The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > RECORD

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 12-16-2019, 06:31 PM
TBman's Avatar
TBman TBman is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 35,828
Default A little "funny stuff" with the FocusRite

The other day I was going to record a tune I composed and I got setup in my computer room to record as my usual recording area was inconvenient to use. So I set up my mic baskets on my desktop mic stands and hooked up my AT2035 mics to my Focusrite. I started to record and upon playback I was treated to a very distorted recording. So I had my what the hey moment and instead of researching what was going on I simply used my Zoom H5 without mics.

Today I took the time to research and found that I'm not the only one to encounter this result when using AT2035 mics. The solution I found online was to simply unplug the usb from the Focusrite, wait a bit and then plug it back in.

Strange.
__________________
Barry

Sad Moments {Marianne Vedral cover}:


My SoundCloud page

Some steel strings, some nylon.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 12-17-2019, 10:47 AM
bagpipe bagpipe is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Kanata, Ontario
Posts: 444
Default

That is strange - I cant imagine its something specific to that mic which would cause that problem with the Focusrite box? I also have a Focusrite interface (8i6) and while I've never had that particular problem I have had other "gremlins" with it - ie not detecting any signal from an electric guitar. I usually just power off and on the Focusrite box, and close and re-open my Reaper session.
__________________
"I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me."

My Music (Guaranteed bagipe free!): https://soundcloud.com/derek_barlas
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 12-17-2019, 12:06 PM
jim1960 jim1960 is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 5,960
Default

That's much more likely an issue with the Focusrite and your computer rather than the Focusrite and your mics.
__________________
Jim
2023 Iris ND-200 maple/adi
2017 Circle Strings 00 bastogne walnut/sinker redwood
2015 Circle Strings Parlor shedua/western red cedar
2009 Bamburg JSB Signature Baritone macassar ebony/carpathian spruce
2004 Taylor XXX-RS indian rosewood/sitka spruce
1988 Martin D-16 mahogany/sitka spruce

along with some electrics, zouks, dulcimers, and banjos.

YouTube
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 12-17-2019, 01:42 PM
Chipotle Chipotle is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,300
Default

Agree it's probably a 2i2/computer issue. I have the same interface, and earlier this week the playback suddenly became thin and buzzy with a weird echo. Unplugging and replugging the Focusrite fixed it. Maybe their drivers just don't initialize properly somehow every once in a while.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 12-17-2019, 04:26 PM
ChuckS's Avatar
ChuckS ChuckS is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 3,644
Default

The Focusrite models that are powered off the USB have limitations in their phantom power (due to limitations in power they can draw from USB). My son has a 214 and some mics with higher than typical phantom current draw had issues with the 214. The mics were within phantom power specs, but the interface couldn't adequately power them.
__________________
Chuck

2012 Carruth 12-fret 000 in Pernambuco and Adi
2010 Poling Sierra in Cuban Mahogany and Lutz
2015 Posch 13-fret 00 in Indian Rosewood and Adi
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 12-17-2019, 05:54 PM
jim1960 jim1960 is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 5,960
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ChuckS View Post
The Focusrite models that are powered off the USB have limitations in their phantom power (due to limitations in power they can draw from USB). My son has a 214 and some mics with higher than typical phantom current draw had issues with the 214. The mics were within phantom power specs, but the interface couldn't adequately power them.
But any given unit does adequately power them some of the time. As TBMan said, unplugging and reconnecting the USB cable fixed it. You'd think they'd be able to come up with a firmware patch to fix it. If they can't do that, there's a serious design flaw in that unit.
__________________
Jim
2023 Iris ND-200 maple/adi
2017 Circle Strings 00 bastogne walnut/sinker redwood
2015 Circle Strings Parlor shedua/western red cedar
2009 Bamburg JSB Signature Baritone macassar ebony/carpathian spruce
2004 Taylor XXX-RS indian rosewood/sitka spruce
1988 Martin D-16 mahogany/sitka spruce

along with some electrics, zouks, dulcimers, and banjos.

YouTube
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 12-18-2019, 08:57 AM
KevWind's Avatar
KevWind KevWind is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Edge of Wilderness Wyoming
Posts: 19,877
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by TBman View Post
The other day I was going to record a tune I composed and I got setup in my computer room to record as my usual recording area was inconvenient to use. So I set up my mic baskets on my desktop mic stands and hooked up my AT2035 mics to my Focusrite. I started to record and upon playback I was treated to a very distorted recording. So I had my what the hey moment and instead of researching what was going on I simply used my Zoom H5 without mics.

Today I took the time to research and found that I'm not the only one to encounter this result when using AT2035 mics. The solution I found online was to simply unplug the usb from the Focusrite, wait a bit and then plug it back in.

Strange.
That is strange and I agree with the others it sounds like is an issue with the Focusrite ,

But first perhaps a bit more clarification on the specific sequence of events.

