Using a mac
- Thread starter Queenie
- Start date
Hi Queenie,
When you say "usb port that has plugs for headphones and microphone" do you mean a small USB soundcard for your Mac? Something like this for example: http://www.amazon.co.uk/3-5mm-Microphone-Earphone-Adapter-Laptop/dp/B00C92Z2XC ?
Could you clarify some more on your exact set up please? We are not sure why you require a mixer with the use of such a soundcard but this really depends on what type of microphone that you have? Is it a 3.5mm jack or 1/4 inch jack or XLR connection? If its a 3.5mm jack then you can go straight into such a soundcard with the microphone without the need for a mixer?
But it does sound like you are just picking up lots of background noise as you just have the mic level up quite high basically. What type of microphone is it? Dynamic / Cardioid or Condenser? Certain microphones will pick up background noise more than others due to their pickup patterns / directions. If the microphone is omnidirectional it is going to pick up noise from all directions at an equal level.
By turning up the mic level quite high on the mixer you are just boosting the level of the background noise. Try perhaps speaking into the mic much closer or louder so you do not need to turn it up louder to compensate for low levels. It might even be worth investing in a mic shield to prevent it from picking up some of the background noise. Also make sure there is nothing in your room that is particularly causing the noise. Try the mic in different positions and away from any such things. There is likely several factors that could be causing this.
Also, what stream encoding software are you using? Its possible that the software or perhaps even your soundcard has some noise reduction settings, we are pretty sure actually that Mac's have one built into the 'Sound Preferences'. This can help filter out some of the noise.
We hope that this helps.
When you say "usb port that has plugs for headphones and microphone" do you mean a small USB soundcard for your Mac? Something like this for example: http://www.amazon.co.uk/3-5mm-Microphone-Earphone-Adapter-Laptop/dp/B00C92Z2XC ?
Could you clarify some more on your exact set up please? We are not sure why you require a mixer with the use of such a soundcard but this really depends on what type of microphone that you have? Is it a 3.5mm jack or 1/4 inch jack or XLR connection? If its a 3.5mm jack then you can go straight into such a soundcard with the microphone without the need for a mixer?
But it does sound like you are just picking up lots of background noise as you just have the mic level up quite high basically. What type of microphone is it? Dynamic / Cardioid or Condenser? Certain microphones will pick up background noise more than others due to their pickup patterns / directions. If the microphone is omnidirectional it is going to pick up noise from all directions at an equal level.
By turning up the mic level quite high on the mixer you are just boosting the level of the background noise. Try perhaps speaking into the mic much closer or louder so you do not need to turn it up louder to compensate for low levels. It might even be worth investing in a mic shield to prevent it from picking up some of the background noise. Also make sure there is nothing in your room that is particularly causing the noise. Try the mic in different positions and away from any such things. There is likely several factors that could be causing this.
Also, what stream encoding software are you using? Its possible that the software or perhaps even your soundcard has some noise reduction settings, we are pretty sure actually that Mac's have one built into the 'Sound Preferences'. This can help filter out some of the noise.
We hope that this helps.
We run an Internet radio station using ustream producer pro, the mixer, a mac and a laptop. We use the laptop to run the music and stream using the mac. On a pc, we ran the mic through the microphone jack on the computer. There isn't one on the mac. We bought the sound card piece and either 1)I have no idea how to get the mac to read and change the input /output or it's just not working. I would just like to be able to turn my mic off when the music is playing and not hear all of the discussions in the background lol
When you say "usb port that has plugs for headphones and microphone" do you mean a small USB soundcard for your Mac? Something like this for example: http://www.amazon.co.uk/3-5mm-Microphone-Earphone-Adapter-Laptop/dp/B00C92Z2XC ?
Could you clarify some more on your exact set up please? We are not sure why you require a mixer with the use of such a soundcard but this really depends on what type of microphone that you have? Is it a 3.5mm jack or 1/4 inch jack or XLR connection? If its a 3.5mm jack then you can go straight into such a soundcard with the microphone without the need for a mixer?
But it does sound like you are just picking up lots of background noise as you just have the mic level up quite high basically. What type of microphone is it? Dynamic / Cardioid or Condenser? Certain microphones will pick up background noise more than others due to their pickup patterns / directions. If the microphone is omnidirectional it is going to pick up noise from all directions at an equal level.
By turning up the mic level quite high on the mixer you are just boosting the level of the background noise. Try perhaps speaking into the mic much closer or louder so you do not need to turn it up louder to compensate for low levels. It might even be worth investing in a mic shield to prevent it from picking up some of the background noise. Also make sure there is nothing in your room that is particularly causing the noise. Try the mic in different positions and away from any such things. There is likely several factors that could be causing this.
Also, what stream encoding software are you using? Its possible that the software or perhaps even your soundcard has some noise reduction settings, we are pretty sure actually that Mac's have one built into the 'Sound Preferences'. This can help filter out some of the noise.
We hope that this helps.
Right ok... Perhaps its worth contacting the developers of the usb soundcard for some advice on getting this set up on a Mac. We would have thought they would provide a guide for this on their website or on paper with the device itself. And if your mic is running through the mixer, then just use the channels volume control (gain) to lower its level when the music is playing!
it sounds like you are trying to connect the mixer output to a small USB soundcard with only a unbalanced mic input which is intended for VOIP telephone calls; not for pro audio.(which might not even work with the mac anyway)..
There are plenty of USB soundcards for macs that are "pro audio" quality. They will have XLR or TRS jack inputs for balanced audio; you connect the mixer output to these; the microphone into the mixer; and the PC stereo outputs to the mixer stereo channels. You might even be able to use that cheap USB card for pre-listening to tracks on the PC before you play then (thats all its often good for). the microphone would connect to the mixer. If its not a "proper" radio mixer which mutes the local monitor speakers when the mic is on, remember to turn them down or use headphones (or you can build circuits to do this)
you will unfortunately have to obtain a whole bunch of different cables to connect this lot up; and to get the best quality even make up custom ones (as otherwise there is a extra noise problem due to the way computer equipment and analogue audio equipiment interact with each other.
what country are you in and do you have any more info about the mixer you are using?
There are plenty of USB soundcards for macs that are "pro audio" quality. They will have XLR or TRS jack inputs for balanced audio; you connect the mixer output to these; the microphone into the mixer; and the PC stereo outputs to the mixer stereo channels. You might even be able to use that cheap USB card for pre-listening to tracks on the PC before you play then (thats all its often good for). the microphone would connect to the mixer. If its not a "proper" radio mixer which mutes the local monitor speakers when the mic is on, remember to turn them down or use headphones (or you can build circuits to do this)
you will unfortunately have to obtain a whole bunch of different cables to connect this lot up; and to get the best quality even make up custom ones (as otherwise there is a extra noise problem due to the way computer equipment and analogue audio equipiment interact with each other.
what country are you in and do you have any more info about the mixer you are using?