issues with either interface or mic

Only the right monitor? Very strange. That's not caused by phantom power.
 
If you can borrow both a condenser and a dynamic mic you could eliminate the phantom power on your interface and the microphone itself from the problem list.
 
Does the interface use USB power or does it have it's own separate power source? (I don't know your model). USB power failure on your PC could be a third potential source needing elimination.
 
But if only the right monitor pumps then it really sounds like interface failure. Sorry.

But I like using condenser mics for vocals.

 
This is just for testing purposes (process of elimination), not a solution or workaround!

jpetersen

To test, to test. Only to test. Easy. Relax. Just for testing.

If the borrowed dynamic mic works fine, then your interface's basic functionality is OK.
And if the borrowed condenser microphone also works fine, it's your own mic.
If the borrowed condenser does not work, it's the phantom supply in the interface.
If neither work, it's your interface or a failing USB supply from your PC.

  
 
The mic is center.   And I'm not upset.   Telling me to be easy and to relax isn't necessary, thank you.
I didn't understand what you meant is all.
Thanks,
Greg

You both have this interface! May I ask,
 
when you turn the Input/Playback knob, does the overall volume get slightly louder when it is in the middle?
 
I ask because I have a presonus and a tascam interface, both with such a knob.
The tascam level remains constant, the presonus definitely is louder in the middle. By about a good 6dB I would guess. It forces me to turn down the headphones when I listen with the knob in the middle.

MondoArt
You need to test every part of the signal chain. Once I was getting a weird static from a mic, at first I thought it was the mic, then the interface (I have a 2i4 as well), and as it turned out, the mic cable was the issue. You never know where the problem may lie, you have to test by swapping out one mic for another, one cable for another, and one interface for another, if you can.

I've swapped cables, and it's not the cable.  I'll have to get different mics and check them out.  I'm kind of thinking it may be the phantom power.   When I record keyboards direct, I don't have any problem.   It appears to be only when I use phantom power.
 
Thanks!
Greg

rbecker

jpetersen
You both have this interface! May I ask,
 
when you turn the Input/Playback knob, does the overall volume get slightly louder when it is in the middle?
 
I ask because I have a presonus and a tascam interface, both with such a knob.
The tascam level remains constant, the presonus definitely is louder in the middle. By about a good 6dB I would guess. It forces me to turn down the headphones when I listen with the knob in the middle.

I have almost your exact same setup - X3, 2i4 and AT3035!
 
I haven't noticed any thing odd with the levels for the direct monitor knob. One thing: I have the toggle just below it set to mono. If yours is set to stereo, maybe switch to mono and then try.
 

 
I just checked, and mine is also set to mono.
 
Thanks!
Greg

I used another condenser mic and a dynamic mic.  
 
 JPetersen:   What Tascam?
 
rbecker:   Since you have a 2i4, where do you set the Gain when you use a mic?   I have the Gain at almost 3 o'clock  (which seems really high to me), and the signal is weak on all 3 mics - both condensers and the dynamic.   If I yell, it will get a little loud.   But with singing normally, it's not a strong signal.
 
So maybe it is the interface....
 
Greg
 
 

rbecker
I never go above 12:00 for the 2i4 Gain using my AT3035. Also, I am not using any of the pads, either on the interface nor the mic. Nor the low cut on the mic.
 

And the mic level is good at 12:00?   I record at 12:00 and I can't hear the vocals in the mix.   Even at 2 o'clock I have the volume on the track at 1.0 or 0.0.    I definitely have to use the low cut on the mic.   Otherwise, it's way too muddy.   And the pad on my mic is at 0db.
 
So it seems it's definitely my interface.   
 
Thanks for the input!
Greg

greg54

rbecker
I never go above 12:00 for the 2i4 Gain using my AT3035. Also, I am not using any of the pads, either on the interface nor the mic. Nor the low cut on the mic.
 

And the mic level is good at 12:00?   I record at 12:00 and I can't hear the vocals in the mix.   Even at 2 o'clock I have the volume on the track at 1.0 or 0.0.    I definitely have to use the low cut on the mic.   Otherwise, it's way too muddy.   And the pad on my mic is at 0db.
 
So it seems it's definitely my interface.   
 
Thanks for the input!
Greg

When you record, does the AI clip light "halo" that circles the gain knob go to red, or stay green? If red, then no matter what you hear you are getting way too much signal in.
 
Also make sure you are using the Direct Monitor knob correctly. If this is too far one way or another (I can't remember which way is what), the DAW, mic mix will be incorrect. Also check the gain/volume setting for the mic audio track in X3: Gain, volume and pan should all be zero. Are you using a single mono input in X3? If you are using the left-most mic input on the AI, then the X3 audio track input should be set to "Focusrite USB 2.0 Audio Driver->Left Focusrite USB 2.0 audio driver input 1....". 
 
I think I am going to copy my little cheat-sheet here. The only two things I would say are : Be careful with volumes while testing so you don't blow your eardrums out, and that I make use of a bus called "mute all" that has all sliders set to minus infinity. I also have a Berringer splitter for the headphones. Please pardon any poor English or other problems with the below. I never thought that I would be sharing it with anybody:
 
-----
How to set up SONAR and the Audio Interface for a audio recording session.
 
SONAR:
Set edit...preferences...project...record:
  Recording Mode: comping
                  allow Arm Change..not checked
                  auto punch...not checked
  Loop Recording:Single track
  Lanes..create new lanes on overlap: checked
  Multi-track: Do not group tracks
Set edit...pref...File...Audio Date:
   Record bit depth : 24
   Render bit depth : 32
   Import bit depth : original
 
Create a new audio track in SONAR. Name it something like "voice_lead_draft".
 
