Mic Distortion

I, like a lot of other people it seems, am getting mic distortion for some unknown reason.
When recording, the mic starts perfectly, with no distortion, then after 3 seconds the distortion exacerbates more and more.
Does anyone know what is with this?
There are a couple of other threads similar to this too... :S
The mic and recording works perfectly on GarageBand so it is to do with Logic.

Snazzy Shizzle wrote:
I, like a lot of other people it seems, am getting mic distortion for some unknown reason.
When recording, the mic starts perfectly, with no distortion, then after 3 seconds the distortion exacerbates more and more.
This sounds like some sort of feedback loop. What Mic is it? How is it connected to the Mac? And how do you monitor the input signal? Thru Logic or straight from the IF headphones? You are not using speakers to monitor the mic I hope?

Similar Messages

USB Mic Distortion

I recently bought a Samson G-Track USB microphone, to go with my new Macbook (running Leopard), but seem to get intermittent audio distortion when I record. I have been checking the record levels on the mic and garageband and it's not clipping. If anything the signal strength on the Garageband monitor seems low. I can sometimes record a signal ok and then with exactly the same setup next time it distorts. I have tried turning off all effects in case they are causing it. Looking at online discussion forums there seems to be a problem with the Apple USB driver (Audio Codec?).
Anyone else had this problem?

I've had a Snowball USB mic for about a year and it sometimes has problems like you describe (basically signal breakup that sounds like clipping, even though the input level is not too high).
I first used it with a G4 Powerbook, and found that the perfomance depended on which port I used. The differences were dramatic.
I'm now using a MacBook, and there is variability when I record my band from session to session. I'm getting the feeling it might have to do with how well the power is sent from the USB port to the mic. But I don't have a good diagnostic.
I plan to sit down and run some trials, and would suggest you do the same. Plug in the mic, do a quick test and listen, then disconnect/reconnect the mic and repeat the test (changing ports or not).
I read recently that USB power is "dirty" and maybe these mics are very sensitive. If anyone has more info, I'd like to hear it.

Mic distorts terribly!

It seems when you are recording video the mic on my Nano distorts with little more than normal speaking. Is that normal? Can you set the input gain on the mic? I tried to record motorcycles and the volume from the bikes over-drives the mic... Even from a distance. Makes it impossible to record sporting events with decent audio. Even shouting from a distance or crowds cheering over-drives the mic. Is my Nano defective???

No your nano is not defective. I don't think apple intended these things to replace camcorders, they are for just making videos on the go for "fun" and nothing else. You can get a decent camcorder for just as much as a nano costs with much better quality, or go 50 bucks more for the HD camcorder apple offers, that what I would do if I were filming sporting events. JMO

Intermittent microphone problem in Windows 7

In my Windows 7 64-bit install, I have a very annoying problem. The microphone becomes completely unusable, seemingly at random. I'll test the microphone right after starting up, and it works fine. But several minutes or hours later, when I start a voice chat app (e.g. Teamspeak 3) and try to talk to people, they tell me that my voice is heavily distorted.
Listening to myself in the "Recording Devices" applet of Windows 7, I can hear what they mean. My voice sounds echoey, distorted, sort as if I were speaking underwater. It doesn't stop. The only thing that "fixes" the problem is rebooting (temporary), or restarting in Ubuntu (see below).
For the sake of discussion, let's assume:
-I have the latest drivers for my sound card (SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS).
-Motherboard sound device is disabled in BIOS.
-Windows 7 itself is fully updated.
because those things are true.
WTF is going on here? This is really driving me batty. Gaming is about the only thing I still use Windows for, so it's frustrating to not even be able to do that.
(Meanwhile, I have absolutely no problems with the microphone when running Ubuntu. Since it's the same hardware, I'm pretty sure the trouble in Windows 7 isn't hardware-related.)
Promised system specs:
ASUS P5E3 WS Pro motherboard
4 GB DDR3 333 MHz (PC 0666) RAM
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 CPU
Nvidia GeForce 9800 GTX+ video card
SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS sound card
Altec-Lansing VS422 speaker set w/Plantronics headset
Logitech MX30 mouse, Saitek Eclipse II keyboard
Various and sundry SATA hard dri'ves ?

