Condensor mic clipping with Input Signal at zero!!

[ewan.mcghee]

Hi there,

I'm recording a vocal using a Midnight Blues 4000C Condensor microphone, via my MBox 2 and into Pro tools LE 7.1.1, but even with the MBox Input set to zero, the vocal is clipping and distorting in Pro Tools! How is that even possible?! The mic is plugged into the XLR input, and i have the pad and phantom power both off on the MBox since the mic has its own phantom power. This seems to defy science to me, but there's probably a very simple answer.

Can anybody help?

Thanks,

Ewan

[1ace1]

Hi ewan.

What computer are you using?

Also a couple of basic trouble shooters. Does it do this; without the mic plugged in, with a different mic but same XLR cable, with different cable?

Also is the cable properly housed between the mic and its power supply?

Sorry to ask the obvious but most of the time that is where problem lies.

A:)

[ewan.mcghee]

Hi Ace,

I have a Mac Powerbook. I was using an XLR to XLR which I swapped for an XLR to 1/4 inch jack, but the problem's the same. I don't have another mic unfortunately.

This is really bugging me.

thanks for your help.

Ewan

[Ben Jenssen]

Lots of mics are "hot" in themselves. That's what damping pads are for. Is there a pad button on your mbox? That says, like -20 or something? Use it.

If you don't have a pad, there are attenuators out there. Small xlr things that you just plug in between the mic cable and the pre amp.

And don't worry if you first push the pad button, and then have to turn up the gain. That's how it works.

IHTH

[Mikeren]

Ben's right, use the pad on the M-Box that is what it is for.
If the output of the mic is still too hot (that's likely what the problem is) Shure makes a handy in-line attenuator: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ttenuator.html

[mhelm01]

Originally Posted by Mikeren

Ben's right, use the pad on the M-Box that is what it is for.
If the output of the mic is still too hot (that's likely what the problem is) Shure makes a handy in-line attenuator: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ttenuator.html

+1 These things are just great to have handy in general.