I’m using a QC Mini as a dedicated audio interface with a Mac and a Rode Nt1 (5th gen) connected to the XLR input 2. Phantom power is turned on. Even with gain maxed out (+30db) in the I/O settings, signal is incredibly low and basically never breaks -20 even at peaks.
Am I missing something here, or is there a faulty unit/cable somewhere in the chain?
Have you checked your I/O menu levels?
@AdamBomb, looks like OP checked I/O menu levels alright.
@rhyrea, that’s pretty extreme. I’m not at my QC at the moment, but I can check with my own setup at home (tonight or this weekend). I’ve got an Audio Technica AT2035.
Do you have a separate interface? If so, does your mic work OK with that?
Anyone else with a condenser mic and QC willing to check?
EDIT:
See my response below.
IMO, this is a pretty common occurrence with the QC; the condenser level is very low. Generally it calls for a preamp, lifter, or gain plugin in the DAW.
A device like a Cloudlifter is common for a dynamic mic like the Shure SM7B (I have both), but I’ve never heard of using something like that for a condenser.
Yeah, it’s weird but I’ve found it to be the case in all my tests with the Rode, AT and Slate condensers- levels all very low, just like the DI signal sent from the QC input 1 or 2.
I guess we should ask the OP @rhyrea - are you routing this from USB to Channel 2 DI? Or channel 3 and up on the Grid? The DI channels are NOTORIOUSLY low-level.
Here’s an older thread where folks talked about low levels for condenser mics. Seems that +25 to +30 dB is kind of the norm. I had tested this myself back then.
I guess we’ve all got to remember that mic levels are not the same as instrument levels, and are treated differently in the QC. +30 dB gain is insane for a guitar input, but maybe not so for a condenser mic.
Nitpicky detail here, Cloudlifters do not pass 48V phantom power to their end device. Every home studio should have one, but you won’t be able to use a standard condenser mic with it.
Thanks folks; OP here.
Sentiment seems to be that this is just a limitation of using the QC as a dedicated audio interface in a home studio; its +30 ceiling isn’t enough for some of the gain-thirsty condensers. Fwiw, I tried adding gain blocks to the signal chain (3x of them at +10 each) and for some reason it had zero effect on levels.
I guess my question is what are my other options? This is a home office for both recording and remote work. I travel a lot so am trying to have a setup where my office is portable: a small pedalboard with an always-on QC + wireless + exp literally sits on my desk and I can just disconnect it, throw it in a bag with laptop, and take it all with me.
I can’t use a preamp/lifter since no phantom power, I can’t add gain staging in a DAW since that wouldn’t translate to zoom calls or gaming, and I’d rather not add a second audio interface since its one more thing to travel with. Any other options, or should I just switch to dynamic mics rather than condensers?
Just going back to your original post–the Mini tops out at +30 dB for a mic input with 48V phantom power?
I checked last night and my “standard” QC was able to go much higher than that–I think it topped out at +60 dB–though my AT2035 didn’t need it.
I think it would be good to email Neural at this point and ask them to clarify, before trying to switch to anything else. If the Mini doesn’t have the same amount of gain, people need to know.
I’ll check with my SM7B and Cloudlifter when I get a chance. (I typically use a separate interface for that out of simplicity.)
Yeah, the mini tops out at +30 and its what they disclose in hardware specs.