PC mic input power for condenser
in [Live Sound]
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From: Leon on 1 Feb 2010 20:43 I thought that all PCs used one "channel" of the mic input for audio, and the other one for +5v to run a condenser mic. I looked at my PC with a voltmeter and found no voltage... and connecting a dynamic mic to either channel produced audio... I would use the dynamic (AKG) but its some 25db down even if I shout! And I can't find the stupid little plastic PC condenser mic I used to have, to test it... Do I have to get a mic pre for this or does anyone have suggestions? I used to use the line in for serious audio with a mixer... I just wanted to add some voice-over to something... How come simple things are a royal PAIN!? Thanks!
From: Tim Perry on 1 Feb 2010 21:27 <Leon(a)nospam.com> wrote in message news:l80fm5l0j2oiecqif2krjeq6j3frce8hj0(a)4ax.com... > > I thought that all PCs used one "channel" of the mic input for audio, and > the > other one for +5v to run a condenser mic. > > I looked at my PC with a voltmeter and found no voltage... and connecting > a > dynamic mic to either channel produced audio... > > I would use the dynamic (AKG) but its some 25db down even if I shout! > > And I can't find the stupid little plastic PC condenser mic I used to > have, to > test it... > > Do I have to get a mic pre for this or does anyone have suggestions? I > used to > use the line in for serious audio with a mixer... > > I just wanted to add some voice-over to something... How come simple > things are > a royal PAIN!? > > Thanks! > Many times in the "sound mixer" there is an "advanced" button with a check box for 20 dB boost for th microphone input. Sometimes there is an option to change 'mic in' to 'line in'. If it set to line in your mic levels would be low.
From: Denny Strauser on 1 Feb 2010 22:11 Leon(a)nospam.com wrote: > I thought that all PCs used one "channel" of the mic input for audio, and the > other one for +5v to run a condenser mic. > > I looked at my PC with a voltmeter and found no voltage... and connecting a > dynamic mic to either channel produced audio... > > I would use the dynamic (AKG) but its some 25db down even if I shout! > > And I can't find the stupid little plastic PC condenser mic I used to have, to > test it... > > Do I have to get a mic pre for this or does anyone have suggestions? I used to > use the line in for serious audio with a mixer... > > I just wanted to add some voice-over to something... How come simple things are > a royal PAIN!? A dynamic should work fine. You don't mention what software you're using. Is it set for line-in, rather than mic? Is it padded? Some condensers can run with battery power. Have you checked out USB mics? They might be a cheaper alternative than a mic pre + condenser. -Denny
From: Arny Krueger on 2 Feb 2010 07:28 <Leon(a)nospam.com> wrote in message news:l80fm5l0j2oiecqif2krjeq6j3frce8hj0(a)4ax.com > I thought that all PCs used one "channel" of the mic > input for audio, and the other one for +5v to run a > condenser mic. IOW configured for a high output electret mic element. That is a pretty common configuration, but... > I looked at my PC with a voltmeter and found no > voltage... and connecting a dynamic mic to either channel > produced audio... Many PC's have dynamically-configurable inputs and outputs. The hardware and software measures the impedance across the inputs and outputs, makes a guess at what equipment is there, and configures the inputs and outputs accordingly. Sometimes there is an applet that lets you override, and/or confirm any changes. > I would use the dynamic (AKG) but its some 25db down even > if I shout! Sounds like a consumer-levels line input. FS = 1` vrms. > And I can't find the stupid little plastic PC condenser > mic I used to have, to test it... PC suppliers have these. Hmm... NewEgg http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=122&name=Microphones > Do I have to get a mic pre for this That will keep the line input happy, if you keep it down. +4 will clip the input of most PC on-board audio interfaces, and often this happens before the gain control, so you can't do anything about it with the PC mixer. > or does anyone have > suggestions? I used to use the line in for serious audio > with a mixer... There's a reason why USB microphones have become possible - they provide an alternative path around all this... > I just wanted to add some voice-over to something... How > come simple things are a royal PAIN!? You are departing from the appointed order of things technical. ;-)
From: Leon on 2 Feb 2010 08:55 On Mon, 1 Feb 2010 21:27:14 -0500, "Tim Perry" <timperry(a)donespameroadrunner.com> wrote: > ><Leon(a)nospam.com> wrote in message >news:l80fm5l0j2oiecqif2krjeq6j3frce8hj0(a)4ax.com... >> >> I thought that all PCs used one "channel" of the mic input for audio, and >> the >> other one for +5v to run a condenser mic. >> >> I looked at my PC with a voltmeter and found no voltage... and connecting >> a >> dynamic mic to either channel produced audio... >> >> I would use the dynamic (AKG) but its some 25db down even if I shout! >> >> And I can't find the stupid little plastic PC condenser mic I used to >> have, to >> test it... >> >> Do I have to get a mic pre for this or does anyone have suggestions? I >> used to >> use the line in for serious audio with a mixer... >> >> I just wanted to add some voice-over to something... How come simple >> things are >> a royal PAIN!? >> >> Thanks! >> >Many times in the "sound mixer" there is an "advanced" button with a check >box for 20 dB boost for th microphone input. I knew about that - it's set. >Sometimes there is an option to change 'mic in' to 'line in'. If it set to >line in your mic levels would be low. > When I plugged in a window asked to set up the input, and it said "mic", but it was not intuitive, didn't say what kind of "mic"... I'll look again... First I tried the front jack, but nothing happened, so I used the rear... I think the front is not plugged in...
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