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I am just setting up this studio for the first time, and I am having trouble picking up sound from the mic's. I am only getting a signal 1/10 of what it could be. I started using an SM57 and I thought "well, maybe its just the mic"; so I switched to my KSM27 condenser, turned phantom on, and still nothing (really). I checked all my levels and everything, everything looked good. Then I got to thinking "maybe it's the cable" so I pulled out my mobilepre USB and set it up running the mic into it and it to the MBOX. The lights on the front of the pre were showing a good signal (even clipping when I turned it up), so it can't figure out why I can't get a good line into the MBOX and decent volume on Protools.

I must be missing something so ridiculous...I just have this feeling...

If anyone has any ideas, I would REALLY appreciate them.

Thanks,
-Mark

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citrusburst Thu, 02/23/2006 - 23:55

Hey Mark,

Two considerations:

1) Have you set your "source" selection to "mic"? If this is set to "line" or "inst" you won't really get anything from the mic.

2) Have you turned the "mix" knob towards the left (input) at all? If this is turned all the way to the right (playback) you won't really hear anything from the mic.

Hope that helps.

Jed

citrusburst Fri, 02/24/2006 - 16:36

Hey Mark,

The signal is faint on the analog outputs of the MBox as well as going to disk within protools?

(Dumb question)
You've got the gain turned up on your mic channels? Note that the MBox is pretty light on gain until you get to 3PM or higher.
(/Dumb question)

Do you have anything plugged into the inserts on the back of the MBox?

Try this for me: plug in your mic, turn on phantom, turn up gain, then cycle through the input types one time until you get back to "mic" Sometimes the MBox gets cranky and this can fix problems.

Let me know if any of this helps.

Jed