Topic: "Giant Squid" Mic clipping problem

[OG]

I recently bought a Giant Squid mic to use with my iRiver iFP-899 recorder, and it works flawlessly when I use it with the iRiver itself, but when I try to record with it though my computer (using Audition), it clips the sound at the 0.5 mark (as per the Audition recording track). So far, the only way I have found to get around the clipping problem is to bring the mic level way down, but then, of course, I don't get enough volume on the recording. I am able to record with other mics on the computer with no problem at all. I would very much appreciate any ideas and suggestions...

[darktrain]

Giant Squid Mics blow ass....That is all you need to know

[Church-Audio]

Unfortunately eBay and other sites are full of guys that hack mics together with heat shrink and bubble gum. Very few of them have the ability to measure distortion. So they end up selling a product that does not perform under "real world conditions" Unfortunately for you there is no real way to tell who is and who is not performing. This place if where people come come for real answers in this hobby. You cant fix your mics in post. They are just poorly designed for the task advertised. Use search Google the mics you have. You will see this is based in fact. Before you buy next time come here ask questions and do research.



Chris

[Brian E.]

Giant Squid Mics blow ass....That is all you need to know

agreed.  they're good for super low pro if you have to, just size-wise.  But if you can afford it just get some CA-11's

[acidjack]

I can't say I disagree with the negative opinion on GS's products generally, but I don't think your question was answered.  Do your GS mics have a battery box?  If so, you probably run to the iRiver line-in.  If you are running into a powered mic input on your computer, your input is probably too hot (almost certainly is) and you should switch to line-in on your computer's sound card. 

If you are powering the mic directly from the computer, it is probably the case that the computer isn't powering it enough. 

What other mics have you used successfully with the computer?

Those are my best guesses.  Those mics aren't the best, but depending what you are using them for, they may suffice.  However, there is better stuff available at similar price points.

[Brian E.]

yeah, get an SPSB-6, which is a small battery box that will power the mics.  It's basically a 9V battery in a snap-in case.  Then run Line In, not Mic In.

[Church-Audio]

I recently bought a Giant Squid mic to use with my iRiver iFP-899 recorder, and it works flawlessly when I use it with the iRiver itself, but when I try to record with it though my computer (using Audition), it clips the sound at the 0.5 mark (as per the Audition recording track). So far, the only way I have found to get around the clipping problem is to bring the mic level way down, but then, of course, I don't get enough volume on the recording. I am able to record with other mics on the computer with no problem at all. I would very much appreciate any ideas and suggestions...

I dont understand your question.. When you get to 0.5 mark what does that mean? What are you trying to record? How are you connecting the mics to your computer? External sound card ?

[Fried Chicken Boy]

If you are powering the mic directly from the computer, it is probably the case that the computer isn't powering it enough.

That could be the source of the issue as no computer I'm aware of provides "plug-in power" through the built-in microphone input.  Those things aren't exactly the height of fidelity.

[Church-Audio]

If you are powering the mic directly from the computer, it is probably the case that the computer isn't powering it enough.

That could be the source of the issue as no computer I'm aware of provides "plug-in power" through the built-in microphone input.  Those things aren't exactly the height of fidelity.

Actually most if not all computers with a 3.5 mm mic input do provide plug in power of 1 volt or so.

[F.O.Bean]

You just need to run GS Mics>9volt Battery Box>Line-IN of computer

[fmaderjr]

Giant Squid Mics blow ass....That is all you need to know

I love it. Nobody can post about the Squiddly Diddlies without getting a response like this.

I wonder how much taperssection has hurt that guy's business...

[darktrain]

Giant Squid Mics blow ass....That is all you need to know

I love it. Nobody can post about the Squiddly Diddlies without getting a response like this.

I wonder how much taperssection has hurt that guy's business...

Hopefully a lot

[danlynch]

Whatever TS has done to hurt his business, Dime has helped build it.   Lots of Giant Squid crap there with the usual "great sound" nonsense from the comments.

