r/audioengineering • u/AutoModerator • 1d ago

Community Help r/AudioEngineering Shopping, Setup, and Technical Help Desk

Welcome to the r/AudioEngineering help desk. A place where you can ask community members for help shopping for and setting up audio engineering gear.

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Setup, troubleshooting and tech support

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u/gordon_shumway67 1d ago

I tried to mock up a potential basis for my home setup. its very basic at this point, but I'd like some insight on if I have this routing correct.

patch bay has mics/snake routed to the SSL preamps by default. this leaves me with the additional lakeside pre and distressor as options. In this diagram, I am chooising to go:

mic > lakeside > distressor > input 1 of SSL

am I way off here? any recommendations?

https://canva.link/osbmdxsoga5h6c7

1

u/BiteAny4965 1d ago

I messed up the OBS settings, and now it looks like this :(

I think it's a ground loop; after all, I don't have a ground connection here at home.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Lo3IqKPcRpx8VmcFIA3MQQz6zWcgI4k7/view?usp=sharing

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u/romeovod 1d ago

Hey everyone,

I bought a used Focusrite Scarlett Solo (secondhand, so no warranty), using it on a Mac for Twitch streaming. Pretty much from the start, it had random cutouts and the headphone monitoring volume would sometimes drop to almost nothing, even with the headphone knob turned all the way up. The issue seemed to fix itself for a couple weeks (worked fine, no problems), but now it's back and this time it's not really coming back — it randomly works for a minute or two, then cuts out again, over and over.

I'm honestly not sure if the problem is the interface itself or the mic. My gut says it's the Scarlett, but I'm really not certain, and I have no idea how to fix it at this point.

What I've already ruled out:

- Tried multiple USB cables and ports (direct, no hub)

- Tried a different power source/USB port

- Updated drivers and firmware via Focusrite Control

- Tested with a completely different headphone and cable

- Tested with the mic completely unplugged (input disconnected) — the issue still happens, which makes me lean toward the interface rather than the mic

- Checked the direct monitor/blend knob position, doesn't seem to matter

The fact that it happens even with nothing plugged into the input, that it comes and goes seemingly on its own over weeks, and that it's random regardless of software, makes me think it might be an internal hardware issue (loose USB connector inside, faulty headphone amp, dying capacitor, cold solder joint, something like that) rather than a settings/driver problem — but I'm open to being wrong.

This is currently blocking me from streaming on Twitch, so I'd really appreciate any insight. Has anyone run into this exact pattern — intermittent failure that seems to come and go over time — on a Scarlett Solo (or similar Scarlett interface), especially on Mac? Trying to figure out what's actually causing this and how to fix or diagnose it properly.

Thanks in advance!

(sorry for my english, i'm french and my text is translated with gt)

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u/birddingus 1d ago

Reach out to focusrite directly. I had an issue with sound dying completely and coming back. They were able to help me with different drivers.

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u/sebovzeoueb 1d ago

So I'm the guy who was having trouble with ADAT/word clock sync in general before, see https://www.reddit.com/r/audioengineering/comments/1vpadke/why_is_sync_adatword_clock_such_a_pain/ for context. So I ordered a bunch of new cables and some BNC terminators because that was sounding like it might fix my woes, but while waiting for the stuff to arrive now my Behringer AD8000 has been progressively having more and more issues syncing, and when I set it as master this happens: https://vocaroo.com/1dtk1NkxU3iy (the parts where the buzz reduces are when I switch it to external sync), so the issues definitely seem to be coming somewhere from clocking. The recording was with no ADAT or word clock connected, just power and audio outs. If I connect the other stuff, it will lock but not sync, and there's some buzzing but less than whatever was happening on my recording, and audio is still coming from my computer to the outputs, just with the added buzz.

Seems really weird to me that a second converter/preamp that was originally working fine has now also gone "bad" with the sync, even though people in my thread told my I shouldn't worry about stuff "exploding", I seem to have somehow broken it yet again with a different piece of gear. I must be doing something to sabotage my preamps?

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u/TheBlindFly-Half 19h ago

[Behringer u-phoria umc202hd] - Audacity - Recording 2 mics/stereo no longer working

I've recently updated Audacity with a new computer and I am not longer able to record 2 mics with my Behringer U-Phoria UMC202. The computer is almost identical to the last one, and I am using Audacity 3.7.8. I connect to my computer using a USB. The only thing that's really changed for me is the Audacity version. I tried recording using CODEC as the microphone and Windows WASAPI as host, then recording in stereo and splitting to mono. However, it is only picking up Mic/line 1 (the XLR connection). It doesn't pick up line 2 at all (the 1/4" plug). Can someone help with being able to record both mics?

