[Solved!] Condenser Mic Noise when using ASIO

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DRanck
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2015/07/26 01:49:58 (permalink)

[Solved!] Condenser Mic Noise when using ASIO

[UPDATE]
The issue has mysteriously disappeared. If it comes back, I'll try to track down the cause again.
 
[Update 2]
I believe I tracked it down to VoiceMeeter and Sonar interfering with one another's access to the audio engine. I started VoiceMeeter and then Sonar. Sonar was taking almost 100% CPU. I restarted the audio engine in Sonar, but as soon as it restarted, the CPU climbed back up. Then I restarted it in VoiceMeeter and that did it. No noise and a happy CPU.
 
[Original Post]
I'm hoping someone has some thoughts. I just bought a TASCAM TM-80 Condenser Microphone for podcasting. I'm using VoiceMeeter to record and get both the mic input and audio from SONAR. Mic preamp is the Presonus Audiobus USB.
 
Here's the problem: 
 
If I use ASIO drivers in Sonar, I get a lot of line noise with the mic (a bit like an electrical humming) and have my typical low latency when playing through a midi controller. However, if I use WDM/KS the mic is clean as a whistle BUT I have ultra high latency that makes it impossible to play live while recording. It's a bit of a impasse - as long as I don't need to play while recording, WDM/KS is fine. But I want to be able demo samples live.
 
Does anyone have any thoughts?
post edited by DRanck - 2015/07/28 20:59:28

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    Zargg
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    Re: Condenser Mic Noise when using ASIO 2015/07/26 09:43:03 (permalink)
    Hi. Strange. Have you tried to upper your latency (under ASIO), for checking if any difference?
    Is the recording level (into SONAR) the same both in ASIO and WDM/KS?
    Do you have the latest ASIO drivers?
    Best of luck.

    Ken Nilsen
    Zargg
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    #2
    DRanck
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    Re: Condenser Mic Noise when using ASIO 2015/07/26 11:16:22 (permalink)
    Thanks for the reply. Yes, yes and yes :-). But let me qualify the record level. I'm not recording into Sonar, but directly into screen capture software (Corel Videostudio). I've also tried various other capture software with the same results.
     
    I stymied. Perhaps I'll try running the mic into Sonar.

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    Zargg
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    Re: Condenser Mic Noise when using ASIO 2015/07/26 11:34:05 (permalink)
    Could there be an issue with shared ASIO drivers (it can cause problems) between programs (incl SONAR)?

    Ken Nilsen
    Zargg
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    #4
    scook
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    Re: Condenser Mic Noise when using ASIO 2015/07/26 11:36:33 (permalink)
    I suspect VoiceMeeter is mixing in another source like a line in from the internal sound chip.
    #5
    AT
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    Re: Condenser Mic Noise when using ASIO 2015/07/26 11:40:39 (permalink)
    Break it down into possible problems.
     
    First, ASIO is a driver's standard connecting hardware to software.  You aren't recording into SONAR, so it shouldn't be the root problem of the latency.  That probably has to do w/ your screen capture software.  Before you head over to Corel's forums, break down your problem more.
     
    Obviously you don't have a problem w/ the mic if it is acceptable under WKM.  Scratch that.
     
    Does SONAR record fine, with acceptable latency, using ASIO (generally the preferred drivers for music).  If so, then it ain't the problem.
     
    Does Corel work fine w/ ASIO just to record - not also play back bed music via SONAR?  If so, the problem ain't w/ Corel.
     
    If you still have latency problems, then it is running SONAR and Corel together (in essence, recording SONAR + Mic into Corel).  That sounds like the problem to me, probably a mismatch somewhere between running both softwares at one time.  If that is the case and no one at Corel has an answer, I'd make a bug report.
     
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    #6
    DRanck
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    Re: Condenser Mic Noise when using ASIO 2015/07/26 12:39:08 (permalink)
    Thanks for the replies. I'm leaning toward scook's eval for now. It sounds exactly like a noisy internal connection. I recheck and make sure everything that should be disabled is disabled. 
     