[adrianf74]

Whatever TS has done to hurt his business, Dime has helped build it.   Lots of Giant Squid crap there with the usual "great sound" nonsense from the comments.

In all fairness, I used his mics back in the early 2000's and recorded many shows with them on MiniDisc (including a couple of shows by a certain "artist" who doesn't like tapers that ended up being pressed on CD without my permission).  Many of his fans, to this day, comment on how good the sound quality of that recording is. 

Fast forward nearly 10 years and there are certainly better choices available today but back then, they weren't horrible.  I "upgraded" to SP-CMC-8's (AT-933/c) and I preferred the sound of the Squids.

As far as DIME goes - the majority of CRAP posted on their is exactly that... CRAP.  I look for select posters who throw their shows up their and generally avoid the unknown stuff).

[acidjack]

Not to pile on, but even the samples on Squid's site sound like ass... distorted, etc.  Coresounds (admittedly, more expensive) are far superior.  My man hi and lo's Dynamic Audio line are infinitely superior too and were closer to that price point....

Folks on DIME love posting garb from internal mics, too.   I am on the fence as to those are worse than Squids, but generally I think the answer must be yes.

[darktrain]

Not to pile on, but even the samples on Squid's site sound like ass... distorted, etc.  Coresounds (admittedly, more expensive) are far superior.  My man hi and lo's Dynamic Audio line are infinitely superior too and were closer to that price point....

Folks on DIME love posting garb from internal mics, too.   I am on the fence as to those are worse than Squids, but generally I think the answer must be yes.

I never download a internal mic source

[F.O.Bean]

Not to pile on, but even the samples on Squid's site sound like ass... distorted, etc.  Coresounds (admittedly, more expensive) are far superior.  My man hi and lo's Dynamic Audio line are infinitely superior too and were closer to that price point....

Folks on DIME love posting garb from internal mics, too.   I am on the fence as to those are worse than Squids, but generally I think the answer must be yes.

I never download a internal mic source

Me neither!

[Fried Chicken Boy]

I never download a internal mic source

Me neither!

Ditto.  No more.  The few that I have were garbage and not even worth the time they took to download.  I'm sure that in the right hands a capable recording can be made with internal mics but I personally haven't heard it yet.

[newplanet7]

The only decent internal sources I've grabbed have been onstage.

[acidjack]

I don't *think* I've ever heard an internal mic source of anything remotely loud that wasn't distorted.  I do think I've seen reports of stuff like onstage jazz being recorded with M10 internals with good luck

I love how the DIMEbros are always like "I applied some bass rolloff to reduce the distortion" right after they said how smokin their pull is.  I think I hate the fluffing of shitty pulls as much as the pulls themselves.  Especially when they're then "remastered" and the person lists like $5000 worth of (stolen, obviously) audio editing software used to polish this turd. 

[adrianf74]

I don't *think* I've ever heard an internal mic source of anything remotely loud that wasn't distorted.  I do think I've seen reports of stuff like onstage jazz being recorded with M10 internals with good luck

I love how the DIMEbros are always like "I applied some bass rolloff to reduce the distortion" right after they said how smokin their pull is.  I think I hate the fluffing of shitty pulls as much as the pulls themselves.  Especially when they're then "remastered" and the person lists like $5000 worth of (stolen, obviously) audio editing software used to polish this turd.

+1.  I understand the need of using some gentle EQ (a touch of bass off under 100Hz and slight bump around 800Hz through 2.5kHz of about 1.5-2dB at the most) plus a little bit of limiting but that's about all I'll ever do myself.  A turd is a turd is a turd.

[newplanet7]

I don't *think* I've ever heard an internal mic source of anything remotely loud that wasn't distorted.  I do think I've seen reports of stuff like onstage jazz being recorded with M10 internals with good luck

I love how the DIMEbros are always like "I applied some bass rolloff to reduce the distortion" right after they said how smokin their pull is.  I think I hate the fluffing of shitty pulls as much as the pulls themselves.  Especially when they're then "remastered" and the person lists like $5000 worth of (stolen, obviously) audio editing software used to polish this turd.

