[SaxMandu]

I recently tried an online lesson (held over Zoom) for the first time and am trying to work out some issues to make the experience better going forward. I was using an iMac for the video camera and some older recording equipment for audio - an Onyx Blackjack USB audio interface and an AKG-C1000 condenser microphone (yes, the interface has phantom power and it was on).

I found that I had to turn the gain basically all the way up and still get right on top of the microphone to speak in order for the volume to be high enough to be heard clearly. Then when I played my saxophone, I could stand back a little but I was getting a bit of a distorted sound through my headphones (like what happens when clipping on a recording) which was rather distracting. I was told it sounded fine on the other side.

My equipment is rather dated and I am looking in to possibly upgrading for home recording purposes, but in the short term I am trying to figure out if there is a problem with the interface or mic or if perhaps I am just doing something wrong.

Are there any suggestions or thoughts? What has your audio experience been over Zoom/Skype/Facetime? Any equipment suggestions to do double duty for online use and recording are welcome.

As an aside, I would also like to be able to play to a backing track and have the other person online be able to hear both my sax and the backing track. Is the best way to do this by using an external bluetooth speaker or something else separate from my computer?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Nefertiti]

On a Mac, if you click applications and then System Preferences, and then Sound, then the input tab, their is a slider for input volume. I would check that. If it is turned way down that would explain why your gain has to be so high. I have to check that slider everytime I record or make a video because if it is moved it will ruin the whole thing with distortion. I set mine at 1/4 and my mic gain at close to 0 but every setup is different so you have to experiment with it and see what combination is best. Under the Output tab is also a slider that you can adjust if the vlume to your headphones is too high or low.

 

[Nefertiti]

I teach a lot online and I just play tracks on itunes through speakers connected to my iMac. I usually have to turn the volume way up and ask the student on the other end not to speak or play because if they do it is super loud in my speakers. I play with the backing track and the students always say they can hear it perfectly. After I am done I turn off the track and turn down my speakers and then continue the lesson.

 

[lesacks]

Somewhere else on SOTW there was a discussion about Zoom and a satisfied poster.

Found it
https://forum.saxontheweb.net/#/topics/370056

Did you switch off automatic gain control etc?
Avoid WiFi.

 

[SaxMandu]

On a Mac, if you click applications and then System Preferences, and then Sound, then the input tab, their is a slider for input volume. I would check that. If it is turned way down that would explain why your gain has to be so high. I have to check that slider everytime I record or make a video because if it is moved it will ruin the whole thing with distortion. I set mine at 1/4 and my mic gain at close to 0 but every setup is different so you have to experiment with it and see what combination is best. Under the Output tab is also a slider that you can adjust if the vlume to your headphones is too high or low.

Steve,
Thanks. I am familiar with that setting, but since I am using my mic through the audio interface and the interface is selected as the input device, the volume slider is greyed out and unavailable -- I assume because volume is handled exclusively by the gain on the interface. I'm surprised that you can adjust the volume manually.

 

[SaxMandu]

Somewhere else on SOTW there was a discussion about Zoom and a satisfied poster.

Found it
https://forum.saxontheweb.net/#/topics/370056

Did you switch off automatic gain control etc?
Avoid WiFi.

Thank you. Unfortunately the link didn't work (or didn't get me to the post), but I'll do some searching.
Yes, automatic gain control is turned off (from within Zoom, not sure if there is a separate iMac setting, but I'm going to check). And computer/internet is connected via ethernet not wifi.

 

[ving]

I use a simple behringer behringer audio interface and run a 4 channel Yamaha mixer into that with an akg c3000b in front/overhead so I can talk and be heard and also play, though I have to play softer than I normally would. I also have either my phone or an iPod running through a second channel to play audio examples. This way I can hear as I’m monitoring through the interface. I had all this stuff lying around, so it’s nice to use it for lessons this way! (I have an itrack solo and a better mic I use for recording, but I switch to this set up for lessons as it’s easier to have multiple things running through the interface using the mixer).

 

[1saxman]

I recently tried an online lesson (held over Zoom) for the first time and am trying to work out some issues to make the experience better going forward. I was using an iMac for the video camera and some older recording equipment for audio - an Onyx Blackjack USB audio interface and an AKG-C1000 condenser microphone (yes, the interface has phantom power and it was on).

I found that I had to turn the gain basically all the way up and still get right on top of the microphone to speak in order for the volume to be high enough to be heard clearly. Then when I played my saxophone, I could stand back a little but I was getting a bit of a distorted sound through my headphones (like what happens when clipping on a recording) which was rather distracting. I was told it sounded fine on the other side.

My equipment is rather dated and I am looking in to possibly upgrading for home recording purposes, but in the short term I am trying to figure out if there is a problem with the interface or mic or if perhaps I am just doing something wrong.

Are there any suggestions or thoughts? What has your audio experience been over Zoom/Skype/Facetime? Any equipment suggestions to do double duty for online use and recording are welcome.

As an aside, I would also like to be able to play to a backing track and have the other person online be able to hear both my sax and the backing track. Is the best way to do this by using an external bluetooth speaker or something else separate from my computer?

Thanks for any help.

What you did was to duplicate a typical guitar amp setting that results in distortion - main down and individual high, or vice-versa. You have to find a way to get some gain on each end which should get you where you want to be.

 

[SaxMandu]

What you did was to duplicate a typical guitar amp setting that results in distortion - main down and individual high, or vice-versa. You have to find a way to get some gain on each end which should get you where you want to be.

Thanks, but I'm not sure I am following you. What settings are you referring to as main and individual?

 

[KeithL]

I just got a new Beyerdynamic FOX USB mic and had to do quite a bit of fiddling around in Windows 10 to get everything set right with mismatched sampling rates causing me the biggest issue. I'm not familiar with Macs enough to know if there are settings buried down in some sub-menu that need to be adjusted as my setup required so here's what I'd ask; does your audio interface come with an external power plug and is that being used? I've occasionally had issues with USB not being able to deliver enough power to devices that claim they can be powered by USB but really can't under some circumstances.

 

[SaxMandu]

I just got a new Beyerdynamic FOX USB mic and had to do quite a bit of fiddling around in Windows 10 to get everything set right with mismatched sampling rates causing me the biggest issue. I'm not familiar with Macs enough to know if there are settings buried down in some sub-menu that need to be adjusted as my setup required so here's what I'd ask; does your audio interface come with an external power plug and is that being used? I've occasionally had issues with USB not being able to deliver enough power to devices that claim they can be powered by USB but really can't under some circumstances.

My audio interface is USB only - no external power plug. Gain is fine when recording. I keep it up around 1/2 way. But then again, I am playing a saxophone at a decent volume, not trying to speak into it. Interestingly, I tried a Zoom test meeting using my Zoom H2 microphone connected via USB to my computer and it was louder with less gain. I have also seen posts here that suggest that the Blue Yeti USB microphone gain has to be turned way down when recording. I have no idea whether it is just typical when using an audio interface for things to be a little less "hot", if it is specific to my interface, or if there is a problem (which seems unlike since it works fine for recording).