Whats the secret to get a good clean recording no hiss
Whats the secret to get a good clean recording no hiss
Is it level setting, balanced cables, power conditioners?
Good Preamps are the first easy fix, If you are going to tape make sure your machine is up to spec. Good cable and how you run it is important also. Get as close to 0dB levels as you can (digital) or with analog, hit the tape hard to get above the self noise of the tape.
So everything in the recording chain appears to be the answer.
So everything in the recording chain appears to be the answer.
-
- speech impediment
- Posts: 4270
- Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2003 5:31 pm
- Location: Norman, OK
- Contact:
don't worry so much about that. the whole "get as close to 0db as you can without clipping" is a myth that can result in some frustrating mixing experiences.jckinnick wrote:Im using a digital 8Track and an Art MPA Gold and new mics. How do I check to see if im getting close to 0db.
what you need to do is figure out where the noise is coming from and eliminate it. is it room noise that's being magnified by noisy mics and pres? is it noise from the mic or pre themselves?
you need to isolate where the noise is coming from.
-
- speech impediment
- Posts: 4270
- Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2003 5:31 pm
- Location: Norman, OK
- Contact:
so, it's a hum and not hiss.
this is what I'm talking about. you need to find a convenient place in your chain to break the connection. if the hum goes away, plug it back in and move BACKWARDS in the chain repeating the same steps. if the hum doesn't go away, plug it back in and move FORWARD in the chain. eventually, you'll narrow it down to a piece of gear or a cable.
this is what I'm talking about. you need to find a convenient place in your chain to break the connection. if the hum goes away, plug it back in and move BACKWARDS in the chain repeating the same steps. if the hum doesn't go away, plug it back in and move FORWARD in the chain. eventually, you'll narrow it down to a piece of gear or a cable.
-
- speech impediment
- Posts: 4270
- Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2003 5:31 pm
- Location: Norman, OK
- Contact:
what instrument are you running direct into the input? are you using the HighZ instrument input on the MPA? does is do the same thing with both channels on the pre? how 'bout if you switch instruments? does it happen with every instrument you plug into the pre?jckinnick wrote:Its more hiss than hum. It mostly does it when I run an instrument direct into the preamp. When im using microphones its pretty clean.
-
- speech impediment
- Posts: 4270
- Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2003 5:31 pm
- Location: Norman, OK
- Contact:
Re: Whats the secret to get a good clean recording no hiss
First and foremost, check your power. 60 cycle hum and poorly designed power supplies can infiltrate your audio signal inducing noise. Once you have ruled out power, check you cables and connections. Using good quality cables that are properly shielded and minimizing the use of unbalanced cables in especially in longer cable runs will greatly reduce noise in your signal path. Last up is gain staging which is IMHO something that escapes most inexperienced engineers. Subatomic Pieces is correct that it is more than getting your level as close to 0 as possible, it's also in the relationships between gear in the same signal path.jckinnick wrote:Is it level setting, balanced cables, power conditioners?
Some other factors to consider is the noise generated by certain types of lighting as well as computer monitors and other electronic devices. Naturally guitar amps and other instruments will generate some noise of there own, too. Ultimately, I would start with your power and work your way through your connections to see if you can isolate the problem there. Once you have it figured out, let us know and we'll offer some solutions to correct it.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 81 guests