Audio Interface |Problem solving

[PajserSima]

I have a Behringer UMC22 U-Phoria audio interface for a condenser microphone, but I have headphones (Logitech G430) that has its own soundcard thats required for surround sound and controlls over their Logitech software, is it possible to have headphones connected through their own soundcard and microphone and audio interface through USB?

I'm new in audio world.

 

[Leeiuum]

You shouldnt have a problem with selecting which to use for what. As in windows you can simply select input and output devices. Input would be your audio interface (via usb), and output would be your headset (via 3.5m jack). It just wont use the build in mic on your headset.

I personally have no issue using an audio interface for my Rode mic, aswell as using a headset/earbuds/speakers for output.
Something you could try (if your audio interface supports it), is to plug in your headset on the output on the audio interface.
Hope that answers your question.

Eyyy follow Rode user. What microphone do you use?

OP

Soundcards are built differently and it's a matter of just testing it out. Although I think your Behringer would produce better audio. You would be able to plug in your 3.5mm jack for your headphones using a 3.5mm to 6.35 1/4 converter and plugging it into the headphone jack of your interface. I literally do not know the specifications on both products I don't know which one would be better to use, but that is how you would be able to use your headphones with your interface at least.

 

[Leeiuum]

Rode NTK
wby?

Damn that's a nice condenser, I went the dynamic route and I'm using a Rode Procaster

 

[PajserSima]

I just got into the game and wanted to buy Rode NT1 I think it was, but I went with BM800 combo for start.

 

[Leeiuum]

Not a bad decision, I always used to stay on the budget side of things (100-200 for the full setup). But it always wasn't *just* what I expected, it just never really met my expectation. When I got more into music etc, I decided not to cheap out and go all in for a good quality audio setup, so glad I did. Will never go back.

I know what you mean. I cycled through different microphones and ended up costing me in the long run, although it taught me a lot about audio equipment since I knew nothing about audio. Went from Blue Snowball to a Yeti, then a MXL770 condenser to a Rode Procaster. Because I do a lot of things on the internet I didn't want to splash $300 on something like a Shure SM7B because.. Well, YouTube/Twitch/Other online services I use my audio presence on will compress the audio. For your sake I get it - cause you'll be doing it a lot more using local file so it's going to be raw audio.

I just got into the game and wanted to buy Rode NT1 I think it was, but I went with BM800 combo for start.

NT1 is definitely a nice microphone, but I'll give you some pointers before starting big:
I would balance your interface and microphone by a certain margin. If you want to control how your audio sounds using hardware, I would look up getting a mixer with equalisers, maybe 3-band equalisers at least (Behringers do great for budget mixers, but might want to look at Mackie or Yamaha). This helps control your audio with how your audio sounds (bass, treble and other audio frequency levels) BUT you can just as well do it on software too. Hardware is always preferable though IMHO so your computer isn't doing the processing for you.

You may also want to look around your environment. If your recording room or just where you want to record is big with reflective surfaces (wood for example), I would recommend getting a dynamic microphone which you need a LOT of gain for but pickup is super crispy. Downside is you're going to be around on top of the microphone speaking at it from the top instead of in front of it like a condenser. If dynamic, you do not need phantom power (the "48v" mark on most interfaces) due to how they're made, FYI.

A condenser is good for environmentally friendly areas for audio, such as rooms that have carpet and non-reflective material. This is to help reduce echo (or reverb, which is not the same thing directly but they're somewhat similar) and be able to be more sensitive. So if you want to not be directly on top of your microphone then use a condenser, but just make sure your room is friendly enough to use it in if you do not want to use echo.

Hopefully I explained it well enough for someone who doesn't really understand audio. Sorry if I haven't and hopefully you understand!

TL;DR
Dynamic microphones (Rode Procaster, Shure SM7B, Shure SM58): Insensitive, have to go up to the microphone for it to pick up your voice, have to use a lot of gain in your interface, may need to use a pre-amp (cloudlifter or fethead for cleaner gain), do not need the phantom power. Great for noisy environments or areas that are not audio friendly.

Condenser (Rode NT1, NT1-A, NTK, MXL770, AT2020): Super sensitive, does not have to go up to the microphone for it to pick up, can pick up echoes in an area that is not friendly towards its surroundings. Requires 48 volts (phantom power) to use. Does not need a lot of gain to work well.