You have an X-Fi and your mic doesn't work in Windows 7? That's ridiculous!? I'm going to have to reconsider buying any more Creative Labs products, if even their newer cards - which supposedly are Windows 7-compatible - don't play nicely with Windows 7. That doesn't bode well for Windows 8 compatibility.
FWIW, I have had Windows 7 running for a couple of days, and the mic distortion is happening now. It wasn't happening last night. So maybe the problem is related to system uptime? That's almost impossible to test for. Easier to just reboot periodically, or run Ubuntu 0.04, where the mic works fine.
Our other computer has a Rocketfish Gaming RF-5SDCD? sound card, which is essentially a re-badged Audigy (not sure which one). Rocketfish (a Best Buy store brand) does explicitly support Windows 7, providing a rather bloated (42 MB) driver package to do so. As far as I know, that card doesn't have any mic problems in Windows 7. Now I'm wondering if I could perhaps use the Rocketfish drivers with my Audigy 2, since they're almost the same card. I might give that a try, as I have no other ideas.
My Audigy 2 ZS has outli'ved the computer I originally bought it for, but I may have to switch back to motherboard sound for my next build. I can't imagine the Audigy 2 will work any better with Windows 8.

I need a working sound c

here's my current system specs:
AMD 3800+ X2 939 CPU
Asus A8N-SLI Premium motherboard
4GB OCZ low latency RAM
500GB Hitachi Sata HD
8800GT PCI-E 2.0 Video Card (75.9)
SB Audigy 4 Sound Card (SBAXVSD_PCDRV_LB_2_2_0002)
Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit w/SP
I want a sound card without the mic distortion, or chirps, or any of the other junk going on between Nvidia and Sound Blaster. Does anyone have any idea what would work smoothly for me?
and just to put my 2 pennies in...All of Nvidia's devices and drivers for their hardware work for me without any problems. Creative Labs Audigy 4 works just fine except for there's no EAX and my Mic Input sounds like I'm speaking through a fan. Nvidia takes care of their issues. Creative just points fingers.
**edit**
Ok, apparently Creative has some beta drivers out and it looks like it's centered around the hardware that is causing these problems so I retract my comment with my apologies.
Message Edited by Jigure on 07-05-2008 2:7 PM

Dear Thomas,
thank you for your clear and concise answer.
I am not looking for a free of charge SAP environment.
We are able to pay for such an access, and we think it is correct to pay, since a lot of work was invested in those systems.
The problem is that I am not able to navigate in the enormous web site os SAP and find quickly the correct solution.
This is the reason I started this thread on the forum.
Our main goal is to present to our market and potential market an introductory course to the logistics aspects of SAP, through a presentation about how main logistics modules (MM,SD,WM and PP) works: from the item file, thorugh the bill of materials and sales orders, to the MRP and the production and purchase orders management.
I' ve made in my life dozens of courses on ERP systems, I also pubblished a book in italian about the Logistics of ERP systems (http://www.francoangeli.it/ricerca/Scheda_Libro.asp?ID=13748&Tipo=Libro), and now the market ask us a course about SAP logistics.
That's all, for the moment. I hope it is more clear.

Distortion - dynamic mic with audigy dr

Hi all!
I had my Audigy Platinum on a shelf since I bought my Audigy4, and yesterday I decided to install the card and the 5.25" dri've module in another PC so I can do some voice-over recording. The problem I'm having is that the sound that I input from my dynamic microphone is of poor quality. The bass is non-existant and I can hear some distortion. The gain range is very good, so it's not a problem with input impedance or gain. I can control the gain exactly the way I want... but that has no effect on sound quality from the mic.
The problem is not the microphone, it's a rather expensi've Audio-Technica performance microphone (ATM4HE for those who know their stuff). Is the dynamic range of the mic too much to handle for the Audigy dri've?
It is to be noted that my particular dri've doesn't have a JP jumper. I'm not comfortable playgin around with the jumpers on the dri've's board either... and I cannot see what this would accomplish anyway.
This is clearly not a driver problem (or is it's)... so I'm out of options and I'd like some help if any of you can provide it.
Thank you!

I connected it using an XLR to /4" cable... and I'm beginning to think you're right, I may have to plug it in a mixer or small console first and then input it into the card (via analog RCA inputs probably). I don't have any of this stuff anymore though... so I think I'll have to hunt down an old mixer. Anything with XLR in will do the trick I guess.
Thank you very much SoNic2367! All this knowledge dates back a lot in my case... I haven't picked up a mic in years. I used to be a stage technician... I find it rahter pathetic that I didn't think of this myself.
I'll let you know if I find a way to rig this off properly...
Message Edited by WoRkZ on <SPAN class=date_text>04-2-2006 <SPAN class=time_text>04:26 PM
Message Edited by WoRkZ on 04-2-2006 04:26 PM

