[Elecraft] Computer Audio Problems

[Jim Brown]

On 1/9/2012 10:17 AM, Erik Basilier wrote:
> Nobody is going to convince me that the microphone
> in a $30 "USB microphone" is "better" than a good analog microphone,

ALL microphones are analog. It is the connection to the computer that is 
digital. FWIW, many (most?) of the microphone elements that Heil sells 
are super cheapie capsules (a buck or less).

My profession is pro audio, and while I don't have the experience of 
seeing a broad variety of computer sound cards like Joe, W4TV, I would 
generally agree with his assessment.  He's a retired broadcast engineer, 
and has made it his business to know what's going on in his new 
business. On the other hand, some inexpensive computer sound cards are 
much better than others.  For about ten years, I've used nothing but top 
line Thinkpads, which DO have decent sound cards. All that it takes is a 
proper connection to them.

I would suspect a problem with the connection of the mic (or the rig) to 
the computer sound card.  I've written a couple of tutorials on that 
topic, which are on my website. 
http://audiosystemsgroup.com/publish.htm  If you know which end of a 
soldering iron to pick up it is VERY easy to make the proper 
adapter(s).  The tutorials also list part numbers and sources for good 
quality audio connectors.

73, Jim Brown K9YC