Umik 1 windows 11 problems.

[No_hair_left]

PIcked up a used umik 1 yesterday but it just wont read properly with rew, I downloaded the calibration files. The spl meter shows 50db in C weighted and 36 in A weighted. Problem is it wont go below those numbers even if I move the mic and cover it and I know my noise floor is actually 26-27db as thats what it was reading on the xtz pro mic and decibel x. It's a short usb cable too.

If I check levels before measurement in the measurements tab it will say 69db with -55.7dbfs with the avr set at -45 which is way off, when it should be 45db. If I move it to under -50dbfs which is about -30 on my avr then it will show 85db reading which again is way off given I only have arendal 1961 speakers which are 4ohms.

I made sure the mic input in windows is set to 0db, turned off enhancements, enabled mic access, I had 0 problems with my old xtz mic which read everything correctly.

What is going on here?

I have spent a fair amount of time looking through posts and possible solutions and nothing seems to work it's very odd. Even just comparing it to my phones decibel x app which was near on spot on with my old xtz pro mic it's showing nearly 20db off in some scenarios.

Looking at the calibration file it has a sens factor -2.258db if that means anything. I'm sure I must be doing something wrong but I am out of options.

 

[mcochris]

How long is the cable between your computer and the umik? I had problems using a 15' cable. Switching a a shorter cable fixed the problem.

 

[No_hair_left]

How long is the cable between your computer and the umik? I had problems using a 15' cable. Switching a a shorter cable fixed the problem.

Its a 6ft cable

 

[AnalogSteph]

Try another computer just in case, but it sounds like it may be a defective mic (possibly a bad solder joint on the capsule or something).

 

[Devnull]

Are the gain switches in the microphone set correctly?

 

[No_hair_left]

ok thats what the switches are set as, no idea if its correct or not.

If i set it to default device instead of the umik it reads as 27db A weighted and 31db c weighted which is the correct one.

 

[respice finem]

I've had some UMIK-1 shenanigans too:

strange behaviour of UMIK-1 (USB-C bought in Feb. 2021)

Strange defect of the mic. I did two measurements with it today, one in my "setup 1" room after shifting the speakers a bit, no problems, all good. Then, with the same laptop and mic, a second measurement in the "setup 2" room - very high gain and a "hunch" frequency response. After extensive...

www.audiosciencereview.com

The issue "automagically" disappeared, so I can only guess - either it was indeed the cable (oxidation of contacts?), or switching USB ports might have helped. The third possibility would be an on-off hardware failure, but it didn't fail again so far, after 5 or so measurements.

 

[No_hair_left]

I've had some UMIK-1 shenanigans too:

strange behaviour of UMIK-1 (USB-C bought in Feb. 2021)

Strange defect of the mic. I did two measurements with it today, one in my "setup 1" room after shifting the speakers a bit, no problems, all good. Then, with the same laptop and mic, a second measurement in the "setup 2" room - very high gain and a "hunch" frequency response. After extensive...

www.audiosciencereview.com

The issue "automagically" disappeared, so I can only guess - either it was indeed the cable (oxidation of contacts?), or switching USB ports might have helped. The third possibility would be an on-off hardware failure, but it didn't fail again so far, after 5 or so measurements.

Its not working now lol, I change the dip setting to -18 like shown on the pcb and now the default mic is 31db A weighted and 40db c weighted, with mic calibration its broken as before. switchijg it back to 0.0.0.0 on the dips keeps it the same. Odd

 

[No_hair_left]

it does this connected too which Im assuming means a fault? the guy who I bought it off only used it for his dirac calibration so its pretty much brand new

 

[No_hair_left]

I'm going to borrow a laptop tomorrow, if it reads the same plugged in to that is it safe to assume the mic would not be working as intended?

it's such an odd thing to go wrong. I will be moving to dirac at some point this year and I dont want the mic to over read like now as I don't think the levels will be correct.

 

[respice finem]

I'm going to borrow a laptop tomorrow, if it reads the same plugged in to that is it safe to assume the mic would not be working as intended?

Probably so. I would try a different cable though, just to be sure.

 

[staticV3]

Thee UMIK-1 cannot measure below ~35dBA because that's its inherent noise floor (self noise)

 

[No_hair_left]

Thee UMIK-1 cannot measure below ~35dBA because that's its inherent noise floor (self noise)

If that reads fine (it wont go below 36) then there is probably something wrong with the mic then. If I set my avr to -50 which is silly low and test measurement with mic hidden behind sofa it reads as 68db, other then try laptop with different usb cable I think Im out of ideas as have spent hours on this now.

 

[RDoc]

I use a 20 ft USB cord with mine and have no problems. I don't see how cable length would make a difference in volume anyway since it's digital so if there was a digital issue I'd think you'd see dropouts. Not by any means being an expert, my guess would be a bad mic.

 

[DVDdoug]

If I set my avr to -50 which is silly low

The numbers on your AVR aren't calibrated and they MIGHT not even be dB... Like the old knobs marked 0-10.

If the mic works it's probably OK but there could be something wrong with your calibration setup. (Try recording something with Audacity, etc.)

Usually we are more concerned with frequency response than absolute SPL level. But you do want to be above the noise floor (both the electrical and acoustic noise).

Since you have the xtz pro mic system you could make your own calibration file.

 

[No_hair_left]

The numbers on your AVR aren't calibrated and they MIGHT not even be dB... Like the old knobs marked 0-10.

If the mic works it's probably OK but there could be something wrong with your calibration setup. (Try recording something with Audacity, etc.)

Usually we are more concerned with frequency response than absolute SPL level. But you do want to be above the noise floor (both the electrical and acoustic noise).

Since you have the xtz pro mic system you could make your own calibration file.

I sold that for the umik. I switch to my preset with xt32 calibration and if I set the avr to -50 db, mic measures at 68db which is impossible given how low it sounds, rew says level ok but starts throwing up errors saying dbfs too low, noise to signal too low and increase sweep level, phone app shows actual level at about 40db. If I increase the avr to -30 the mic is now measuring at 83db - 85db. These numbers are not correct or even close.I dont have dirac yet but I know setting levels will be impossible when its not reading properly to start with.

 

[No_hair_left]

Seems the mic is faulty, new cable and different laptop still the same. I even put the mic in a different room, measured and it showed 69db.