Output sound distortion when USB Mic Connected

Hi everyone,
Really appreciate anyone’s help on this sound distortion problem.
I have been using the new 2014 iMac 27' for last 8 Months, bought Brand New, and recently updated to Yosemite. Everything worked fine including recording, until this update.
I'm using Blue Yeti USB Mic for recording, and few days after the update I was trying to record in GarageBand and the output sound (via headphone connected to USB MIc) started to distort and then suddenly dropped the bitrate/ sound and I could only hear some clicks. I reinstalled the GargeBand, still its the same distortion happens. The sound gets back to normal, only for few seconds, after I unplug the USB cable from the Mic device. And I tried changing the bit rate and again sounds starts to drop after few sec. This happens only when I connect the Blue Yeti USB Mic and sound output from the Mic itself. Same thing happens with iTunes as well. Output sound from Internal mic and speakers are working fine as normal.
I tried connecting the USB Mic to my Windows laptop and its working fine with the Cubase 5 without any problem. So the problem is with the output sound, when external Mic connected.
I don’t know the solution for this. Have checked on every single blog/ thread, sill couldn’t find the answer I’m looking for, to fix this.
It would be great if you have any kind of a solution for the same.
Info : FYI
Mac
OS X Yosemite: Version 10.10.2
iMac (27-inch, Late 2013)
Processor : 3.2 GHz Intel Core i5
Hard-drive : 1 TB SATA Disk
Ram: 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 755M 1024 MB
Built-in Output:
Default System Output Device:       Yes
Manufacturer:                                  Apple Inc.
Output Channels:                             2
Current SampleRate:                      48000
Transport:                                        Built-in
Yeti Stereo Microphone:
Default Input Device:                      Yes
Default Output Device:                    Yes
Input Channels:                               2
Manufacturer:                                 Blue Microphones
Output Channels:                            2
Current SampleRate:                      48000
Transport:

Nope. The larger buffer didn't work. What did work was running a cord out of the 1/4-inch jack from the direct box to a 1/4-to-1/8-inch adapter and then into the mic/line-in jack on my computer. I set GarageBand to use the built-in line-in and had no static problems. It's a stopgap until this gets fixed.
A post by LinuxMercedes on Oct. 3 at http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=8158914 may provide a solution.

Remove distortion from mic too close to mouth?

Are there any recommended settings for removing the fuzziness from a tape recording (talking narration), where the person is has the mic too close or is too loud for it or both? The voice is pretty clear but the high pass filters aren't quite removing the fuzz from the maxing out of the levels.
Thanks
Jeff

That's one of the hardest noises to eliminate, you'll have to try setting a noise print by isolating the noise alone in a segment and then reducing noise. The caveat is if the actual vocal pattern tails into distortion and it's not separate anything you do will generally just leave it sounding worse. But try reducing noise.

Distortion with USB mic and Logic Pro/Garage Band

I have read a ton of posts, but I have yet to find an answer to this question. I have a USB mic that used to work wonderfully before upgrading to Leopard. When I make a recording now, it usually works well for about 5 minutes, and then out of nowhere I get horrible distortion. I have read that if I changed the frequency from 48000Hz to 44000Hz it would correct the problem. It seemed to work, but the problem keeps coming back. If I switch the microphone profile from built-in mic back to USB Mic in Preferences>Audio, it corrects the problem for a little while. It happens in Logic, Garageband and any other program that I try to record to.
I read in a Leopard update note that one of the past few upgrades was supposed to fix this issue, but it hasn't been fixed for me. Does anybody know of any solution to this problem? I would be greatly indebted to you!

Nope. The larger buffer didn't work. What did work was running a cord out of the 1/4-inch jack from the direct box to a 1/4-to-1/8-inch adapter and then into the mic/line-in jack on my computer. I set GarageBand to use the built-in line-in and had no static problems. It's a stopgap until this gets fixed.
A post by LinuxMercedes on Oct. 3 at http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=8158914 may provide a solution.

Distortion from Mic!

I'm recording a new vocal track where I'm singing (nearly screaming) at very high amplitudes. I have a brand new Rode NTK and I run it through an apogee Duet into Logic9. I'm singing with my pop shield about 6" away from my mic. My software control for my Duet is set at 30 (goes all the way up to 75) and it hasn't been clipping even when I'm singing the loud parts.
Once I got the audio on my track when it plays back there will be an occasional subtle click or pop sound in the audio file. What is that? What am I doing wrong? Also, it sounds like some mild distortion happens at one part... again, no clipping.
I'm wondering if backing up away from the microphone is the answer but I don't know.

it's alright to scream into the microphone a little bit as long as it doesn't clip right?
Not at 6" (15cm?) This should be the minimum distance for a condenser. Try moving back from the microphone when you scream too loud. Some microphones produce audible distortion when the distance is to short.
Eddie

Distorted Tempo Using External Mic

Hello,
I've been trying to record my electric guitar using an external mic with a USB attachment, but whenever I record in Garageband, the tempo is always slightly distorted. It's not that I'm playing off tempo because I recorded the same attempts with a tape player and the results have been fine. Has anyone else had this problem or know how to solve it?

