• Registered: 2024-08-09
  • Posts: 1

Topic: Fireface 800 issue, or my mic

Hi,

I recently had my capsule replaced on my tube mic (which has a power supply). I run that mic through a custom all tube preamp going into the fireface 800, which goes into my Win 7 machine through firewire. I know this is old tech, but it has worked in the past. Previously the vocal sound I would get through this set up was great, real dimensional tube warmth. Now this preamp has a quarter inch out, which I put into the front of the fireface (I turn the fireface preamp knob all the way down). I have used the end going into the fireface as quarter inch, and also XLR. I believe putting it into the XLR uses the fireface preamp (but if I turn the know down, then I am only using the tube preamp?). I have tried connecting to the fireface on the back through the balanced line level inputs but it's way too hot. I just did a driver and firmware update on the fireface.

I have plugged the mic directly into the fireface xlr input and it's either too low if the volume knob is less than half, or just peaks too quickly when I turn it up.

I have tried the mic in a great river preamp i borrowed, which i plugged into the fireface and it sounds bad, same effect as above. i think it's the mic, which is an ADK TT, an older version. I love this mic but something is off.

I have another cigar shaped adk mic used to record acoustic and it seems to be okay, but again i have to turn the volume way up on the fireface to get good gain.

I have so many projects to do and i need to fix this issue. yes, i need to upgrade my stuff, but for now i want to fix what i have. not sure what's going on.

the ADK folks have been great trying to help me resolve it. I mean, i can send the mic back to them to make sure it's not something else in the mic.

this mic sounded great. years ago i used it in an inexpensive presonus firepod and i recorded a whole album with it.

could it be the fireface?

https://youtu.be/JtPNROylaZs?feature=shared

and for my pandemic music video

https://youtu.be/ny1k8T8VFaI?feature=shared

P.S. for a daw, I use sawstudio. thinking of switching to a new PC w win 11 and using presonus studio one.

Thanks for any insight! waiting till 10 am to call usa rme.

2 Reply by waedi (edited by waedi 2024-08-09 14:22:25)

  • waedi
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  • From: Swiss Zürich
  • Registered: 2020-12-08
  • Posts: 4,541

Re: Fireface 800 issue, or my mic

phelou wrote:

Hi,

I recently had my capsule replaced on my tube mic (which has a power supply). I run that mic through a custom all tube preamp going into the fireface 800, which goes into my Win 7 machine through firewire. I know this is old tech, but it has worked in the past. Previously the vocal sound I would get through this set up was great, real dimensional tube warmth. Now this preamp has a quarter inch out, which I put into the front of the fireface (I turn the fireface preamp knob all the way down). I have used the end going into the fireface as quarter inch, and also XLR. I believe putting it into the XLR uses the fireface preamp (but if I turn the know down, then I am only using the tube preamp?).

Yes, when the gain is closed, the preamp is not in use.

phelou wrote:

I have tried connecting to the fireface on the back through the balanced line level inputs but it's way too hot. I just did a driver and firmware update on the fireface.

I have plugged the mic directly into the fireface xlr input and it's either too low if the volume knob is less than half, or just peaks too quickly when I turn it up.

That seems to be normal to me. The gain adjustment for a supersensitive mic is a bit quirky you have to find the right spot, turn it back a little when it peaks into red. Don't be afraid of low signal. In the mix it can be more than enough.

phelou wrote:

I have tried the mic in a great river preamp i borrowed, which i plugged into the fireface and it sounds bad, same effect as above. i think it's the mic, which is an ADK TT, an older version. I love this mic but something is off.

I have another cigar shaped adk mic used to record acoustic and it seems to be okay, but again i have to turn the volume way up on the fireface to get good gain.

Gain and volume is two different things. The gain knob at the front of the interface is the input gain this is the important step.
What is this volume you speaking ?

phelou wrote:

I have so many projects to do and i need to fix this issue. yes, i need to upgrade my stuff, but for now i want to fix what i have. not sure what's going on.

the ADK folks have been great trying to help me resolve it. I mean, i can send the mic back to them to make sure it's not something else in the mic.

this mic sounded great. years ago i used it in an inexpensive presonus firepod and i recorded a whole album with it.

could it be the fireface?

https://youtu.be/JtPNROylaZs?feature=shared

and for my pandemic music video

https://youtu.be/ny1k8T8VFaI?feature=shared

P.S. for a daw, I use sawstudio. thinking of switching to a new PC w win 11 and using presonus studio one.

Thanks for any insight! waiting till 10 am to call usa rme.

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • ramses
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  • From: UTC+1
  • Registered: 2012-10-14
  • Posts: 13,194

Re: Fireface 800 issue, or my mic

Reference levels / input sensitivity, see manual ch 29.1

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
  • vinark
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Re: Fireface 800 issue, or my mic

If you connect the mic straight to the rme without the preamp, does it sound bad too? It sounds like the repair messed up the mic.

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
BFpro fs, 2X HDSP9652 ADI-8AE, 2X HDSP9632

5 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2024-08-09 17:17:39)

  • ramses
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  • From: UTC+1
  • Registered: 2012-10-14
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Re: Fireface 800 issue, or my mic

vinark wrote:

If you connect the mic straight to the rme without the preamp, does it sound bad too? It sounds like the repair messed up the mic.

+1

Exactly what I thought after reading capsule replacement and that it sounded also bad with Great River preamp.
But I only wanted to refer to input sensitivities here. Good that you mentioned it now.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14