Set this track input to "Focusrite USB 2 Audio Driver"...Left Focusrite USB etc.
 
Set output to "mute all". This is so the only sound (voice) going to  headphones is coming directly from audio interface, not Sonar. This is to prevent latency echo.
 
Turn off input echo
 
Zero out all sliders (volume, pan, gain).
 
Set options... record meter options to hold and lock peaks.
 
Right click on meters to start at 42 dB range. This will change as you set levels.
 
Arm track by pressing red-dot record button for setting levels and recording. This needs to be armed even while not actually recording so levels can be set.
 
To actually start to record, use "R" in transport or "r" on keyboard.
 
Audio Interface:
 
Turn off speakers.
 
Make sure headphones are set low, or keep off head until volume is set.
Jack1->Audio-tech monitoring headset
Jack2->Sennheiser singers headset
 
Turn on phantom power to mic. This is the little white "48v" button high in the middle of the AI. It will glow red when on.
 
Flip silver "Stereo/Mono" toggle switch to the right(mono). This switch is just below the direct monitor knob.
 
Make sure "Headphone Source" toggle is flipped to left.This is the silver switch just to the left of the headphone jack.
 
The headphone volume knob (silver on far right above headphone jack) should be centered.
 
To set mic level, turn AI "Direct Monitor" mix knob all the way left to "Input". This is the black knob just to the left and above big silver "Monitor" knob (which is not used to record, BTW). As voice is being set, this knob can be turned clockwise to mix in DAW backing music to desired level in headphones.
 
All you will hear now for the voice is the mic. Playback from the DAW can also be heard, but not the voice from the DAW because it was muted (as per above).
 
The mix between the vocalist's level and daw is governed by both the headphone level, which is best set by the individual headset knob on the Berringer splitter (little silver box) and the AI direct monitor knob. The Berringer sets the total level, while the dmk sets the mix. It is best to start with the dmk all the way left, have the singer sing acapella until her level is where she wants it (using Berringer), and then mix in the DAW with the dmk and adjust from there. The headphone volume knob can also be used to adjust the level going to all headphones plugged into the Berringer.
 
Have vocalist sing to set level using the black knob to the right of the mic input (GAIN 01). With no compressor on input chain, it is safest to max at -9db using 24 bit depth. Watch the "halo" around the gain knob. Red=clipping. Green=Okay. Yellow=so-so.
 

rbecker:    The Direct Monitor knob is always in the middle.   And when I record, it never clips - unless I yell - which I never do while singing.  
 
 
When I record vocals, I always turn the Volume down on the vocal track to begin with.   Don't know why, I just got into that habit a long time ago.
 
I use a single mono track in X3 and use the right Input on the 2i4 for the mic.
 
I will look over everything else you wrote.   There is a lot there.   I will get back and post my findings.
 
Thanks again! 
Greg
 

One answer- BUSS POWER-- I think it is a bad way of making an interface. At least have the option of using a power supply. I always advise against purchasing interfaces that only use buss power. Had a friend who had weird issues like yours and he traded up to the 6i6 and they all went away. 
Phantom power needs a lot more current than a whimpy usb can supply,,, it's like having dead batteries. 

Cactus Music
One answer- BUSS POWER-- I think it is a bad way of making an interface. At least have the option of using a power supply. I always advise against purchasing interfaces that only use buss power. Had a friend who had weird issues like yours and he traded up to the 6i6 and they all went away. 
Phantom power needs a lot more current than a whimpy usb can supply,,, it's like having dead batteries. 

Everything was working fire until recently.  So it could be that my USB port is now bad.   But at one time it all worked.    
 
Hmmm.... interesting.   I will look into the 6i6.
 
Thanks for the input!
Greg

I have an AT 2020, I would think they are very close in operation.  With my 6i6 the gain is around 12 o'clock and that can still peak out.  I stay about 5" from the mike.  
If you turn my pre amp gain up past 2 o clock using the mic input setting you'll start to hear a lot of background noise. With nothing plugged in. 
Something is not right if a mike pre amp has to be up that far. I've used a lot of different pre amps in my day and 2 o clock is almost always about right for a SM 58 and a bit less for condensor mikes but not much less.  
I no longer use the 6i6 pre amps for mikes. I found them to unforgiving of peaks. 
I bought a Joe Meek 3 Q which has worked very well for me, It is patched to my line level inputs so by passes the pre amp of the 6i6. 
I still use those for DI of acoustic guitars and miking my guitar amp. The output of a guitar amp is more even in level so it's not an issue. 

The 6i6 is the best bang for the buck in simple interfaces. It also comes with the Mix Control software which the 2i2 and 2i4 do not have. I really like the 2 headphones systems when working with a few people in the room.  So it's a lot more going on. You can probably sell your 2i4 and get a good price for it. Some music stores would take it on trade up. 

So I thought I would try recording vocals using Input 1  (I always use Input 2).   I put the Gain at noon and recorded.  I was getting the same level as I was getting on Input 2 at 2-3 o'clock.   So Input 2 has issues.  
 
However, I also noticed that with Input 2 I can turn the Direct Monitor counterclockwise, and have the vocals stand out.   But it doesn't work with Input 1.  When I turn the knob left, the music is lower, but the vocals don't stand out at all.    So my interface is bad.
 
I will look into the 6i6.    :)
 
Thanks, everyone!
Greg