Can't get SM58 + preamp + Soundblaster to work

[DanielZKlein]

Hi,

first off: I'm going for a really simple setup. I don't want perfect sound quality or anything--I just want this to work ;)

Okay, here's what I got: I have an SM58, a preamp, and a Soundblaster Live. I've connected the SM58 via an XLR to 1/4' cable to the preamp, and from the preamp I have an XLR to 1/8' cable. I tried putting that both into mic in and line in in the soundcard, but all I get is a buzzing sound. That buzzing sound does not change when I play with either the input gain or drive dial on the preamp, but switching on/off the +20db gain on the preamp does send a short click through the line.

I know the microphone works (because it works in a studio environment, and if I use the XLR to 1/8' cable to connect the microphone directly to mic in, I get a very, very low signal, but I do get a signal).

So essentially my question is: what am I doing wrong? The preamp I just bought very recently; I don't think it's very likely that it's broken.

Thanks in advance for any reply.

[itsplayed]

Have you gone into the Soundblasters mixer and made sure that "What You Hear" is selected as the recording device?

[TimOBrien]

Also go into the Windows Sound control panel and make sure that the Line-IN recording port is active (checked).

BTW: Use the line-in, never the mic-in.

[AndyH]

First, you certainly do not want 'what you hear' checked when recording from an external device.

The proper input for microphone + preamp is the soundcard's line in jack. The Windows mixer has both a playback section and a recording section. The playback section is what you see when you first select the mixer. You must switch to the record mixer to control and adjust recording activities.

The preamp is intended to produce a line level signal; that is why it must go into the line level soundcard jack. If you have any of the common powered speakers intended to attach directly to the soundcard output, they also expect a line level signal. Plugging the preamp output into the speakers' input rather than into the soundcard will allow you to verify that the preamp is producing a proper signal when you speak into the microphone.

[wogg]

I suspect your XLR to 1/8" adapter. Is it a TRS 1/8" adapter (three contacts)?

It may be taking the balanced signal out of the XLR and sending it tip + and ring - to the 1/8" jack. Your soundcard is expecting a stereo signal in that jack, and if it is summing it to mono anywhere for some reason, all you'll get is silence and a little noise.