On 12 Oct 2006 at 5:41, 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. 

  The AC input to the power supply is, of course, at 60 cycles.  Just about 
everything else should be digital and/or above 20K and so inaudible.  So 
this certainly isn't normal at all.
  But if you can't eliminate it, you may still have other options.  Creative 
Labs builds several versions of their Sound Blaster series as external 
modules connected and powered over USB, which may help.

> 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. 

  GoldWave is shareware, and works as well as the fullblown commercial 
applications I've used.

> 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? 

  I don't recall specific impedance values, but most PC sound subsystems 
have two mono mini-jacks for input, one rated for "line" levels and the 
other for "mic" levels.  
  There are a couple of companies that make "pro" sound gear that attaches 
to a PC in various ways; some of those offerings include XLR mic inputs.  
Some of those provide multitrack recording for later remixing, whereas the 
typical PC sound unit will just let you record the live mix.

David Gillett

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