Skip to main content

hi you guys, I need help please. I just got a CAD 49 tube condenser mic, and I can't get any sound off of it. I connected my CAD 49 condenser mic to the analog power supply using the 7-pin XLR connector into the mic in of the power supply. Then I connected my mic preamp which is bulit onto the Xenyx802 mixer to the output of the power supply using a 3 pin XLR. Then my main output of my Xenyx 802 mixer is connected to the unbal input of my firewire audio interface, with 1/4" jack cables into both left and right jack plugin of my interface. Then my firewire interface is connect to my mac using a firewire cable. I dunno what is going on but I can't seem to get any sound from this mic. Can anyone help?

Topic Tags

Comments

Kapt.Krunch Tue, 06/09/2009 - 06:42

CAD 49? Is that the right model? CAD M9, maybe? No matter...should be the same problem.

You need to check along the signal path at various points. From what we know, you just can't get anything through your computer interface. First, I'm going to assume that you have the CAD power supply plugged in, and turned on. Always make sure the mic is attached to the power supply before powering up or down! Don't plug or unplug the mic with power on!

Have headphones? Plug them into the Xenyx and see if you get sound there. If you do, you know it's getting to the mixer.

If not, then you may have to check your input pad level, your channel strip level and your mixer/headphone output level. Also check to see if nothing on the mixer is muted, like your channel or main out. If still nothing, try another XLR cable from the power supply out to the mixer.

If you know everything on your mixer is set properly, and the XLR cable is good, then you could have a faulty mic or power supply...if not getting anything.

If you are getting signal to the mixer, and out the headphones, then you need to make sure it's going through the mixer output that would connect to the computer interface. If nothing else, take the output to an amp. Monitor amp, guitar amp...whatever. MAKE SURE THE AMP IS TURNED OFF AND ALL THE WAY DOWN FIRST! In fact, anytime you plug an out into an in, make sure the input levels are turned down before powering up, or you get an earful of sqwack. Set the mixer channel and main out faders to "unity" or optimal levels. Turn the amp on, and slowly turn it up, while speaking/playing through the mic. (You may have to slowly turn up the channel input pad slowly to get a decent signal). Hopefully, you'll hear something. If you do, then you know the mic, power supply, cables and mixer are working properly. If not, but it works through the haedphones, you may have a problem with the mixer main out, or the cable(s).

Assuming it did work to that point, you need to check to see if your computer interface is set up properly. Plug a guitar, drum machine...whatever...into the Firewire input, and see if you get signal.

You didn't say which interface, or which program you use. I'm betting it's something to do with the interface setup or not enabling a path to your recording program, or a combination that isn't allowing you to monitor what is going in.

If you KNOW it's getting out of the mixer, then that has to be it. Check all that, RTFMs, and see if that fixes it. If it doesn't, reply with which interface and program you are using to try to get more assistance.

Good luck,

Kapt.Krunch