USB Microphone Internal Noise? Options

[zerowalker]

I got a Samson C03U, and i am happy with it and all, except for one thing.
I here a low noise from it, andit´s there even if i Mute the microphone, so i am thinking it´s either the driver or the DAC or something?

Anyone know if it can be fixed or if i have to live with it:)?

[mixminus1]

What kind of noise - a steady-state hiss, or buzz/hum?

If you can record a short (5-10 sec.) WAV of it, you could post it to the Uploads forum so others could take a listen to it.

[zerowalker]

What kind of noise - a steady-state hiss, or buzz/hum?

If you can record a short (5-10 sec.) WAV of it, you could post it to the Uploads forum so others could take a listen to it.

Oh so that´s why i couldn´t upload;S

Can a Admin please move this to the Upload forum?

EDIT:

I have posted in the Upload forum now.

This post has been edited by zerowalker: Aug 10 2012, 19:14

[zerowalker]

Please merge this with my other post in Audio Hardware!


Here is the noise, it´s a Hiss noise.

The recording is from me muting and unmuting.

Attached File(s)

 Noise.flac ( 371.24K ) Number of downloads: 58

 

[mixminus1]

Sounds like it's just the noise floor of the mic preamp, and considering the price, not too bad, especially since it's a "clean" noise floor with no hum or buzz.

[zerowalker]

Sounds like it's just the noise floor of the mic preamp, and considering the price, not too bad, especially since it's a "clean" noise floor with no hum or buzz.

Yeah but my USB Webcam doesn´t have that noise, why?

[Arnold B. Kruege...]

Sounds like it's just the noise floor of the mic preamp, and considering the price, not too bad, especially since it's a "clean" noise floor with no hum or buzz.

Yeah but my USB Webcam doesn´t have that noise, why?

Different mic and preamp?

Sample rate so low that hiss is cut out?

[Arnold B. Kruege...]

Please merge this with my other post in Audio Hardware!


Here is the noise, it´s a Hiss noise.

The recording is from me muting and unmuting.

How much is acoustical noise?

To test for acoustical noise, put the mic in the quietest place you can.

[zerowalker]

Well i can´t see that the preamp in that mic is better, that would just be weird.
And samplerate, i am not sure, but if it´s hardware hertz we are talking about it may very well be true that it doensn´t do well, maybe 15khz (i don´t know anything about this stuff though, only learned recently that 44.1khz sample rate is pretty much 22khz in audio frequency.)

[mixminus1]

There's a good chance that the webcam employs a combination of noise reduction and gating as it is designed for communication applications and not recording.

Since the Samsung is a one-box product - microphone, preamp, ADC, and USB audio interface all in one chassis, and most likely all on one circuit board - there's really nothing you can do except get a different microphone/recording interface if you're dissatisfied with it's noise performance.

This is a very good reason to not go the all-in-one route in the first place.

[zerowalker]

There's a good chance that the webcam employs a combination of noise reduction and gating as it is designed for communication applications and not recording.

Since the Samsung is a one-box product - microphone, preamp, ADC, and USB audio interface all in one chassis, and most likely all on one circuit board - there's really nothing you can do except get a different microphone/recording interface if you're dissatisfied with it's noise performance.

This is a very good reason to not go the all-in-one route in the first place.

Ah i see, well i know it´s not a High Tech mic, but it´s far superior to "normal" mics.

Later i will probably buy a top microphone and external amp and such things, but not in the near future;D

[Arnold B. Kruege...]

There's a good chance that the webcam employs a combination of noise reduction and gating as it is designed for communication applications and not recording.

Since the Samsung is a one-box product - microphone, preamp, ADC, and USB audio interface all in one chassis, and most likely all on one circuit board - there's really nothing you can do except get a different microphone/recording interface if you're dissatisfied with it's noise performance.

This is a very good reason to not go the all-in-one route in the first place.

Minor correction - the product is a Samson (low end pro audio supplier) not a Samsung.

If memory serves, the CO3 is a dual-capsule multi-pattern version of the C01 (I own two copies of the C01) . It's neither worse nor better than most other pro mics on the hiss front.

Often hiss in products like this is due to problems with gain staging - there are several gain controls in the path, and you can get the same end result various ways. The usual best approach is to run the gains early in the chain as high as is reasonably possible without clipping, and loose any excess gain as close to the end as possible.