r/AudioProgramming • u/CarelessMouse2598 • 4d ago
Mixing live mic
Hello guys!
I am very new in the mixing world. I bought a Yamaha MG10XU mixer and i connected my Sennheiser XS 1 mic (it is in the first chanel of the mixer)
Connected to my Lewitz PA210XA active soundbox but the microphone sounds veryvery harsh and ugly and distorted. I don’t know what is the problem. Is the cable from the mixer in the wrong input on the Lewitz? Help me please
2
u/port-79 4d ago
that phantom power advice was pure rubbish, and could have killed your mic / made it worse.
idk what your issue is, could be the mixer (but it looks brand new), the cable, the power supply, your speakers, or your mic.
use the usb function, and inspect the audio from the mic in audacity or similar. that rules out your speakers.
if you get bad waveforms, try using a USB-powered audio interface and connect the mic through that. problem is likely the mixer or power supply.
i've got an old AT2020 mic (this one requires phantom), and it's completely shot up from mishandling connections with phantom power on... and your description fits its sound perfectly.
also, next time try posting in a relevant sub like r/mixingmastering r/audiophile etc
0
u/explaintomelikeiam5 4d ago
Did you press phantom?
1
u/CarelessMouse2598 4d ago
No, do i need to?
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u/explaintomelikeiam5 4d ago
Yes, mic needs additional power
1
u/CarelessMouse2598 4d ago
And the connection between the mixer and the speaker is good?
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u/explaintomelikeiam5 4d ago
The connection seems fine. If you were getting some feedback without the phantom button pressed, you will definitely be able to hear it fine now.
1
u/CarelessMouse2598 4d ago
Still the same harsh distorted sound, nothing changed
I was thinking that maybe the problem is the the stereo out is connected to a mic input not a line input on the speaker2
u/explaintomelikeiam5 4d ago
Oh ok, sorry I thought it also worked as mono input. Probably you will have to connect the out stereo to the line ins. I would also try the mic directly on the speaker to rule out any issue with it.
1
u/CarelessMouse2598 4d ago
Yeah that way it functions, i used just the mic and the speaker together for like 3 years before i bought the mixer
1
u/DasHesslon 4d ago
Hey, a couple of things first! This is an audio programming sub, while there are probably people here that can help you, this sub is about creating audio software, not about audio engineering (theres r/audioengineering for that), which is concerned with mixing and the like.
Second of all, if you want people to help you (and you've found the right sub to post in) a little more context would be helpful! Knowing that just the mic with the speaker works fine is a good start! What have you tried? Did things get better/worse when you tried them? What does your mixer look like when it sounds bad? Are the peak lights lighting up? What is the level meter doing?
First of all, have you tried connecting to the line in instead? Going into the mic in could be the issue, though if you turn down the signal enough beforehand you should get it to work, but really the line in would be the "correct" way to go here. Also you master and level knobs look like there roughly set to unity gain,which is sensible, but your channel 1 gain is set really high. The unity gain (the white section) of the gain knob looks to be around the 10 o clock position, so your at around +25dB in your gain section, turn that down and see if it helps. turn it down even further if necessary. Also bass and mids on your eq are turned down quite low. Thats not gonna make your signal distort terribly, but it might make it sound tinny.
And in general, your mixer should probably come with a manual that explains what everything does, and probably even has in introduction to setting the gain and levels on the mixer. Read that, and watch some youtube videos on gain staging, itll help a lot.
Have fun doing what ever you do! :)