sounds like gain staging might be the culprit. Or possibly self noise from the pre's or the mic itself.

As far as gain staging, a good start (and how I was told to do it :wink: ) would be to set your master fader, input faders and your track faders all at unity. Use your input trim to set your levels at around -18 db on your meters. This is for rms, not peak. There's more to it but this will give ya a start.

As to the self noise....:confused:
maybe try the "Deselfnoisifier Pro"

:tongue:

Luck dude...

Give us some info on how you have the system hooked up. What is plugged into what with what kind of cables? What are the various levels set at? What kind of software are you using on the computer?

Have you tried just listening to the mic through the mixer? Even through the mixer's headphone jacks?

BobRogers, post: 377094 wrote: Give us some info on how you have the system hooked up. What is plugged into what with what kind of cables? What are the various levels set at? What kind of software are you using on the computer?

Have you tried just listening to the mic through the mixer? Even through the mixer's headphone jacks?

I monitor everything coming into the mixer with a pair of headphones, and yes at the moment i only have the one mic hooked up.

Here's the best way i can describe my setup

C1 Mic signal travels through 20 foot CBI Low Z Cable into channel 1 on mixer
From the mixer, signal goes out the Main Out 1/4 jacks via LR Rca cables with Rca to 1/4 adapters
Next it goes thru the UCA 202 AI which plugs directly into my computer via USB.

Right now i've got it dialed in where im barely hearing extra noise coming through my headphones, so maybe that's all my problem is.

These levels go from -15 to +15

My levels are this
Channel Level : -12
Pan : 0
Low EQ : -8
High EQ : +2
Gain : There's 2 markings: +55 or +35

My gain has a +10 to +60 then a -10 to +40 around the dial

I did a little recording on the computer with those settings and it sounds better than i've been able to get it so i think im on the right track but maybe not :smile:

Sounds like things are hooked up correctly. As keldog said, you are going to have to experiment with gain staging. What this means is the there are really three volume controls between the microphone and the computer (1) gain (2) level (3) main out. Obviously you can turn them up and down in a lot of possible combinations and get the same final volume. Right now you have the gain knob turned up pretty high (+55....the outer numbers refer to the XLR input, the inner ones refer to the line input (I think)). What are the level and main out set at? Try turning down the gain and turning those up.

I forgot to add the other levels (i always forget something). The main out is set at about +9. The channel level is down to -12. Should i switch them up?
Just to add im currently averaging -20 on my main out so from what keldog said i should be good there right? My meter doesnt show below -20 so im not exactly sure what it's true average is. I know it lights up frequently then hits 0 to +6 if i blow or tap the mic.

You are going to have to experiment with this, but I'd start with the level and main out set to zero. What level do you have to set the gain at to get the green 0 dB meter light flashing on the loudest passages of your singing? If it's like +40 dB or so, try recording and see if it doesn't sound better. Tell up what the recorded levels are on the computer at that level.