Can I ask what usb interface your using and why you must convert from 1/4" to XLR to feed it?

Seems to me that your making things more complicated than it needs to be.

Ideal recordings would be made by plugging directly into your interface, then setting levels from there.

Honey may I say, just eliminate the mixer. The microphone is designed to be plugged directly into the USB interface. Your XLR to USB adapter is not designed to be fed from a mixer. In order to use your mixer with that interface you need to obtain a line level to Mike level pad. You are listening to all of the amplifier noise within your mixer since you are amplifying it by 50 DB. That's why you don't need the mixer. You need the mixer if you're using more than one microphone. And then you need a different kind of interface that accepts line level inputs not microphone level inputs. There is a huge difference between the two level differences and this is a bad beginner faux pas. Are these brand-new and do you have any kind of return policy?

Talk to me
Mx. Remy Ann David

Thank you for the replies so quickly.

@jammaster,

It is a necessity to have the 1/4 to XLR adapter becuase the 1/4 jack plugs into the main out of my mixer, then the other part of the 1/4 to xlr adapter plugs into my interface.

X-Orcism

that is what i am using.

RemyRAD

I would like to record more thsn 1 microphone at a time so eliminating the mixer would not let me do that

Man, If I were you I would seriously consider a different approach to solving your interface problem.

If your budget is so cheap that all you can afford it this shoddy mxl then IMHO look at getting a better line level one.

I think your mxl mic mate device is made for mic level, not line level. You must get a device that recognizes line level signal (+4dbu) from the mixer.

Trying to match the level of the mixer to the mic will not work the way you want it to.

If you wish to get rid of the noise you'll have to look at updating to a better interface and or mixer.

Ok thank you.

I think I will look into a better interface.

Any suggestions?

Not an ideal situation. If you can't take Remy's suggestion of swapping the Micmate for the line-level version, we can try to make the best of what you have.

Firstly, make sure the sensitivity switch on the Micmate is set to the lowest of the three settings. If this still does not give an acceptable result, you need to put an attenuator between the mixer output and the Micmate input. Something like a 40dB balanced attenuator would be suitable.

If you or a friend are handy with a soldering iron, you can easily make your own 40dB attenuator and house it in the plug that connects to the mixer output. You need a 10 KOhm resistor in each of the two signal leads and a 200 Ohm resistor across the Micmate input. This converts the Micmate to the line-level version.

i can solder, but when i put it on the lowest setting it is just a not as loud white noise.

can somone link to me a line-level interface?

Edirol UA1ex

http://www.roland.com/products/en/UA-1EX/

I love mine.
Mx. Remy Ann David

Thank you, so i would have a 1/4 wire such as a guitar line or somthing coming from my Main Out and go into that?

http://www.mxlmics.com/products/USB/MicMate_LineLevel/MicMate_LineLevel.html

that is a step up from what i have.

Chris your device is only designed to be fed from a microphone not a mixer. The device you think that is the next level up is not. It is a line level input device with sensitivity settings for -10, +4, +10 which isn't -50 which is what your unit is designed to operate with. Your mixer outputs +4 these items don't match up technically. So you really need that other device not the one you currently have, which is only for microphones. You can get an in-line pad from Shure. This is a basic misunderstanding you have about your equipment. One has to understand that microphone levels are much lower than line levels. Sort of like the difference between a 1 1/2 V battery and getting electrocuted.

You might want to try and pick up a few music magazines geared toward the home recording enthusiasts?

Rolling my own for many years
Mx. Remy Ann David

Maybe an attenuator could help you, I was recording our gig off
a phones output and into our cam corder mic input and had white noise and distortion big time , the tech man made an attenuator [ a combination of resistors] in line on my wire and bingo!, it worked for me .
Im not much good with electrical calculations but Im sure someone here would be able to give you resistor values,
and you can get a plan off the net , wont cost much and it
might work in your situation.
can someone chime in here , ?
good luck

or an in line pad .....lol

kiwinz wrote: Maybe an attenuator could help you, I was recording our gig off
a phones output and into our cam corder mic input and had white noise and distortion big time , the tech man made an attenuator [ a combination of resistors] in line on my wire and bingo!, it worked for me .
Im not much good with electrical calculations but Im sure someone here would be able to give you resistor values,
and you can get a plan off the net , wont cost much and it
might work in your situation.
can someone chime in here , ?
good luck

Cast your eyes a little further up this page and you will see the very thing you talk about.

Ok, thanks to everyone who has helped so far.

I now understand Remy, thanks.

I should get the roland device you have?

and if i do the 1/4 jack will plug into that then the usb into my computer?

You will need a 1/4 inch to RCA patch cord but that's all. Stereo I might add. This device also has no latency pass through input monitoring. It's 24-bit 96 kHz capable. It has a switch to allow you to run it under standard USB 1.1 capabilities but if you load its specialized driver that enables it to run at 24-bit 96 kHz if you should so desire.

Happy owner
Mx. Remy Ann David

I would recommend that you also look at the MicPort Pro from CEntrance. This is a higher level portable USB interface that includes a variable-gain preamp and takes inputs from Line to Mic level. Very low-noise.

For $150 USD, the portabitliy is hard to beat. They also give you a driver that lets you record several channels at once. Good luck!