Go to GB help and type in quantize, you read about your issue there.
Good luck

Line level audio set to mic level by mistake, audio distorted, help!

I mistakenly set my camera input to mic level instead of line level so the louder music from the concert is muddy. I watched the waveform on my camera screen and didn't let it go into the red. As I start to edit now I see that the waveform is fairly flat on the top of much of the audio and it doesn't sound great. None of it goes above 0db. Is there any techniques to make this sound better? I tried DeClippper but the scan does not show any problem because, I suppose it's under 0db.
I shot a great video but the audio s**ks.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
btw, I'm using Audition CS 6, ver 5.0.2 Build 5

Your problem here is that even though the recording level has been kept down, the preamp has overloaded, so what you have is a good recording of, er, distortion. Even if you made this recording clip, it wouldn't help you, as this distortion isn't clipping distortion at all, and has completely different characteristics. And I'm afraid that there's no such thing as undistortion software, regardless.
I think that you may well have to write this one off to experience, I'm afraid.

Severely distorted mic sound in video chat

Hello,
I am running video chat (http://chatroulette.com/). Some users are complaining that other users hear them in a distorted way.
In particular, they are mentioning that their voice sounds much lower than it should be and is unrecognisable.
Here are examples of feedback I receive from users:
1.
I used to have no problems talking with other people on Chatroulette, but now people say I sound like "darth vader" and that my sound is severely distorted. I am using a Macbook ProOSX version 10.6.8 and I have tried updating my flash player, playing around with the sounds on preferences, along with other things and nothing works. Is there something I should be doing to fix the problem?
2.
I've been using you guys for fun for well over a year. I have a Windows 7 64 bit machine and Microsoft . Lately sometimes people I connect to complain that I have bad sound. I have heard it on a occasion and it the sound is halved in frequency and sounds like Darth Vader. I think this is a Chatroulette/Flash sound codec issue, as I don't have these issues with Skype or anywhere else. I hope you look into it, as it is not good. You can always email me for more information. Oh yes, sometimes I also but not also use ManyCam.
Please help.
3.
I have a problem when I use your website. I check my mic and it sounds fine, but then I check it again, and it sounds like I'm 2 octaves lower and doing a darth vader voice. People can't understand me. Can you help me out?
4.
The sound on my computer randomly started screwing up. People say that my voice sounds like Darth Vader. It's always really deep. It just randomly happened one day. It is happening on my Mac and my roommates PC. How do we fix it. We've tried messing with the settings but nothing works. Why is it doing that? Thanks!
Many users have started to complain about this problem since beginning of 2012, and they didn't do that before.
Please fix the issue.
Thanks,
Andrey
P.S:
I have posted this bug to Adobe BugBase here:
https://bugbase.adobe.com/index.cfm?event=bug&id=3321914

This worked for me!
To install and use an alternate version of Flash Player:
Download and install the appropriate system plug-in. This plug-in could be a debugger, prerelease, or release version of Flash Player. (Archived release versions of the system plug-in are found here.)
Type “about:plugins” (without quotation marks) into the address bar at the top of a Chrome browser window.
Click “Details” at the upper-right corner of the page.
Find the “Flash” (or “Shockwave Flash”) listing for the integrated plug-in on the page and click the corresponding “Disable” button. To identify the integrated plug-in, see the table of plug-in filenames above.
Find the “Flash” (or “Shockwave Flash”) listing for the system plug-in on the page and click the corresponding “Enable” button. To identify the system plug-in, see the table of plug-in filenames above.
Close all Chrome windows and restart the browser.
Chrome uses the installed system plug-in. To confirm the version of Flash Player that is currently running in your browser, see Find Flash Player version (tn_15507).
Essentially just disable any flash plug in under the /chrome folder, and only enable the
/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/Flash Player.plugin
plug in!
Hope this helps!

External mic sounding distorted

just purchased an external microphone and it is sounding distorted. What am I doing wrong?

Got an amplifier behind that Mic? The Mac Mike input is a Line level input (needs a pre-amp or amp).

Inspire P7800 Headphone mic is getting speaker feedback which distorts sound

My P7800 works fine my problem is in a game I get distorted sound from speaker feedback to the mic. Any solution?

Heh,
Well one of the reasons I bought the speakers was because my friend gave me a copy of FarCry he got bundled with something he bought. But now FarCry wont install heh, so I can't test it on that. I am trying to think of other games I have that use surround..hmm maybe HL2 does. I will do some more testing and wait a couple days to see what you guys think. If worst comes to it I will just buy a soundcard aimed at 7.1 .
Thanks for responding jimby

Mic Distortion

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