EDIT:
Sorry if I talked way too much about audio as a whole. When you said it (@OP) you mentioned thinking about £240 (how much the mic is here in the UK at least) microphone and just wanted to let you know that money != (doesn't mean) good microphone automatically. In the audio world you have to know what to look for.

 

[DarkKnights22]

Should work, don't see why

NOTE: IDK ABOUT MAC!! ONLY WINDOWS!!!

 

[PajserSima]

I know what you mean. I cycled through different microphones and ended up costing me in the long run, although it taught me a lot about audio equipment since I knew nothing about audio. Went from Blue Snowball to a Yeti, then a MXL770 condenser to a Rode Procaster. Because I do a lot of things on the internet I didn't want to splash $300 on something like a Shure SM7B because.. Well, YouTube/Twitch/Other online services I use my audio presence on will compress the audio. For your sake I get it - cause you'll be doing it a lot more using local file so it's going to be raw audio.


NT1 is definitely a nice microphone, but I'll give you some pointers before starting big:
I would balance your interface and microphone by a certain margin. If you want to control how your audio sounds using hardware, I would look up getting a mixer with equalisers, maybe 3-band equalisers at least (Behringers do great for budget mixers, but might want to look at Mackie or Yamaha). This helps control your audio with how your audio sounds (bass, treble and other audio frequency levels) BUT you can just as well do it on software too. Hardware is always preferable though IMHO so your computer isn't doing the processing for you.

You may also want to look around your environment. If your recording room or just where you want to record is big with reflective surfaces (wood for example), I would recommend getting a dynamic microphone which you need a LOT of gain for but pickup is super crispy. Downside is you're going to be around on top of the microphone speaking at it from the top instead of in front of it like a condenser. If dynamic, you do not need phantom power (the "48v" mark on most interfaces) due to how they're made, FYI.

A condenser is good for environmentally friendly areas for audio, such as rooms that have carpet and non-reflective material. This is to help reduce echo (or reverb, which is not the same thing directly but they're somewhat similar) and be able to be more sensitive. So if you want to not be directly on top of your microphone then use a condenser, but just make sure your room is friendly enough to use it in if you do not want to use echo.

Hopefully I explained it well enough for someone who doesn't really understand audio. Sorry if I haven't and hopefully you understand!

TL;DR
Dynamic microphones (Rode Procaster, Shure SM7B, Shure SM58): Insensitive, have to go up to the microphone for it to pick up your voice, have to use a lot of gain in your interface, may need to use a pre-amp (cloudlifter or fethead for cleaner gain), do not need the phantom power. Great for noisy environments or areas that are not audio friendly.

Condenser (Rode NT1, NT1-A, NTK, MXL770, AT2020): Super sensitive, does not have to go up to the microphone for it to pick up, can pick up echoes in an area that is not friendly towards its surroundings. Requires 48 volts (phantom power) to use. Does not need a lot of gain to work well.

My friend uses Shure SM57 I think or plans to get it for his electric guitar recording from I think marshall lamp thing, yeah I know i have a big wooden desk that is surrounded by two walls when recording and PC is under the table. But I used Focusrite Scarlett for some testing and its pure hell, I just tested it real fast, spoke some stupid shit into the mic.
Here, listen to it. https://instaud.io/3Nq6
But its with proper drivers for interface, I think I can make it better.

 

[Leeiuum]

My friend uses Shure SM57 I think or plans to get it for his electric guitar recording from I think marshall lamp thing, yeah I know i have a big wooden desk that is surrounded by two walls when recording and PC is under the table. But I used Focusrite Scarlett for some testing and its pure hell, I just tested it real fast, spoke some stupid shit into the mic.
Here, listen to it. https://instaud.io/3Nq6
But its with proper drivers for interface, I think I can make it better.

It sounds completely fine, if you're talking about it capturing background noise then that's your choice of microphone which is a BM800 (condenser).

 

[PajserSima]

It sounds completely fine, if you're talking about it capturing background noise then that's your choice of microphone which is a BM800 (condenser).

Yeah my friend told me that good condenser microphone can pick up sounds from next house bathroom hahaha nice joke
But its him talking in the background on the couch. I found perfect place and gain not to capture my pc sounds. Now Im waiting for my audio interface to arrive, went to local music shop because of the better prices. Now its time to wait, Its nice setup for around 100€.

