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ErikV · Location: Denmark

Dear Forum people

I have just purchased Cool Edit 2000. Mostly I want to record speech and create computer audio-files. To do so I have two different microphones: A cheap microphone that comes with the computer, and then a professional SHURE SM58S microphone - a famous microphone used on stage in the Music World. I would expect the SM58S to be the best. Maybe it also is in sound quality, but the input level is rather low. So when I play the recorded file from the SM58S the output level is much lower than it is for the cheap one. What should I do to make the SM58S work perfect? Should I adjust something in Cool Edit 2000? I assume this microphone is convenient for my purpose? Or should I use the cheap one? I will be delighted if someone could comment on this!

Best regards,

Erik

VoodooRadio · Location: USA

Well... if your plugging the mic straight into the soundcard (without utilizing a mixer or standalone preamp) then make sure that your plugged into the "mic" in and not the "line" in. How low is low? If the noise level is exceptable, consider amplifying your .wav file once you have recorded it. FWIW, using a mixer offers not only the ability to increase the input level to the soundcard, but offers a host of other routing options as well. If you can budget a small mixer, look into that option. Wink

ErikV · Location: Denmark

Thanks WoodooRadio! I plugged the microphones directly into the "Microphone" plug in the soundcard (SB Audigy Audio) via mini-jack. The SM58S is connected to the computer with a Mini Stereo Male to 3-pin XLR Female Cable

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bh4.sph/FrameWork.class?FNC=ProductActivator__Aproductlist_html___157947___COCSMMXF25___REG___CatID=0___SID=F6E8D605490

The output level from the SM58S is not extremely low. If I amplify it with Cool Edit 2000 the speech is still nice, but you can hear some white noise also. I am a novice when it comes to audio. Maybe this microphone is not meant to plug directly into the soundcard but should be used together with some other devices? Can you refer me to that "mixer" that you have in mind? Or maybe one should do some settings in Cool Edit 2000 to make the microphone work better?

Erik