Finally getting around to trying to record with my Oktava mod condenser mic, but I can't get any signal except for a very, very faint one.

The Oktava is plugged into an Apogee Duet using an XLR cable, which is then connected via firewire to a Macbook Pro running Garage Band. 48-volt phantom power is on. I can monitor loops through my headphones as I record. In playback I hear only the loop. If I turn the volume all the way up, I can faintly hear the flute in the background, so I know there's a signal. It just shows up as a flat line on the track visual.

Initially, the chain also included a Studio Projects VTB1 preamp, cranked the gain all the way and could barely get a -8 level reading--and, yes, phantom power was switched on. Then tried it without the preamp to see if that was the problem, but same thing.

I've read the book, fiddled with the controls, looked for answers online ... but can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. Now I'm just tired and frustrated ... better get some sleep and try again tomorrow. I'd be grateful for any suggestions.

Paul

Hi Paul,
This is probably a dumb question but.....In the apogee control panel in Logic is the input for that port set to XLR Mic or maybe XLR Line - 10dbV or maybe Instrument?

When you're recording, can you hear the flute through your headphones as well or just the loop?

-Mark

One other possibly dumb question too. You do have the Duet's apogee XLR jack selected for intput for the track. On my MBP, the Duet's XLR1 is also Input 1 in the Options/Audio/IO Labels screen along. I've gone through and given Long and Short names as well since I'm using the Duet aggregated with the internal inputs and outputs as well.

You might suspect the cable as well. Perhaps it's not supplying the 48v to the mic? Have you tried a dynamic mic on the same cable with the 48v turned off of course just to see if the cable will work with it?

-Mark

On the Maestro control panel, have you checked the 48V box for phantom power. Dial up the gain. The controller has input meters on the controller. You should see them light up. If you have the phantom on and the level dialed up and don't see any input when talking on the mic. I would suspect a bad cable.

"Dumb" questions are welcome because I'm probably making a dumb mistake. By the way, I switched from Logic Studio to GarageBand for the time being--until I get things figured out ... it's simpler. Here are the settings in the Apogee control panel:

Input
Input 1: XLR connector, microphone level
Recording Level: slider control turned up about 2/3rds
Phantom Power: On
Phase Invert: Off

Output
Connected to: Line (e.g. Home Stereo)
Mute Behavior: Mute Main Output & Headphones

Meter
Display shows: Input
Peak Hold: 2 seconds

I cannot hear the flute through the headphones, just the loop--though I've had to play around with the settings in GarageBand too. Here are the settings:

Input Source: Mono 1 (Duet (2423))
Monitor: On or Off*
Recording Level: slider control turned up about 2/3rds
Automatic Level Control selected or deselected*

*Selecting Automatic Level Control automatically turns the Monitor to Off. If I deselect Automatic Level Control and turn the Monitor to On the program detects feedback and gives me the options of turning the Monitor On (with or without feedback protection) or Off. I've tried every configuration without success. Moreover, if I deselect Automatic Level Control and try to set the level myself with the slider control all I get is increasingly louder hiss as I turn it up past about 2/3rds. I get almost no level signal on either the Duet or in GarageBand.

Not quite sure I understand your question. Did my last post address this--or is there something I should be setting on my MBP too?

I was able to record with an EV Raven dynamic mic using the same XLR cable (phantom power off). How can I tell if the cable isn't supplying the 48v to the mic?

Thanks for your help.

I'm not using Maestro because GarageBand and Logic are designed to be integrated with Apogee--one of the reasons I bought it. On the Apogee control panel, I have selected 48v phantom power and turned up the gain. I get a louder hiss, but no signal for the flute. I can see a very weak signal, one bar, with the gain cranked.

I tried two different XLR Monster cables--one is new and the other is nearly new ... and both work fine in other applications.

This is going to turn out to be something simple and stupid, I just know it.

I tried a third XLR cable with no better results. Input level on the Duet won't go above the first green light no matter what I do. So I switched out the Oktava for a dynamic EV Raven--and had no trouble setting levels or recording (though there does seem to be a bit of feedback that automatically shuts the monitoring off ... the result of headphone bleed into the mic?)

At any rate, I'm guessing that the Oktava isn't getting enough boost despite the 48v phantom power. Now what do I do?

One more bit of information. I decided to again try to run the Oktava through the Studio Projects VTB1 preamp, so now the chain looks like this:

Okatava > XLR cable > preamp mic in > preamp balanced out > Duet in-1 > firewire > Macbook Pro > GarageBand

On the Studio Projects preamp, with 48v phantom power switched on and output level turned all the way down, instructions tell me to increase gain level to between 0 and +8. However, cranking gain as high as it will go only lights up to -20. Assuming the cable is fine, is it reasonable to suspect that the Oktava is faulty?

... Just ran another test in an effort to isolate the problem ... switched back to the dynamic mic and turned phantom power off. Now I can get the desired level between 0 and +8, but that's with the gain level turned pretty much to the maximum, maybe one notch less. Should the gain knob go that high?

More confused than ever.

I'm unfamiliar with your entire signal chain after the mic, including your software and computer, so I'm completely clueless in this instance...

I would urge you to share this difficulty on a couple of audio forums such as Studio-Central and Gearslutz. You will have a much larger population of tech-heads and pro audio folks who can ask the right questions and who are more likely to know how to help you troubleshoot. It might take some time, but take a few deep breaths...

Having a home studio has been, without doubt, the single biggest lesson in patience that I've learned in my life. Walking that road from total novice to successful home recording enthusiast takes some time and some head scratching. I leaned on the members of those forums listed above and received lots of help and advice. The number of times where I was just utterly thwarted and confused cannot be counted .

I agree. I think you have a bad microphone.

Well I do have almost your entire sound chain but with a different condense mic (MXL 990) and I get PLENTY of gain with the duet. I'm starting to agree with Geoffrey and Jeff though. It sounds like something's not quite right with the mic. However, is there an audio place around not too far from your house? Someplace like a Guitar Center or other performance audio place? I would take the mic in and see if they perhaps will give it a try there for you. Or maybe you know someone else who has equipment you could test with. You know Melinda Pitt Kaye right? Maybe she could hook you up with some AV guys at the college and give it a try. Either way, if the mic doesn't work with their equipment either, then it definitely needs to go back to Mike. Maybe it someone got beat up in shipping from him to you.

Later!

-Mark

Sigh ... Guess I'll find time this week to post the problem on another forum and/or have it tested locally. Meanwhile, I sent Michael Joly a message asking for his input.

Let's see ... had to send a Marshall amp back this week, and now this. What's next?

At least I got a full refund for the amp--though I see it's listed again (under a different seller name) at the same price and no mention at all of the problem.

If it ends up being the mic, Michael Joly will take care of it promptly. One of my MK-012s had a solder joint come loose and it started crackling, and he put it right immediately at no charge (of course). He backs up his work, so your only hassle will be some time lost.

Michael has it now ... just waiting to hear back from him.

Got the Oktava back from Michael last week and finally had a chance to test it today ... Hooray! strong, clear signal. It was the mic, after all, since I didn't change any of my settings. Guess it might have been damaged in transit the first time ... who knows?

Time to do some recording.

Great!!

Looking forward to hearing some of those recordings. :-)

-Mark