I’ve commented here previously about this powerful little box and how pleased I am with it as an interface to use both on the road and in my home studio for my voiceover work. Today I received an email from a fellow named Joe, asking for some specific information about how I have my unit set up.
Hi Bob,
I was reading in one of your blogs that you use a MobilePre USB for the majority of your voice-over recording. I have just started to set up my home studio with an AT3035 microphone and the M-Audio MobilePre USB. All of this is going into a HP desktop and the recording software that I am using is Sony Sound Forge. I do have a vocal box (4 feet wide by 7 feet high-enclosed) that I have the microphone in right now.
I was just curious as to what kind of settings you are using for the MobilePre USB. I am new at recording in the home environment but do have experience in a professional studio.
Joe, first things first, download the latest drivers from the M-Audio site. Un-install what you got in your box and then install the newest version of the drivers. You’ll be very glad you did this. (updated to include link to drive download section of M-Audio site.)
Second, the answers to your specific questions:
USB record level-?
Set to 0 (zero)
Direct Monitor-?
Set to 0 (zero) also
Device Output-?
Again, set to 0 (zero) though in this case, that’s all the way up.
And the gain level you usually have set on the front of the box for your microphone.
This will vary depending on your normal speaking volume, the sensitivity of your microphone (I’m using the AT-4033) and I don’t know the specifics regarding your AT-3035. But, for my system, I have the input knob set to somewhere around 12 to 1 o’clock, closer to 12 than 1 nearly all of the time. If I have to do some really agressive pieces for station imaging, I’ll turn it down a bit; but otherwise it stays in that range.
Any help in this regard would be of great assistance.
My other suggestion would be to join the VO-BB. Read, search the archives. You’ll find an amazing amount of wisdom there.
Yours truly,
Joe
You’re very welcome, Joe. Write again any time.