Originally posted by medusa:
...and a custom made mic pre-amp (i'm
not rich, i have funding from a record company

Custom made by whom? My guess is that this is where the problem lies.

designed by Signal Audio. i know at least 3 big studios in my country that use his pre-amps and are quite satisfied.
http://www.signal-audio.com/

I will check with him tommorow. thanks!

This may be completly stupid to say, but have you checked the mic cable? Have you tried another condenser mic? If neither of these two solves the issue, I too would suspect the pre. Or, is it possible the pre does not have a phantom power supply? Perhaps you need to purchase an external phantom power supply.
Check to see if there is phantom power first.(+48v)
Then change the cable.
Then change the mic.

Also with respect to the humming. Do you have power conditioning? That will help with noise.

first, yeah i'm sure it has a phantom power supply, cuz the mic only works when the switch labeled "+48v" is on :) )- only on maximum (+55db) gain i get a normal level.

i guess i'll have to check the preamp.

i wanted to ask- did you have experience with other pre-amps? when trying to record something like an acoustic guitar- on what level was the gain knob?

thanks! yoni.

Originally posted by medusa:
designed by Signal Audio. i know at least 3 big studios in my country that use his pre-amps and are quite satisfied.

Doesn't mean that yours is necessarily working properly though. Do you have another pre that you can try swapping into it's place?

Medusa: Just because an sm58 worked and the 414 didnt doesn't mean the pre is at fault. You may know this but just in case you don't consider this.
Xlr cables are three conductor, only two of which carry signal to microphone. The third pin carries voltage. On a dynamic mic this pin is not used, therefore an irrelevant test when trying to find your problem.
If you place another condenser on this pre, and find that, with a good, tested cable you have the same problem, THAT is pointing a finger at the pre. If not, then suspect the mic. A dynamic will work with or without phantom power.

Best of luck!

Is the pad on the 414 set properly?
e.g.is it at -10db or more?

Just shooting in the dark.
:d:
T

:) Tonio, set the pad at zero.

--Rick

hey!
took the pre-amp back to the lab where he added me 6dB of gain. Now everything works like a charm!
thanks for all the help :)

yoni

Originally posted by medusa:
took the pre-amp back to the lab where he added me 6dB of gain. Now everything works like a charm!

Bingo!