I bought an Audio-Technica Pro24 Stereo Microphone in December 2005
from Musician's Friend. I don't know much about microphones, but I
figured out that I needed to insert the battery and turn on the switch
before using it. The trouble is, it sounds horrible, whether I plug it
into my Archos AV500 or my desktop computer. I complained to Musician's
Friend, so they paid for me to return it. I got the replacement when I
returned from my vacation. But, it sounds no better than the one I
mailed back to them.

Is there something about this microphone that I need to do to make it
work? Is it not compatible with computer equipment? How reliable is
Musician's Friend?

Thank you.

wrote:

figured out that I needed to insert the battery and turn on the switch
before using it.

That's a good start.

The trouble is, it sounds horrible, whether I plug it
into my Archos AV500 or my desktop computer.
In what way does it sound horrible? Too quiet? Hissy, Distorted?

Do you know how to view record level meters in whatever program you're
using for recording, or on your Archos gizmo? They tell you (and us)
something useful.

This isn't a particularly great sounding mic, but it should be OK for
utility work. Maybe you're expecting too much from what you paid.
Clearly the problem isn't with the mic it's what you're using it with
and how you're using it.

Mike Rivers wrote:
wrote:

figured out that I needed to insert the battery and turn on the switch
before using it.

That's a good start.

I'm hoping I got the battery in the correct orientation. I tried to
insert it the other way, but the mic would not allow it in the slot.

The trouble is, it sounds horrible, whether I plug it
into my Archos AV500 or my desktop computer.
In what way does it sound horrible? Too quiet? Hissy, Distorted?

The signal is so faint that it would be difficult to hear it clearly,
even if there were no other sound. Unfortunately, static and crackling
often is louder than the signal. It sounds like a bad cell phone
connection.

Do you know how to view record level meters in whatever program you're
using for recording, or on your Archos gizmo? They tell you (and us)
something useful.

MS Windows Sound Recorder shows almost no signal.

I don't recall seeing a level meter on the Archos.

wrote:
Mike Rivers wrote:
wrote:

figured out that I needed to insert the battery and turn on the
switch before using it.

That's a good start.

I'm hoping I got the battery in the correct orientation. I tried to
insert it the other way, but the mic would not allow it in the slot.

The trouble is, it sounds horrible, whether I plug it
into my Archos AV500 or my desktop computer.
In what way does it sound horrible? Too quiet? Hissy, Distorted?

The signal is so faint that it would be difficult to hear it
clearly, even if there were no other sound. Unfortunately, static
and crackling often is louder than the signal. It sounds like a bad
cell phone connection.

Do you know how to view record level meters in whatever program
you're using for recording, or on your Archos gizmo? They tell you
(and us) something useful.

MS Windows Sound Recorder shows almost no signal.

I don't recall seeing a level meter on the Archos.



****, just kill me now... THIS is what rec.audio.pro has become now?

--
"It CAN'T be too loud... some of the red lights aren't even on yet!"
- Lorin David Schultz
in the control room
making even bad news sound good

(Remove spamblock to reply)

wrote:

The signal is so faint that it would be difficult to hear it clearly,
even if there were no other sound. Unfortunately, static and crackling
often is louder than the signal. It sounds like a bad cell phone
connection.

MS Windows Sound Recorder shows almost no signal.

It's possible that neither the Archos recorder nor your computer have
a mic level input. That would describe the low sound level, but not the
static and crackling. I think you need to do some substitution. Since
you get the same sort of symptom from the computer and the MP3 gadget,
it's reasonable to suspect the mic, but have you ever used an extenal
mic with them previously?

Very few computer sound cards, even if they have a mic input, have a
stereo mic input, and I don't know anything about the Archos thing. I'd
suggest that you get another microphone and try that. You can buy an
inexpensive one at Radio Shack, take it home and try it, and then
return it for a refund. That would be one more useful data point. Just
be sure that the mic you buy doesn't require "plug-in power" but is
either a dynamic mic (which requires no power) or has a battery.

On Tue, 11 Apr 2006 03:29:22 -0400, Lorin David Schultz wrote
(in article mVI_f.18982$4S.15619@edtnps82):

wrote:
Mike Rivers wrote:
wrote:

figured out that I needed to insert the battery and turn on the
switch before using it.

That's a good start.

I'm hoping I got the battery in the correct orientation. I tried to
insert it the other way, but the mic would not allow it in the slot.

The trouble is, it sounds horrible, whether I plug it
into my Archos AV500 or my desktop computer.
In what way does it sound horrible? Too quiet? Hissy, Distorted?

The signal is so faint that it would be difficult to hear it
clearly, even if there were no other sound. Unfortunately, static
and crackling often is louder than the signal. It sounds like a bad
cell phone connection.

Do you know how to view record level meters in whatever program
you're using for recording, or on your Archos gizmo? They tell you
(and us) something useful.

MS Windows Sound Recorder shows almost no signal.

I don't recall seeing a level meter on the Archos.



****, just kill me now... THIS is what rec.audio.pro has become now?



And my coffee cup holder has retracted and I can't put my cup on it.

Ty Ford



-- Ty Ford's equipment reviews, audio samples, rates and other audiocentric
stuff are at www.tyford.com

Ty Ford wrote:

Lorin David Schultz wrote:

****, just kill me now... THIS is what rec.audio.pro has become now?

And my coffee cup holder has retracted and I can't put my cup on it.

You can pry it back open with a 3630 or C1000.

--
ha