Acoustica User Forums

Hi Folks,

Cannot solve this riddle so thanks to you Gurus in advance for helping. I have this lavalier mic that has a 3.5mm mono male jack. It has one of those watch batteries in it for power so it is a budget mic. When I use it with my digital recorder (Sony ICD-UX533)it is great. Records nice and loud. But through my USB audio interface nothing! Basically no signal with the gain way up. My interface is a Focusrite 2i4. I am connecting the mic to the interface using a Rode VXLR 3.5mm to XLR adapter.

Any ideas why it is low on the interface but great with the recorder? Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Hi,

Try to narrow down the problem. What happens if you plug the mic directly into your computer's microphone input? Does that work?

Greg

Also, this is a condenser mic - do you have phantom power enabled on the 2i4?

Thanks for the replies appreciate it...

1. Plugging the mic directly into the input of my CPU is the same...Nothing...I know the battery is fresh in the mic cuz when I record with the digital recorder it works beautifully...Take the battery out nothing....So one thing deduced...


2. With my 2i4 tried with phantom +48v on and off with gain on input all the way up...Also switched between 'line' and 'input' on the 2i4...Nothing...

Is the lavalier mic a stero mic, in other words is the plug a TRS mini plug. Could it not be inserting into the interface correctly?

Hi,

The Lavalier has a male 3.5mm mono jack....

I plug the Lavalier into the Rode VXLR

http://www.rodemic.com/accessories/vxlr


And then the VXLR to my 2i4...

Nothing....With the Gain all the way up and toggling phantom power....

Do you use that adapter when you plug it into your digital recorder? Might be the adapter that's not getting through to the 2i4.

Just trying to cover all of the bases here...

When you plug the mic into your Sony recorder, do you actually change the input in the menu?
Or is it possible that the recorder is just picking up through the built-in mics on the unit and not the lavalier?
Have you ever had success with that mic on any other device?

And have you tried any other mic plugged into the interface?

And, backing up to my suggestion, when you plugged it directly into your computer, did you arm the track in Mixcraft for the correct microphone when you tested it?

Hi All,

Thanks for the tips....Here is what I know...


1. When plugging the lav into the digital recorder the recorder 'prompts' me to select the plugged in mic or to use the built in...I chose the plugged in and tested the recording by speaking/blowing directly into the lav with the recorder...This way I eliminate the possibility that it is the built in mic working..

2. Other mics work fine in the interface..I have tried both a hand held dynamic and side-adress condenser via XLR input..

3. I just tried plugging the lav directly into the computer's mic input...And armed in Mixcraft..Similarly to the interface the gain is very weak....Not usable....


Lav only gives good results when recording with the digital recorder...I think I will give up on this mic...And look for another...

Anyone recommend a wired XLR lavalier ?

Here's one:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1 ... Wired.html

What's the application? You may be better off with a different mic that is more versatile.