    The latency somes from (I think) using the WMD/KS drivers. When using ASIO, there is very little latency. I just get this line noise.

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    Cactus Music
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    Re: Condenser Mic Noise when using ASIO 2015/07/26 12:49:30 (permalink)
    USB mikes are a huge waste of money... they rarely work with a DAW and they can't be used with any proper audio equipment. Get your money back and buy a mike with XLR connections. 
    USB can have hum issues, the solution is a Ferrite choke on the cable. 
     


    Johnny V  
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    #8
    DRanck
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    Re: Condenser Mic Noise when using ASIO 2015/07/26 15:54:40 (permalink)
    Hi Johnny, I don't have USB Mic, it's a condenser. My USB cable from the Audiobox audio interface does have a ferrite core. Thanks for the ideas.
     
    In any event:
    Oh boy. I hate it when a problem is "resolved" but you don't know why...
     
    I redid everything but made no changes. Result = weird noise gone. So I have to wonder, was some other process running and causing issues that I didn't see?
     
    Thanks for your help!

    My Sound Cloud
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    Zargg
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    Re: Condenser Mic Noise when using ASIO 2015/07/26 16:10:50 (permalink)
    Glad you figured it out, and are back on track

    Ken Nilsen
    Zargg
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    #10
    DRanck
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    Re: Condenser Mic Noise when using ASIO 2015/07/28 21:01:21 (permalink)
    [Update 2]
    I believe I tracked it down to VoiceMeeter and Sonar interfering with one another's access to the audio engine. I started VoiceMeeter and then Sonar. Sonar was taking almost 100% CPU. I restarted the audio engine in Sonar, but as soon as it restarted, the CPU climbed back up. Then I restarted it in VoiceMeeter and that did it. No noise and a happy CPU.
     
    Other than this little glitch, VoiceMeeter is a nice piece of software.

    My Sound Cloud
    Website
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    The way that I've always gone about making music, the rule of thumb, has just been to make what I love.
    Amy Lee
     
    Sonar Pro 64 (Newburyport), Akai Pro MPK 88, i7-4770K, ASUS Z87-PRO V,  32GB SDRAM 1866, SAMSUNG 840 EVO 500GB SSD, 2 - WD BLACK 2TB, Samsung USB 3.0 SSD, Win 10 Pro 64, Radeon R9 270 Video 2GB, Dell P2314T 23" Touchscreen, Gateway 23" monitor, Presonus USB Audio Interface, Surface Pro 2 w/ Xotopad as a control surface
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    Anderton
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    Re: Condenser Mic Noise when using ASIO 2015/07/28 21:20:31 (permalink)
    Cactus Music
    USB mikes are a huge waste of money... they rarely work with a DAW and they can't be used with any proper audio equipment.



    I mostly agree, but there's no inherent reason USB mics have to be bad. USB mics were designed originally to hit a price point for VOIP, Skype, dictation, etc. As a result they had no need for audiophile specs. Ultimately, what determines the performance of a USB mic is the preamp and converters. Although you're not going to get $500 converters in a $200 mic, the converters in affordable 24-channel digital mixers aren't $500 converter either, nor are the ones in most multichannel audio interfaces.
     
    I've used USB mics while traveling and some of them are quite good. Some are execrable  All of them are good for getting into spiriting conversations with TSA agents.
     
    Although USB mics are generally not designed for studio work (e.g., form factor), I've evaluated some USB mics recently that were surprisingly good...but they also weren't cheap. I would not hesitate to use them if pressed, or I'd run out of conventional mics.
     
    The really one nice thing about XLR connectors is they're not dependent on Microsoft and Apple deciding what's the port du jour. Good thing I don't have any SCSI mics sitting around...

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    DRanck
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    Re: Condenser Mic Noise when using ASIO 2015/08/02 20:54:52 (permalink)
    Craig - Now I have a new word to use in a sentence this week - execrable!

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