+1.  I understand the need of using some gentle EQ (a touch of bass off under 100Hz and slight bump around 800Hz through 2.5kHz of about 1.5-2dB at the most) plus a little bit of limiting but that's about all I'll ever do myself.  A turd is a turd is a turd.

x3
Yes it was a jazz onstage pull. Even then it was so/so.

[acidjack]

I EQ most of my recordings to some limited degree.  On occasion, especially for shows where I directly mic'd the band, I will do a lot more (add reverb, other more heavy-handed effects).

I just find it f'ing hilarious when the gear chair is like:

Edirol R-09 (in shirt pocket)>Izotope Rx (sonic maximalisation, hypnotic regulator, de-esser, hard limiter)>WaveLab (multivariable calculus optimizer, bass volumizer)>etc.
REMASTERED BY CRAZYSOUNDGUY

.... I mean, come on!  My view is, spend 1/5 the time it took you to steal all that software and plugins actually working at a job / overtime at your current job, or better yet, skip buying tickets to a few shows, and you'd have the $$$ for a solid Church rig that could actually make something worth listening to.  I mowed lawns to pay for my first gear.  It can be done...

[adrianf74]

I EQ most of my recordings to some limited degree.  On occasion, especially for shows where I directly mic'd the band, I will do a lot more (add reverb, other more heavy-handed effects).

I just find it f'ing hilarious when the gear chair is like:

Edirol R-09 (in shirt pocket)>Izotope Rx (sonic maximalisation, hypnotic regulator, de-esser, hard limiter)>WaveLab (multivariable calculus optimizer, bass volumizer)>etc.
REMASTERED BY CRAZYSOUNDGUY

.... I mean, come on!  My view is, spend 1/5 the time it took you to steal all that software and plugins actually working at a job / overtime at your current job, or better yet, skip buying tickets to a few shows, and you'd have the $$$ for a solid Church rig that could actually make something worth listening to.  I mowed lawns to pay for my first gear.  It can be done...

LMAO.  I remember dropping $1000 on a D7 and another $300 on my Core Sound Binaurals back around '94.  I made the money from a part-time job while in high school, so I fully agree. 

A more normal chain looks like this: (mics) > (pre / battery box) > (deck) at 24/48 > Adobe Audition (slight EQ, limiting) > WAV > CDWAV > FLAC > YOU.

That's what I use and that's all you really need.

[Ziggz]

This dude's a "remaster" legend.... in his own mind 

http://www.guitars101.com/forums/f145/zz-top-2011-05-29-the-wharf-orange-beach-al-exc-aud-remastered-118524.html

[adrianf74]

This dude's a "remaster" legend.... in his own mind 

http://www.guitars101.com/forums/f145/zz-top-2011-05-29-the-wharf-orange-beach-al-exc-aud-remastered-118524.html

Ugh... another site that's a waste of time with all sorts of "legends" in their own mind.  :S

[Church-Audio]

The words remaster and "COOL EDIT PRO" Do not belong in the same sentence. Real remastering involves real gear costing real money and real talent lol. I do like cool edit pro its great software but its not what I would call mastering software.

[adrianf74]

The words remaster and "COOL EDIT PRO" Do not belong in the same sentence. Real remastering involves real gear costing real money and real talent lol. I do like cool edit pro its great software but its not what I would call mastering software.

I think that was the joke, Chris.

[F.O.Bean]

The words remaster and "COOL EDIT PRO" Do not belong in the same sentence. Real remastering involves real gear costing real money and real talent lol. I do like cool edit pro its great software but its not what I would call mastering software.

I think that was the joke, Chris.

 

[Church-Audio]

" NEVERMIND "