Audio interface Behringer UMC202HD isn't picking up sig from microphone

[raquelrl]

Hello, I have a behringer u-phoria UMC202HD and a microphone neewer 800. I bought the interface two years ago and I was not able to record sound from the microphone since then.

I connect the mic on input one with an XLR cable, then I turn the phantom +48V on and I adjust the gain but the microphone won´t turn the light on in the MIDAS panel (the SIG light).

I can connect my headphones on the behringer interface and I hear what I am saying on the microphone, but the light of the signal its off and I can´t record anything with my pc.
¿ Could it be the phantom power that´s wrong ? I have only 10 days left of warranty and I bought it on amazon.

Thanks for the help in advance!

[Drew Stephenson]

Basics first: have you tried a different cable, a different interface and a different mic to try and narrow down where the problem might be?

[ef37a]

As Drew said, there are many things that could prevent you getting a mic signal but in my experience it is very unlikely to be the interface. In the absence of any spare equipment try the following,...

Leave mic unplugged and phantom power off. Using headphone or if you have none, ear close to a speaker, turn the mic gain control to maximum and the headphone or output the same. You should get a moderate hiss which drops off as you back off the mic gain. If no hiss you might not have the UMC properly setup for "Direct Monitoring" AKA "Zero Latency Monitoring" I shall look the interface up and check that. Remove headphones or back off speaker and turn on P power. There should be a blip on the screen meters and a 'plop' in speaker/HPs.

But the most likely suspect is that Neewer mic. They are sort of OK for the money but suffer terrible quality control. Many people find they are noisy or just plain don't work.

Dave.

[raquelrl]

Basics first: have you tried a different cable, a different interface and a different mic to try and narrow down where the problem might be?

I have tried a different cable but I don´t have more interfaces or mics

[raquelrl]

As Drew said, there are many things that could prevent you getting a mic signal but in my experience it is very unlikely to be the interface. In the absence of any spare equipment try the following,...

Leave mic unplugged and phantom power off. Using headphone or if you have none, ear close to a speaker, turn the mic gain control to maximum and the headphone or output the same. You should get a moderate hiss which drops off as you back off the mic gain. If no hiss you might not have the UMC properly setup for "Direct Monitoring" AKA "Zero Latency Monitoring" I shall look the interface up and check that. Remove headphones or back off speaker and turn on P power. There should be a blip on the screen meters and a 'plop' in speaker/HPs.

But the most likely suspect is that Neewer mic. They are sort of OK for the money but suffer terrible quality control. Many people find they are noisy or just plain don't work.

Dave.

Thank you, I will try that now. But isn´t it weird that when I plug my earphones I can listen to the mic? And I touch it and it sounds on my earphones. But the light signal should be green and its off, and I can´t record anything.

[raquelrl]

I will also try to go to a music shop tomorrow and ask if they can lend me a microphone to see if it gives signal. I opened this thread here because I saw a similar one called ''Help! My new audio interface isn't picking up sig from mic!''

https://www.soundonsound.com/forum/view ... hp?t=63677

The problem he had, with a behringer, seemed to be related with the phantom power. But I don´t know how to check if that´s the problem. Thanks.

[sonics]

What software are you using to record with? What gain setting do you have?

If you turn up the gain more and sing loudly into the mic, you should see the green SIG(nal) LED light up, if not both that and the red CLIP LED.
It sounds like the mic could be working, but at a lower than optimal level.

[raquelrl]

What software are you using to record with? What gain setting do you have?

If you turn up the gain more and sing loudly into the mic, you should see the green SIG(nal) LED light up, if not both that and the red CLIP LED.
It sounds like the mic could be working, but at a lower than optimal level.

I am using fl studio but it does not record anything, It doesn´t even start a record track. The green SIG does not show up and I tried everything turning up the gain to maximum. I also tried blowing strong into the microphone with great gain but the light was still off. And I cant understand why but I can listen to what Im saying trough my headphones connected to the interface while Im speaking on the mic, and it also reacts to changes in gain. The problem is with the signal.

I think that if the light doesnt turn green its not going to show anything but Im not sure. That´s the first problem, the light that should turn on but it shows nothing. When I record with a bass, all is okay.

[ef37a]

First thing, now that we have a bit more information is to contact Amazon ASAP and tell them you might have a problem with the interface.
I still think that is unlikely but get your warranty claim in now. I have always found them very helpful.

You can check phantom power with a basic test meter from a car spares shop, about £10 and IMO no one who has audio gear and interest should be without one! Plug in you XLR cable and at the 'mic' end insert meter probes into 1 and 2. You should read close to 48V. Next go 1 and 3, again 48V. DO NOT WORRY! You will read all sorts of dire claims about the destructive power of 48V, all nonsense, Ppower will not hurt you, the interface nor anything else that is designed to use it. Yes, like most things, it can be abused but that is not likely.

I assume you are plugging the bass into the 'inst' jack socket and that lights the green and red LEDs? Forgive the obvious but you are not trying to use the mic with the AI switched to "Inst" ?

When you go to the music shop it might be worth taking AI, cables (and I assume) laptop with you?

Forgot! DON'T blow into microphones!! At the very least it shows you up as a plonker and at worst you can bugger mics! And, tapping the mic at full gain should be VERY loud in your headphones. Gently scratching the grill should give you more than enough signal.

Dave.

[Arpangel]

What software are you using to record with? What gain setting do you have?

If you turn up the gain more and sing loudly into the mic, you should see the green SIG(nal) LED light up, if not both that and the red CLIP LED.
It sounds like the mic could be working, but at a lower than optimal level.