 

[Leeiuum]

To extend more on the environment. When I had my old mic I didn't really have any issues in my room, then I got this NTK and it was a lot more sensitive with echo, reverb etc. But it was still oke. I then moved out and now have this dedicated office/gaming room/studio. With full wood floors and not much furniture besides my desk/pc setup etc. Having an open room without much furniture and wooden floors (possibly even walls) really makes it a lot worse. Getting a sofa in the room, helped at first but the echo was still quite noticeable (especially compared to the old room). So I decided to invest into foam boards (those fancy things you put on your wall in different colors and shapes) and that was pure magic. Yes it costs a lot, but that is definitely the best option, as I tried putting in more furniture and also messing with the audio settings but not much helped really. So if you ever do run into issues like that, make sure you are in a good environment, and foam boards are you friend!

And to get back to the interface hardware vs software. I use both, I try to get a good baseline with the hardware and really fine tune it with software. Depending on what you plan to use it for, it might matter a lot or not at all for you. But whenever you get into more "professional audio" people usually care about quality. Streaming etc you want to get more into the hardware side, as you can't edit your audio while youre streaming right (obviously there is software for live use, but you get the point). When more into music etc, you will edit your audio anyways, so you might aswell do it all at once after actually recording the audio.

^^

I forgot about the "filling" your room with stuff like a couches and other items to make your room more sound absorbent. To be honest it's how you want your audio to sound, if you want it to still picking up when you're 6 feet away from the microphone itself then you'd want to invest into sound panelling (which costs a lot and might just be helpful getting either a dynamic or a shotgun mic). If you want it to pick up only your voice from a 3 foot distance then you can consider a dynamic.[DOUBLEPOST=1560192273][/DOUBLEPOST]

Yeah my friend told me that good condenser microphone can pick up sounds from next house bathroom hahaha nice joke
But its him talking in the background on the couch. I found perfect place and gain not to capture my pc sounds. Now Im waiting for my audio interface to arrive, went to local music shop because of the better prices. Now its time to wait, Its nice setup for around 100€.

I hope you like it when it comes. With your Scarlett interface, I recommend buying a set of RCA cables to plug into the back - going into a 3.5mm cable to then go through a ground isolator (eliminating any white noise) to then meet your 3.5mm jack inside your motherboard.

This makes your input into stereo mode (2 channel) instead of mono mode (1 channel) and allows you to use software such as POD Farm to help reduce noise and also use live effects.

 

[PajserSima]

I hope you like it when it comes. With your Scarlett interface, I recommend buying a set of RCA cables to plug into the back - going into a 3.5mm cable to then go through a ground isolator (eliminating any white noise) to then meet your 3.5mm jack inside your motherboard.

This makes your input into stereo mode (2 channel) instead of mono mode (1 channel) and allows you to use software such as POD Farm to help reduce noise and also use live effects.

Its not my interface I just borrowed it from him, but I suggested him that thing you said to me, and thanks allot for help, If I ever encounter problems I will try to get in touch with you I will post some audio files when my interface arrives next week.

 

[Leeiuum]

Its not my interface I just borrowed it from him, but I suggested him that thing you said to me, and thanks allot for help, If I ever encounter problems I will try to get in touch with you I will post some audio files when my interface arrives next week.

Ahh fair enough! My bad I thought you upgraded halfway through discussion, but you can still do the exact same with your U-Phoria

If you do this though, it will no longer input to your U-Phoria devices, instead it will go through your motherboard audio processor (such as Realtek) which Windows 10 (or other OS) detects it as.

 

[PajserSima]

Ahh fair enough! My bad I thought you upgraded halfway through discussion, but you can still do the exact same with your U-Phoria

If you do this though, it will no longer input to your U-Phoria devices, instead it will go through your motherboard audio processor (such as Realtek) which Windows 10 (or other OS) detects it as.

I will plug my headphones through its Logitech soundcard external one, and choose headphones as output device, and plug my BM800 through audio interface and choose interface as input device, for now I didn't encounter any nosies so it should be fine.

 

[Leeiuum]

I will plug my headphones through its Logitech soundcard external one, and choose headphones as output device, and plug my BM800 through audio interface and choose interface as input device, for now I didn't encounter any nosies so it should be fine.

Sounds like it's all fine, every detail I put above is just because you mentioned about a £250 microphone so just wanted to make sure you got what you wanted before buying, since I've had to recycle microphones so much

How you have set it up should be completely fine. Hopefully you can refer to our comments whenever you wish to upgrade