Microphone / recording problem

goodone2 wrote on 2/14/2013, 3:36 AM

(Recently installed MAC Lab 2013 (19.0.0.10); running Windows 7, 64 bit, 4Gb Ram).

I tried recording (singing & guitar) via microphone plugged into audio input. Playback was almost imperceptibly quiet (despite 'max' settings on microphone & speakers). So (from Control Panel) disabled the mic then re-enabled.

Then went back to Mac Lab & tried again to record.

This time I got a message: "The wave shape advice 'Microsoft Sound Mapper' cannot record this format! Reason: Undefined external error".

I tried an alternative mic, same outcome.

Any advice welcome.

Comments

Procyon wrote on 2/14/2013, 12:01 PM

You cannot plug a microphone into an AUDIO input unless you plug the microphone into a mic pre-amp first (an audio mixer would do). As you noted, they have a very low signal strength. Otherwise, you need to plug the microphone into a proper microphone input jack, assuming they are compatible. Condenser microphones require a power source in the form of an onboard battery or phantom power supplied by the equipment.

johnebaker wrote on 2/14/2013, 2:10 PM

In addition to what Procyon said recording using a condenser or dynamic mike depends a lot on the signal level output by the microphone.

Some mics do not push out enough signal even for the red/pink microphone sockets fitted to many computers and laptops.

I have started recommending switching to a decent USB microphone as these appear to be, in my experience, much better both in signal level and noise levels ie they do not suffer so badly from electrical interference from for example fluorescent lights.

Is there an alternative recording device like microphone or something similar in the advanced option of the record dialog?

If you have Realtek HDA audio see this post - although it refers to a different product it is the sound card settings you should check.

HTH

John