NationStates Jolt Archive

So I do a lot of home recording and all of a sudden, I'm getting a whiney whistle from the microphone, even if I turn down the output completely. It's that borderline feedback noise, but not as high pitched.

Anyway, the mic is plugged into a DOD FX 40B Equalizer, which is plugged into a Tascam US-122, which is plugged into a fairly new Soundblaster card. I've had no problems with this setup for nearly 2 years now and all of a sudden ... squeeeeeeeal.

Instruments plug in just fine without problems. I've tried three different mics and the drum and flute mics with the same results.

I am not a sound engineer in any capacity except for some work in college - which was a long damn time ago - and have searched around for clues with no realistic results.

If anyone knows anything about this sort of thing, holler. I'd really like to lay some drum and vocal tracks before the 1st.

wasn't that bwo's department?

No? Damn .... *grumble* ... I don't want to have to buy a new sound card!

I'm not a sound engineer, but there may be a new electric appliance that's producing the interference the mic cable is picking up. Try disconnecting stuff, especially if it's something you bought recently. Of course, it could also be something your neighbors bought.

But it sounds a lot like electrical interference.

But it sounds a lot like electrical interference.

Could be .... we got a new VCR about 3 months ago and I haven't sat down to record with the mic in that time. I'll check it out.

Condenser mic or dynamic mic? Condenser mics need a power supply or a pre-amp, which often degrade over time, and will make that noise.

Recording setup:

Is the mic going into a stand alone mixer, or into a patchbay going directly into a recorder?

Is the noise coming from the mixer, the equalizer, the recorder, or the speakers?

Whatever the mics are plugged into, make sure that it is set to receive a mic level signal... a button or switch may have accidentally been hit. (Surprisingly people miss this a lot.)

Without extremely detailed info, this is it. Try to find the earliest point in the system where the noise is present.

a number of suprising things that have caused squeals/interference when using mics like this in the past:

a) glass - move the mic away from any glass at all. can cause badass feedback

b) the speaker output level is too high. turn down the volume (and break the feedback loop)

c) turn down the input volume level on your PC and see if that helps. if it does just normalise the recording to up the volume to audible levels (though don't record it too quiet)

i'm kinda drunk and thats all i can think of right now :)

Not a Sound Engineer, but I am a published producer. I'm mostly about the ghetto style soundsystems, but I do have one possible diagnosis, since I've had the same problem myself: ON hot muggy days, my Soundblaster squeals in the same manner. You may want to invest in a heatsink for your soundcard...it eliminated my problem....but then again most of my problems are the result of being so damn ghetto about my soundsytem (I hate techno-spaghetti...want boom and crunch, dammit, nothing else matters)

I took all kinds of classes on this kind of thing back in college, but I'll be damned if I can remember much of them.

ON hot muggy days, my Soundblaster squeals in the same manner. You may want to invest in a heatsink for your soundcard

Really?!

Now that's something I hadn't even thought of! Right now it's 97 degrees where I am with 100% humidity. That's terrific! I will definately try that ... thank you.

a) glass - move the mic away from any glass at all. can cause badass feedback


But ... but ... but ... that's my beer! Damnit!

All this beer talk is making me want a Grolsch. Thanks guys! :D

So I do a lot of home recording and all of a sudden, I'm getting a whiney whistle from the microphone, even if I turn down the output completely.

When you say 'from the microphone' do you actually mean from the mic itself (ie. not from a speaker)?

If you have the output down to minus infinity, then how do you know if you are still getting the high pitched tone?

When you say 'from the microphone' do you actually mean from the mic itself (ie. not from a speaker)?

If you have the output down to minus infinity, then how do you know if you are still getting the high pitched tone?


It could be from the speakers, though I haven't changed them recently. I've completely muted the mic input and am still gettin the squeal.

Any suggestions?

It could be from the speakers, though I haven't changed them recently. I've completely muted the mic input and am still gettin the squeal.

Any suggestions?


Disconnect the system systematically and see when the noise stops.

So first things first, disconnect the mic. Then the XLR. Then the DOD. Then the Tascam. Swap the speakers for a different pair.

Seeing as how you're on a computer... do you have all your other inputs muted? (CD inputs sometimes give a pretty nasty whine even when dormant).

Really?!

Now that's something I hadn't even thought of! Right now it's 97 degrees where I am with 100% humidity. That's terrific! I will definately try that ... thank you.

Are you saying you keep this kind of equipment somewhere without central air? Exposed to those kinds of elements? *faints*

Maybe something melted. :p

Are you saying you keep this kind of equipment somewhere without central air? Exposed to those kinds of elements? *faints*

Maybe something melted. :p

lol ... no ... but that humidity creeps into *everything*