Recording: Mic issues

Connect the mic directly into Channel 1 on the interface.

Turn on the 48V button on the interface, next to Channel 1.

Choose Channel 1 as the input source on the mic track — not Channel 1-2, as that's stereo.

Check all the switches on the mic are set to the middle position, and the gain switch is on 0dB (not -10 or -20dB).

Arm a track/channel to record and monitor in your DAW. In Logic Pro X: click the red "R" and yellow "I". In Ableton/FL Studio: click the record icon at the bottom of the mic track.

Connect the mic directly into Channel 1 on the interface, and turn on the 48V button next to it.

Turn up the Channel 1 gain dial to a reasonable level — not too high. You want a green flash around the dial when speaking into the mic; if it's red, turn it down a little.

Choose Channel 1 as the input source on the mic track — not Channel 1-2, as that's stereo.

Check all the switches on the mic are set to the middle position, and the gain switch is on 0dB (not -10 or -20dB).

Make sure you're recording into the front side of the mic — if you can't tell which side is the front, try both and see if there's a difference.

Set up a new mic track with no plug-ins or effects and see if you get a louder take.

Set up a new mic track with no plug-ins or effects and see if you get a cleaner take.

If this is a Focusrite interface, try resetting it to factory defaults — this resolves the issue more often than you'd expect. Here's a guide on how to do this.

In Ableton, go to Preferences > Audio.

If the Driver Type is set to "MME/DirectX", change it to "CoreAudio" or "ASIO".

Then change Audio Input Device and Output Device to Focusrite.

Your CPU may be overloaded. Try these in order:

1. Connections — plug the interface directly into your laptop, no USB hubs. Try another port or cable.

2. Buffer size (DAW audio preferences) — lowest without glitching (64–256) when recording; highest (1024–2048) when mixing.

3. Reset Focusrite Control — update the app, close other apps, then File > Restore Factory Defaults.

4. Still stuck? End "FocusriteControlServer" in Task Manager/Activity Monitor — it'll auto-restart.

If the mic is loose and moving, check the cradle directly under it — a few turns to tighten should fix it. Watch a short video here.

If the mic has been found on the floor or is completely detached and can't be screwed back on, contact our 24/7 live chat support.