Xonar Essence STX - Mic Problem

[mafal54]

Hello Guys, 
I have an Asus Xonar essence STX.
I bought an Audio Technica AT2020 mic and the ART Tube Mp pre amp. 
I connected the output of the pre amp to my Sound Card.

The Problem is that the Levels are very low.
If I connect a headset to the output of the Amp every thing sounds good and loud but the sound card just gets a sound if I boost with +70DB.


I obviously use the Line-In of the sound card so it does not try to amplify the mic a second time.

Any Ideas? 

I found some one with a similar problem here:

But My levels are a lot lower than his.  

[Guest]

Uh...do you have phantom power on?

[mafal54]

Uh...do you have phantom power on?

Yes.

[Guest]

If you can, you should probably just return everything and get a USB microphone. The mic/line input on the STX isn't really up to handling more than a basic headset mic.

[mafal54]

If you can, you should probably just return everything and get a USB microphone. The mic/line input on the STX isn't really up to handling more than a basic headset mic.

may not be the best, but it should work...

[mafal54]

Just tested the onboard mic-in, it works but I cant imagine the onboard is better than the Xonar...

[Guest]

Just tested the onboard mic-in, it works but I cant imagine the onboard is better than the Xonar...

 

If it's louder and doesn't sound worse than it probably is at least as good.

[mafal54]

If it's louder and doesn't sound worse than it probably is at least as good.

It sounds okay but nothing compared to when i go directly in the output of the amp. 

[Guest]

I still think the best course would be to return the XLR mic and preamp and just get the USB 2020. If that's too expensive, maybe set your sights on a slightly cheaper USB mic as you probably aren't getting the full potential out of the mic with the setup you having going right now anyway.

[Michael McAllister]

The Blue Snowball is pretty good and it's not very expensive.

[mafal54]

The Mic is definitely not the problem. If I connect a Headset directly into the AMP, everything sounds perfect.
 

[weez]

The Mic is definitely not the problem. If I connect a Headset directly into the AMP, everything sounds perfect.

So keep it like that.

[mafal54]

So keep it like that.

If I would keep it like that I have no connection to my computer?

I can just hear myself.

[Guest]

I guess we should establish some facts first; what kind of things are you trying to record?