blindboygrunt Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Hello folks . Never posted in here before. Am a regular at the acoustic section only but someone suggested I'd have luck with a question here. I'm new to home recording and got myself a lexicon alpha interface. Works great , but , I'd like to record my guitar using a mic rather than the cheesy sounding piezo pickup. Vocals and guitar simultaneously. Because the interface has two inputs , one jack input and one xlr , I purchased a lead which has xlr (mic) to quarter inch jack (interface) but it seems nothing is reaching the interface . ie no signal. The lead is fine as I have tested it with the mic straight to an amp. Am I missing something ? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPS1976 Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Hello folks . Never posted in here before. Am a regular at the acoustic section only but someone suggested I'd have luck with a question here. I'm new to home recording and got myself a lexicon alpha interface. Works great , but , I'd like to record my guitar using a mic rather than the cheesy sounding piezo pickup. Vocals and guitar simultaneously. Because the interface has two inputs , one jack input and one xlr , I purchased a lead which has xlr (mic) to quarter inch jack (interface) but it seems nothing is reaching the interface . ie no signal. The lead is fine as I have tested it with the mic straight to an amp. Am I missing something ? Thanks looks like you're missing another XLR input. the line input on the interface is made for just that. line level sources. you will need to get a mic preamp to go between the mic and the interface. depending on what kind of mic you're using, it may require phantom power (that could be your problem also). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Am I missing something ? I notice the manual says "Note: Plugging a cable into the Instrument input disconnects the Line In 1 input. Plugging a cable into the Line In 2 input disconnects the Mic input." I imagine you've tried different input configurations? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted February 6, 2015 Author Share Posted February 6, 2015 You'll have to forgive my ignorance here chaps. Xlr on rear of interface , mic for vocals. All good. ie. Can record guitar and vocals no worries Instrument line in is on front which is a jack socket. This works fine with guitar lead , jack to jack. Why would it not work with a jack to xlr to the mic? Mic is dynamic and doesn't need phantom power . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 Well, we expect some recordings now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted February 7, 2015 Author Share Posted February 7, 2015 Well, we expect some recordings now. No problems. But I'd really love to know why I can connect the mic for guitar through the 1/4" jack socket. Don't want to be recording using the piezo forever :-/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted February 8, 2015 Author Share Posted February 8, 2015 Perhaps I need a preamp ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPS1976 Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Perhaps I need a preamp ? yep. either that or get a different interface with more than one XLR input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted February 9, 2015 Author Share Posted February 9, 2015 yep. either that or get a different interface with more than one XLR input. Yeah , well that's obvious enough. But if a pre amp will sort it then I'll take the cheaper route :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Perhaps I need a preamp ? Yes... What you need is not so much a preamp as it is a "matching transformer". A low impedance microphone designed to operate on a three pin XLR cable, is not compatible (or convertible) to a two pin TS type phone plug. You can either buy a "high impedance" mic, or a transformer to change your mic from a low impedance XLR to a high impedance phone plug. This is not just a plug adapter, this is a "matching transformer". This is what you need: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shure-A85F-Line-Matching-Transformer-In-Line-XLR-Female-to-1-4-Male-/331423575894?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d2a626f56 If the 1/4" phone plug is not the right size, you CAN just add an adapter to that end to make it whatever you need. Do not be fooled by the $3 XLR-1/4" "adapters" that look similar. These DO NOT contain the required transformer, and will do the same thing as your XLR-1/4" cable..... nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted February 9, 2015 Author Share Posted February 9, 2015 That's brilliant. Thanks so much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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