ran a small studio. [editline]10th October 2013[/editline] Seems a little steep, I also don't have an XLR-XLR cable with me. [editline]10th October 2013[/editline] The mic is just something to use instead of my headset mic - well that was the thinking anyway. I'm yet to actually achieve a good comparison between the two. I'm also on a course that may require doing some filming later down the line for a project so having a good mic would be really useful. I'm definitely not going to be doing any recording, I simply wouldn't have the time or the space.[/QUOTE] Yay, ground loops! The bane of audio engineers everywhere. My advice? Get a decent external sound card. Those cheap ones aren't worth much more than what you pay for them.

Are their any budget sub-£100 ones you would recommend? I'm living off student loan and bursaries at the moment - I'll have to wait til my next payment before I even think about buying an external soundcard.