Snowball Mic and low audio volume?

Question

Level 3

663 points

Snowball Mic and low audio volume?

Hey gang-

I just bought a new Snowball USB microphone at the Apple Store. I'm trying to use it for podcasting with GarageBand 08, and so far the voice audio level is too low to be useful. I've set the Input level in Sound prefs for the Snowball to Maximum, and verified the same in Audio MIDI setup app. Also set max level in the Voice audiotrack in Garageband. I've also tried all 3 switch positions on the Snowball.

As a point of comparison, I'd say the audio input level of the Snowball is maybe one-tenth that of the iMac's own built-in mic. I'm on a new Intel iMac running 10.4.11 and Garageband 08 4.1.2.

I checked the BlueMic website and there is talk of a firmware update, but the link they provide is dead, and it also looks like there hasn't been a post to their SnowBall forums since February.

Also, for you Snowball users, how close are you having to keep the mic to your mouth for podcasting? I've found that if I keep it more than about 2 inches away, the audio is just too low. And since this is a desk mic, that is extremely uncomfortable.

Any thoughts before I return this thing?

Thanks!

Dave

iMac 24" Core 2 Extreme, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Apr 24, 2008 1:03 PM

Reply

Answer 1

aperch

Level 1

15 points

Apr 28, 2008 10:35 AM in response to Dave_K.

First off, congrats on getting the snowball. Its a great mic! The input setting for the mic in your system prefs does not have any affect on how garageband uses the mic. Garageband uses the input volume you set in the track's info pannel on the right. (To view the track info press the 'i' at the bottom right corner of the GB window). There will be a slider that is labeled "Recording Level". To increase the volume of the mic, slide the control to the right. If you have already done this, or it doesn't work, check the volume level that your system prefs is receiving from the snowball. To do this go to system prefs/sound/input and select the snowball. Talk into the mic. When you talk into the mic you should see the input level bars turn blue. (the louder you talk into the mic, the more bars will turn blue). If these bars show no little or no indication of input, your computer is not receiving good volume from the snowball. In that case, the mic may be defective. Also, is the mic being connected through one of you're computer's built-in usb ports, or through an external usb hub? If you are using a bus powered hub the mic may not be receiving the necessary power.

Reply