MIC / USB audio interface help

fish99 · 22 Oct 2016 at 15:46

Hi,

I have an external USB audio interface (a Novation Nio 2|4), which is bascially a low latency external soundcard designed for music production. When I plug my headset mic into it I get no sound from the mic (to the PC). If I plug my guitar into the same socket, everything is good. The mic works fine when plugged into a regular PCI soundcard btw.

I'm pretty sure the problem is that headset mics have a stereo jack, whereas any input designed for a proper mic or guitar is mono. I bought a stereo->mono jack (3.5mm stereo to 6.35mm mono) but it made no difference. Maybe I just got unlucky and this particular jack is taking the wrong channel? You'd think it would take both and mix them.

Anyone know how to fix this?
Thanks.

fish99 · 22 Oct 2016 at 17:34

Oooh, thank you, that should work. Ordered.

fish99 · 22 Oct 2016 at 23:17

Yeah it has a 6.35mm mic input on the front, which can also be used for a guitar via a switch (I tried all settings on that switch, and every other switch), and then an XLR input on the back.

Not sure whether guitars having preamps would matter since the Nio has it's own input gain controls. I guess I'll find out when that jack I ordered arrives.

Thanks again.

fish99 · 29 Oct 2016 at 02:53

Thanks for the help.

Dunno the mic type, I have two - an Antlion Modmic 4.0, and the headset mic on my Steelseries Siberia V2. I've tried that cable I bought and it makes no difference, no sound with either connector. Either the signal from the mic is too low, or something on the Nio 2|4 isn't working.

That video doesn't really talk about using the front input with a mic, but I've tried all those settings and I'm not getting anything into Ableton, or through the sound control panel.

It's not a big deal, it's only for gaming.