the weak signal blues...

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the weak signal blues...

Hello,

I've seen the issue of weak mic signals in Garageband brought up quite a bit, but i don't seem to be able to find a definitive solution.

I am using the m-audio mobilepre and a Shure SM47 with my Powerbook to record acoustic guitar and vocals. I basically have to have all the gain settings cranked on the mobilepre, in the preferences pane, and in Garageband to get even a small signal. Of course this leads to a lot of hiss and noise. I have run both the Garageband and Mobilepre updaters and still no luck. Is this interface REALLY that bad?? Would a better one double the signal i'm getting, because i need at LEAST that much of a boost.

The strange thing is, i get a WAY stronger signal in SoundStudio than i do in Garageband. It's like a bad combo or something.

Any advice or input would be HUGELY appreciated!

Thanks.

Posted on Nov 19, 2005 11:32 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 19, 2005 12:56 PM in response to chroma

I don't find any info on a Shure SM47. Do you mean an SM57? Perhaps it is an older product that is no longer on the Shure website. I was curious if it was a dynamic or a condenser mic. If it is condenser, the it requires phantom power, which you need to turn on, on the Mobile Pre. I have heard some very good recording done with that interface.

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Answer 2

chroma Author

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Nov 19, 2005 1:25 PM in response to Scott Laughlin-Richard

I don't find any info on a Shure SM47. Do you mean an
SM57? Perhaps it is an older product that is no
longer on the Shure website. I was curious if it was
a dynamic or a condenser mic. If it is condenser, the
it requires phantom power, which you need to turn on,
on the Mobile Pre. I have heard some very good
recording done with that interface.

sorry, it's the SM48, so it wouldn't be a phantom power issue. it seems like a lot of people are having different types of signal issues in garageband, but it is not addressed by apple anywhere that i can find.

thanks for your reply.

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Answer 3

Nov 19, 2005 1:53 PM in response to chroma

A fellow poster named Brian Battles used to use that unit. Perhaps he'll come on and give some advice. I can't recall while writing this if you said you had the latest driver for the Mobile Pre. If not, that might be a good place to start.

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Answer 4

chroma Author

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Nov 22, 2005 10:46 AM in response to chroma

anyone???

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Answer 5

Nov 22, 2005 5:58 PM in response to chroma

I just emailed Brian to see if he can offer any suggestions.

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Answer 6

Nov 22, 2005 7:19 PM in response to chroma

I used the MobilePre until I bought the PreSonus FireBox. I found the Shure SM57 mic did have a weaker signal than my condenser mic (the latter using phantom power, of course). I haven't tried using the SM57 with the FireBox for a comparison, however.

Also, I have been learning to use Logic Express, which I find has a slightly better signal from my inputs than GB, or at least it seems so (I am still getting used to "reading" the software). I can certainly say that the recording has a broader sound range than I got in GB, especially in the lower register.

Scott asked the questions I would have asked about having the current driver and such. I did find that repairing permissions often fixed problems I would have with GB, including, at one time, a weak signal during recording. Still, it did not improve the SM57 greatly. I always found the gain had to be set very high to get a signal just short of clipping.

Perhaps someone else has used dynamic (?) mic with GB and could make a better comparison so you would know if it is the software or the MobilePre.

Oh, take a look in the System Preferences/MobilePre and make sure the input settings are set to maximum. The default is 0dB. I think the max is 12dB. In any case, you want them as high as they will go. You will get the best input signal from the MobilePre that way.

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