XLR mic keeps fading out/disconnecting after login
I’ve been troubleshooting my XLR mic setup for a while and I’m trying to figure out whether this is a mic issue, interface issue, USB/power issue, driver issue, or software issue.
Setup:
Mic: Lewitt LCT 440 PURE
Interface: Focusrite Scarlett Solo (3rd Gen)
Phantom power (48V) enabled
The mic only starts detecting input after I plug the interface into USB, Disconnect/reconnect at the interface or disconnect/reconnect at the mic. After doing that, the mic works briefly, but then the input slowly fades away shortly after and after ~20 seconds it may randomly come back again. Sometimes if I turn the gain all the way up, I can barely hear my voice, but it sounds extremely quiet and radio static-like. Adjusting the gain knob sometimes causes a grainy distortion sound.
This may have just been a coincidence but the issue seems worse after logging into Windows-on the Windows lock screen, the mic/direct monitor behaves normally but once I log in, it starts disconnecting/fading out. Oddly, after the PC has been running for a while, the issue sometimes becomes less severe and smoother.
Things I’ve already tried:
- Replacing XLR cable
- Different USB ports
- Phantom power on
- Reconnecting everything multiple times
- Testing direct monitoring
At this point I’m not sure if the mic is failing, the Scarlett Solo is failing, phantom power is unstable, USB power/drivers are causing issues, or Windows/software is interfering after login.
Any ideas on what component sounds most likely to be the problem?