#1 Prior to moving to a different room you were using the same mics in your recording area with no distortion (yes ?)
#2 you used the same computer in both locations (yes?)
#3 You disconnected the USB cable to move (yes)
# 4 when you disconnected the USB cable both the computer and the Focusrite were shut down, power off ? (cold swap) or were one or both still powered on (hot swap)
# 5 you moved to new location reconnected the USB , powered up, recorded and then had distortion ?
#6 When you say on "playback" you heard the distortion, but when you were recording were you monitoring the the input and it was not distorted ?

Admittedly I have no experience with USB powered interfaces but it sounds to me like if you hot swapped (which you are supposed to be able to do with USB) with the computer still on , that may have triggered a glitch. Or as suggested it is a basic glitch in the Focusrite firmware, or both....
I looked online and the mics state Phantom power requirement of 11-52 volt
The Focusrite does not really list actual Phantom power output, but simply list the generic 48 v designation term which literally simply means it has phantom power, and does not really indicate a measured stable 48 volts hitting the mic
__________________
Enjoy the Journey.... Kev...

KevWind at Soundcloud

KevWind at YouYube
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...EZxkPKyieOTgRD

System :
Studio system Avid Carbon interface , PT Ultimate 2023.12 -Mid 2020 iMac 27" 3.8GHz 8-core i7 10th Gen ,, Ventura 13.2.1

Mobile MBP M1 Pro , PT Ultimate 2023.12 Ventura 12.2.1

Last edited by KevWind; 12-18-2019 at 09:04 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 12-18-2019, 09:31 AM
TBman's Avatar
TBman TBman is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 35,828
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by KevWind View Post
That is strange and I agree with the others it sounds like is an issue with the Focusrite ,

But first perhaps a bit more clarification on the specific sequence of events.

#1 Prior to moving to a different room you were using the same mics in your recording area with no distortion (yes ?)
#2 you used the same computer in both locations (yes?)
#3 You disconnected the USB cable to move (yes)
# 4 when you disconnected the USB cable both the computer and the Focusrite were shut down, power off ? (cold swap) or were one or both still powered on (hot swap)
# 5 you moved to new location reconnected the USB , powered up, recorded and then had distortion ?
#6 When you say on "playback" you heard the distortion, but when you were recording were you monitoring the the input and it was not distorted ?

Admittedly I have no experience with USB powered interfaces but it sounds to me like if you hot swapped (which you are supposed to be able to do with USB) with the computer still on , that may have triggered a glitch. Or as suggested it is a basic glitch in the Focusrite firmware, or both....
I looked online and the mics state Phantom power requirement of 11-52 volt
The Focusrite does not really list actual Phantom power output, but simply list the generic 48 v designation term which literally simply means it has phantom power, and does not really indicate a measured stable 48 volts hitting the mic
No, first time using these mics with focusrite and computer. I alwsys used these mics with a Zoom H5
__________________
Barry

Sad Moments {Marianne Vedral cover}:


My SoundCloud page

Some steel strings, some nylon.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 12-18-2019, 09:37 AM
KevWind's Avatar
KevWind KevWind is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Edge of Wilderness Wyoming
Posts: 19,877
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by TBman View Post
No, first time using these mics with focusrite and computer. I alwsys used these mics with a Zoom H5
Humm ok so were you monitoring while recording ?
__________________
Enjoy the Journey.... Kev...

KevWind at Soundcloud

KevWind at YouYube
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...EZxkPKyieOTgRD

System :
Studio system Avid Carbon interface , PT Ultimate 2023.12 -Mid 2020 iMac 27" 3.8GHz 8-core i7 10th Gen ,, Ventura 13.2.1

Mobile MBP M1 Pro , PT Ultimate 2023.12 Ventura 12.2.1
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 12-19-2019, 07:25 AM
MikeBmusic MikeBmusic is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: On the Mass/NH border
Posts: 6,663
Default

Make sure your computer's 'go to sleep' feature is not on. This will shut down power to the USB jacks, causing glitches until the computer is shut down and powered back on ('waking up' the computer will not reset the USB jacks).
__________________
Mike

My music: https://mikebirchmusic.bandcamp.com

2020 Taylor 324ceBE
2017 Taylor 114ce-N
2012 Taylor 310ce
2011 Fender CD140SCE
Ibanez 12 string a/e
73(?) Epiphone 6830E 6 string

72 Fender Telecaster
Epiphone Dot Studio
Epiphone LP Jr
Chinese Strat clone

Kala baritone ukulele
Seagull 'Merlin'
Washburn Mandolin
Luna 'tatoo' a/e ukulele
antique banjolin
Squire J bass
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 12-29-2019, 09:42 AM
CASD57 CASD57 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Meridian, Idaho
Posts: 3,235
Default

Not sure what your running but here is an article from Focusrite
https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-...-on-Windows-10
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > RECORD

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:08 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=