David Lang wrote:
> Hello everyone.Is there someone who can help me ? I have recently
> started to make audio recordings using the PC( I need to make good
> quality voice recordings to send  as wav or mp3 files) . I am very
> disappointed in the results and in alarming addition, it seems every
> time i move the machine at all ot touch it near the expansion slots(
> as in plugging a mike in and out),I get a "feedback- 60 cycle hum"
> which I know cannot be normal. Also not every mic I try( in a search
> for a better quality sound) will work. I built the machine (which may
> be the problem-though I have built many which have worked fine). The
> board is an MSI K7T Turbo ver.3. I have checked the construction and
> everything looks  OK but perhaps I am missing  something. Can anyone
> tell me anything to help like what voltage readings should  be at
> what points or how likely are the sound circuits to be bad or  how
> can I check these. Also does anyone know  good software to produce
> excellent quality voice recordings and perhaps even enhance them? The
> media  recorder  on Windows  just sounds  so inadequate. Thank you
> all...and  Oh P.S. I have asked "professionals" at Radio Shack  and
> Intrex  Computers(local techies  in NC where I am) and no one  can
> tell me what impedance a mic  should be  to work on a PC. Does it
> make a difference. I have a good mic I used years ago that i remember
> had a dual impedance (but you had to make soldering changes);it
> worked well then  with analog amps and decks but will not work on the
> PC. Could this be an impedance issue?

Generally, if you're getting a 60Hz hum it can mean one of a few things:

- poorly shielded audio circuitry (which means you need to buy a better 
sound card such as the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz or the more expensive 
Creative Labs cards)

- ground loop (and I don't recall exactly how to diagnose that)

- audio wires that are running too close to AC wires

- poorly constructed AC devices such as surge protectors (that's a bit 
of a stretch, keeping the audio cables away from the AC power cords 
usually suffices)

For software, try Audacity (I haven't used it, but hear that it's fairly 
good).

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