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u/Good-Cow2097 15h ago

I recently purchased a fender quantum lt-2 and a rode nt-1. I set up the fender application and plugged in my mic, but it only works for 30 seconds to a min until it slowly gets quieter and eventually it stops working, everything is completely brand new same with the XLR cable. It’s plugged into the usb c port which should be enough power (I’ve tried every port). I’ve tried looking it up and no matter what I try it just keeps fizzling out. It’s been a week and nothing has worked for me, I could just be stupid and maybe missing something in the fender control panel but i really don’t know. The only way I can get it to work for 30 seconds is by turning off and on the phantom power if that helps diagnose the problem. If anyone can help me it would be much appreciated.

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u/SlimJimSouthpaw 10h ago

does the Fender Quantum also come with a power supply, as well as being able to be run off bus power via usb-c? if so, try it with the power supply. could be not getting enough power from your computer to pass along to your mic. report back with findings.

1

u/CrystalCrystalClear 14h ago

Hi, I need help with my studio setup. I'm more of an artist than anything else, less on the technical end. My studio is for recording, mixing & mastering.. I guess you could say melodic rap or hip-POP vocals but without auto tunes. Maybe alla Travis Scott, Juice Wrld, Drake type of vibe..

‎

‎What I have is a intel Core 2017 27-Inch iMac that runs Ventura 13.6.7 & has 64gb of RAM. The first 5 yrs I had my iMac I didn't use it much so it runs great. I also have Logic Pro 11.0.1, a M-Audio Sputnik, a pair of Yamaha NS-10 Audient iD14 MK2 & the Sennheiser HD-25 headphones. I do have a pair of Behringer Truth 2031A monitors too. I would just need to get one of them fixed, but I think I'm covered without them seeing as how I'm focused on vocals at the moment, but they might be good as another reference point in the future.

‎

‎What I think I'm sure I need & that's within my budget hardware wise is the Sennheiser HD600 headphones. The HD600 headset & NS-10 monitors should work well together & do the trick headset & monitors wise. The Truth 2031A monitors could hypothetically be helpful on the low end in the future? I'd also need the Art SLA-1 power amplifier for the NS-10 monitors & the Audient iD14 MK2 would be my audio interface since I'm just focusing on vocals.

‎

‎I'll be going with a lot of plugins w the remainder of my budget to cover as many bases as possible. I think these are the essential plugins I'll be getting, using, that fit within the remainder of my budget, Pulsar 1178, Tube-Tech CL 1B, Soothe3, Valhalla Vintage Verb, Sir Audio Standard Clip & Voxenga SPAN is free.

‎

‎These are the rest of the plugins that are outside my budget currently, but that I think I might need, FabFilter Pro DS, FabFilter Pro-Q 3, Fab Filter Pro-L 2 Synchro Arts VocAlign & Soundtoys Decapitator.

‎

‎So I guess why I'm making this post is to try & get some help about if I'm going in the right direction with everything or right about my thoughts with the software & hardware I'd be getting. I have a good ear & I have taken classes in regards to this subject but it's been a while & I'm far from a expert. I'm just confident once I get what I need I can get caught up & make everything work. I'd also be happy to explain why I think I need or I'm looking into all these specific plugins. I just didn't want to make this post any longer than it already is. You can def correct me if I've gotten something wrong about why I think I need all these plugins though. I'm super open to suggestions, like if there's a plugin I should buy instead of another, I'm all ears. I guess I'm hoping that I can somehow cover all my bases with maybe free plugins as far as the remaining plugins or switch things around or as I said, I'm all ears to any other ideas that are outside the box. I def appreciate any help anyone can give. Thanks & I hope everyone is having a nice day 

1

u/bleanceatsmachine 11h ago

Hello I am looking for a handheld mic to record myself on a brass instrument for lessons and auditions. It needs to capture the extremes of soft and loud brass dynamics and be somewhat portable.

I used a friend’s Zoom handheld about a decade ago and enjoyed it. Would there be a significant difference between a Zoom h5 studio and a h5/ h4 essential? Non zoom recs are appreciated as well.

Thank you.

1

u/HottestMagma 6h ago

Hello everyone,
I am looking for some good pencil condensers that will capture my overheads and the rest of my kit (mainly snare which will hopefully carry enough). I am planning on using them to record the drums during live house shows so maybe something with a little better sound rejection so it doesn’t bleed as much. My budget is around 5-600. I also want something that’s relatively detailed as I am trying to get semi-pro audio for the recordings

1

u/Accomplished-Sky5808 5h ago

I have a Yamaha O3D with working faders and tone control, but it will not accept audio in. Its been off line for a few years. Wondering if a ribbon cable is lose?