On 8 Mar 2006 05:29:48 -0800, "STRATEGY"
wrote:

Just gibbering out of interest here.

Here is my take:

Your card:

Mic Inputs (A/D)
Input Impedance 2.7k Ohms unbalanced, 5.4k Ohms balanced
Maximum Input Level from +24dBu @ min gain, pad on to -40dBu @ max
gain, no pad
Pad causes -20dB loss !!!!

Shure SM58

Power Level: -56.0 dB
Impedance: Rated impedance is 150 (300 actual) for connection to
microphone inputs rated low impedance

So the SM58 is 16dB below the _max_ low level with no Pad. This may be
the one.

I have no idea about the actual card, but if you have Pad ON, you will
lose a lot of level. This is try #1.

You are also losing a little because of the difference between the 300
Ohm imp of the mic vs the 5.4K Ohm of the card's input.
- this will cause lower level and a muffled, sound, if there
is a problem.
- However the card is aimed at lo imp mics.
- IIRC mixers used to have 1K inputs for 300 Ohm mics.
things have changed a bit (noise levels etc).
- So this sounds as if it's within bounds.

With your ****ty soundcard, chances are that a Mic will not work,
unless you have a preamp, anyway.

You have played pre-recorded stuff, I assume. When you say levels are
low, are you talking the same music that you play from a file (apples
with apples), or trying to work with the Mic, which is already too
quiet, and then comparing it with a wav file that
you are playing through your soundcard?

ALSO
Again, your card:
Working Range 32 to 600 ohms
If you have 8 Ohm headphones, there will be trouble. You will get not
only a low, but probably a "thin" sound, with no bass.

Shure SM-58 Fast Track Pro Ableton 5


Is it normal that I have to turn the gain for my mic input all the way
maxed out to get a half decent signal level for tracking vocals?


Also, is there a way to get the headphone level louder from the FTP? I

have it up all the way with the outputs of Live almost clipping and it
doens't seem loud enough for accurate monitoring at all, couldn't see
it working very well in a Live DJ situation..


Am I missing something here and what are some things to check? When I
use Live with my ****ty onboard sound card the levels are plenty loud
coming out of Live (haven't tried a mic in to ****ty soundcard don't
have a mic plug that goes to 1/8").


On that note, I'm plugging the SM58 straight into the first XLR on the
FTP, any chance I'd get a louder signal by going into the FTP with 1/4"
instead of XLR? (that would kinda defeat the purpose of having an XLR
input..)


Thanks,


STRATEGY