I think this, what are your gain settings?
Just a point of order, don’t go putting your ear next to a speaker or use headphones with the gain turned up full, my right ear got permanently damaged this way when a stray sound got through while I was doing this.
Dave only meant to help but just a word of warning

[ef37a]

What software are you using to record with? What gain setting do you have?

If you turn up the gain more and sing loudly into the mic, you should see the green SIG(nal) LED light up, if not both that and the red CLIP LED.
It sounds like the mic could be working, but at a lower than optimal level.

I think this, what are your gain settings?
Just a point of order, don’t go putting your ear next to a speaker or use headphones with the gain turned up full, my right ear got permanently damaged this way when a stray sound got through while I was doing this.
Dave only meant to help but just a word of warning

Fair point Arp' but one has to hope peeps do things in increments! I am also pretty sure the UMC202 will clip its output before delivering a damaging level to most active monitors? Taking note of the guy's current inventory IF he has speakers I would bet they are 'PC Meeeja jobs' ?

Dave.

[Arpangel]

You’re right Dave, just thought I’d mention it.
Sounds like there’s a level issue going on, or a misinterpretation of level.

[ef37a]

You’re right Dave, just thought I’d mention it.
Sounds like there’s a level issue going on, or a misinterpretation of level.

Cool: BTW my crack about "meeja speakers" was meant in fun and no disrespect to the OP. We all had to start somewhere!

Dave.

[Arpangel]

You’re right Dave, just thought I’d mention it.
Sounds like there’s a level issue going on, or a misinterpretation of level.

Cool: BTW my crack about "meeja speakers" was meant in fun and no disrespect to the OP. We all had to start somewhere!

Dave.

My first "monitors" were a Bush music centre, so he’s got the legs on me.
Kids these days, don’t know they’re born.

[Wonks]

I’d check that the ‘pad’ button for the mic channel isn’t active. The manual doesn’t state the pad’s value, but it could be reducing the signal level by anywhere from 10-25dB.

I’d also check that the line/inst button isn’t set to ‘inst’. It should only have an effect on the jack socket connection, but there’s no signal block diagram to check against, and the only documentation is poor, so it might affect the mic signal too.

[Arpangel]

I’d check that the ‘pad’ button for the mic channel isn’t active. The manual doesn’t state the pad’s value, but it could be reducing the signal level by anywhere from 10-25dB.

I’d also check that the line/inst button isn’t set to ‘inst’. It should only have an effect on the jack socket connection, but there’s no signal block diagram to check against, and the only documentation is poor, so it might affect the mic signal too.

I’ve got a 202HD, and an 1820, all of my inputs are set to instrument, they have a more workable level this way, the lines are a bit low.

[ef37a]

I’d check that the ‘pad’ button for the mic channel isn’t active. The manual doesn’t state the pad’s value, but it could be reducing the signal level by anywhere from 10-25dB.

I’d also check that the line/inst button isn’t set to ‘inst’. It should only have an effect on the jack socket connection, but there’s no signal block diagram to check against, and the only documentation is poor, so it might affect the mic signal too.

Yup, there are SO many things that can stop or heavily reduce a mic signal en route to a DAW. And that is WITHOUT any actual hardware fault!

My son, who has been messing with audio kit for 30 years, including the intricacies of a Teac 4 track, still gets in a buggers muddle with signal paths!

Dave.

[Wonks]

I’ve got a 202HD, and an 1820, all of my inputs are set to instrument, they have a more workable level this way, the lines are a bit low.

But does the switch affect the mic input level?

[Hugh Robjohns]

If you can hear the mic through headphones connected to the interface then:

1. The mic must be working
2. Phantom power must be working
3. The interface preamp must be working (but perhaps not optimally)
4. The interface direct monitoring must be working

If we assume the interface is okay, the only reason the signal LED wouldn't light is if the signal is too low. If maximising gain doesn't solve it, check there is no pad engaged in the interface or mic.

Also, make sure you are talking into the correct side of the mic.

If you can record a bass through the interface that confirms the interface is working, and is being seen by your DAW.

Make sure the interface is properly configured for the mic input after recording the bass, and that the DAW input channels are correctly mapped to the interface channels.

[Arpangel]

I’ve got a 202HD, and an 1820, all of my inputs are set to instrument, they have a more workable level this way, the lines are a bit low.

But does the switch affect the mic input level?

Ha! good point, never had to try that.

[raquelrl]

Now my bass is also not showing any signal. I dont know if it has to do with the hdmi or the interface or my drivers. I will reinstall de drivers and prove it again but I think it should give signal when I give the interface power, and the drivers doesnt matter for the signal to show.

[Drew Stephenson]

Have you tried both inputs? I just wonder if the SIG LED might be faulty...

[raquelrl]

Have you tried both inputs? I just wonder if the SIG LED might be faulty...

Yes I also thought about that, but sadly that is not the problem.

Thanks all for your comments and help. I wil try this evening to fix it and if it doesnt work I´ll return it because its almost new and I have the same box and the instructions so I dont think I´ll have any problem. The only thing is that the hdmi is not the original because I cant find it, but I´ll buy another one similar to the one that came with the interface.

[ef37a]

Have you tried both inputs? I just wonder if the SIG LED might be faulty...

Yes I also thought about that, but sadly that is not the problem.

Thanks all for your comments and help. I wil try this evening to fix it and if it doesnt work I´ll return it because its almost new and I have the same box and the instructions so I dont think I´ll have any problem. The only thing is that the hdmi is not the original because I cant find it, but I´ll buy another one similar to the one that came with the interface.

i think you mean the "USB A to B cable" and I doubt it will matter. Such returns get repacked and sold off as 'B' grade goods... after OF COURSE going through stringent QC checks!

And don't forget to keep us posted!

Dave.