Double Bass Can't Get Any Pizz Volume From Scarlett 2i2

[Nolan Audette]

I am recording my pizz playing on my upright bass with an AT813a (old Audio Technica condensor microphone) into a 2nd gen Scarlett 2i2 and I cannot get any decent volume from it while recording on my computer for the life of me. I have turned up the gain all the way, I am playing about 4-6 inches away from the mic, I am using the INST setting, the mic does not need phantom power (it doesn't help when I turn it on anyways), I used a fresh XLR cable, I've tested a SM58 close to the bass as well, all of these things have resulted in the same low volume and high gain noise.

Here is a picture of the raw sound profile from Audacity. I do not have experience in sound editing, but I am pretty sure the profile should be reaching higher peaks than this.

Attached is a mp3 of the exact same sound clip as above. When turned up, you can hear what I believe is a high amount of gain noise, but still a wimpy sounding bass.


I would really appreciate any help on how I can record my bass sound properly through a mic (hopefully without spending thousands of dollars). I have read that the Scarletts have a relatively low preamp range and that I might need to add an external preamp into the mix. Thoughts on this, have other people had success with using the 2i2 without a preamp? What is the difference with a preamp added?

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

If you have a mic set on instrument setting, that’s likley your problem right there. The preamp should be set to microphone, because you are using a mic.

What type of cable are you using for the Scarlett input: XLR or 1/4”?

 

[Abington]

Definitely try using the microphone setting. I am not exactly sure how they differ - usually there is a different impedance or it might not deliver phantom.

Another thing to try: the mic does need to be powered, either through batteries or phantom. Try swapping the batteries or pulling them out and turning phantom on.

Make sure you have no pads engaged.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

I use an AT2022 battery powered stereo mic regularly. Replace the battery, make sure that phantom is not on, and if the mic is functioning properly it should all be fine. I don’t use a Scarlett, so I can’t comment on the mic vs instrument setting, but if there is a menu it definitely needs to be set as a mic.

 

[Nolan Audette]

It was the INST setting... Foolish me. For some reason I was convinced that INST was for XLR and LINE was for 1/4". Switched it over and now it is picking up sound as it should. Case closed, thanks for the reminder.

 

[BucketOfFish]

I cannot get any decent volume from it while recording on my computer for the life of me.

My Scarlet 4i4 looks and sounds the same. I will try it once again and see what happens.

 

[Nolan Audette]

Now that I am using it, I am facing the issue that I pretty much need to turn the gain all the way up to hear myself with some kind of presence and by doing so I get a decent amount of gain noise, similar to what can be heard in the first recording. I am pretty sure this is just the natural noise of the 2i2, doesn't seem like a grounding loop/hum, but this is the point where I would like to know if a good preamp would help? I don't exactly understand if adding a preamp and turning up the gain on that would bypass the noise that comes from the interface.

 

[Ryan in PDX]

Now that I am using it, I am facing the issue that I pretty much need to turn the gain all the way up to hear myself with some kind of presence and by doing so I get a decent amount of gain noise, similar to what can be heard in the first recording. I am pretty sure this is just the natural noise of the 2i2, doesn't seem like a grounding loop/hum, but this is the point where I would like to know if a good preamp would help? I don't exactly understand if adding a preamp and turning up the gain on that would bypass the noise that comes from the interface.

The Scarlett is fine. You shouldn't "need" an outboard pre for this, and probably won't "want" one in a home office/bedroom without isolation or treatment, anyway.

Pull out that battery and use phantom power for your mic. The circuit was designed for and will perform (much) better at 48V. The battery option is only intended for emergencies where phantom is not available. You should immediately get more signal, requiring less gain from the preamp.

At the risk of mansplaining... You'll get the best recording quality if your level is averaging -18 to -12 dB, never seeing any peaks above -6. If you're hitting those levels, but it's too quiet, adjust your monitoring (headphone) level. If you're using a backing track in your headphones, and it's louder than the bass, turn the backing track down in software. With a USB interface, direct monitoring is your friend.

 

[Happy Steve]

Are you recording into a mac laptop by any chance? If so, you will need to provide a connection to earth somewhere on your mic input. The macbook and interface will not provide this via USB. I ended up with a XLR-XLR adaptor with a wire to the earth pin of a mains plug: and suddenly no more noise. I now record with a zoom H5 and it is not an issue any more.