Guitar Hiss on Recording

[XemoXmoshXpitX]

I just recorded a rhythm guitar track, and there's a lot of hiss (Audacity). I lowered the gain levels and used the compressor, but it's still a bit hissy. Any websites or advice that would help?

EDIT: I ran the guitar through one of my PA mixer's channels if that means anything. Then I ran the mixer into the line in.

[moaner]

the compressor will make it worse.

have the guitarist as far awy from anyhting electrical as possible, and use a hum destoryer if all else fails. behringer have one due soon.

[aguywithaguitar]

try using sound foundry's noise reduction
http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/Products/ShowProduct.asp?PID=14

[cgecko1219]

the compressor will make it worse.

have the guitarist as far awy from anyhting electrical as possible, and use a hum destoryer if all else fails. behringer have one due soon.
How far is a good distance from electronic items that I should keep the guitar/mic to have least possible hiss? Right now I'm about 3 feet from my computer, and the mic/amp is about 2.5 feet from the computer and me in an 8x10 room

[Moseph]

Also, try moving around in different locations while you play guitar. Face in different directions in each spot. Find the combination of position and orientation that reduces the hum the most.

There are a few other common problems that you can try to fix as well.

Do you have cables running near the computer? Signal is run through those, so if they're contaminated, so is your end result.

Do you have halogen lights? Do they have dimmers? Fluorescent lights and dimmers tend to cause EM radiation that can contaminate signals. Leave those lights completely off while recording and see if that helps. You can get halogen lights/lanterns to light the room for pretty cheap if those other sources are causing problems.

Is your guitar clean by itself? Is your amp causing problems? Isolate things in the chain and see if they hum by themselves. You can purchase stomp boxes that get rid of hum, but they're fairly expensive, and don't work miracles: the best is to find the problem and get rid of it.

Power sources can also cause problems in rare cases. Try to run all your gear off the same breaker circuit in the building (including lights, monitors, etc). Also, keep cables away from power cables, they can induce noisy current in your signal. If the wall has "dirty" power, you can get a spike supression system/surge protector for around $150 US, which is actually a deal when you also consider that it protects your gear as well as cleans up your sound. In extreme cases, you may need to make sure that all cables (power/signal/whatever) either don't cross, or only cross at right angles (it has to do w/ induction).

[himynameistweek]

when i record i can't get more than about 3 and a half feet away from my computer, so i just leave a little bit of blank time at the beginning and right after i hit record, i turn off the moniter. the static coming off the screen is what causes most of that hum, and it's there unless you get a good 10 feet away with your back turned. if you go with a noise gate, you'll have to get a fairly high end one or else it will dull your tone.

[gaz12369]

when i record i can't get more than about 3 and a half feet away from my computer, so i just leave a little bit of blank time at the beginning and right after i hit record, i turn off the moniter. the static coming off the screen is what causes most of that hum, and it's there unless you get a good 10 feet away with your back turned. if you go with a noise gate, you'll have to get a fairly high end one or else it will dull your tone.


I think this only happens with CRT monitors (the big old style), with LCD's its not a problem.

[moaner]

I think this only happens with CRT monitors (the big old style), with LCD's its not a problem.

LCD monitors aren't very common... The majority of people (especially using simple home PCs) will get hum from their monitors.

[himynameistweek]

i don't know what that means... but i bought mine about 6 months ago. i get the same problem playing near my mom's computer and my dad's computer.

[airborne50caliber]

do you have a flattish screen or a bigass deep screen?

[cgecko1219]

do you have a flattish screen or a bigass deep screen?
I have one of those bigger monitors in my room but the computer in my living room is an flatscreen

According to moaner the one in my room (where I record) will produce hiss when on?

[airborne50caliber]

the bigger ones = more interference. flatscreen = good.

[El-Ahrairah]

I just recorded a rhythm guitar track, and there's a lot of hiss (Audacity). I lowered the gain levels and used the compressor, but it's still a bit hissy. Any websites or advice that would help?

EDIT: I ran the guitar through one of my PA mixer's channels if that means anything. Then I ran the mixer into the line in.

The question is, what line in? Do you have Sound On Board? If you are one of the unlucky guys owning an Asus A7333 board (or whatever it was called) you can straightly forget to ever record something halfway decent with your onboard card, as these onboard cards have a constant hissing you cannot get rid of, unless you use a frequency filter, which also affects the tone and makes it sound synthetic.

I have a similar problem and am considering buying a decend recording soundcard, such as the M-Audio Delta 66.

If your soundcard has a CMedia CMI8738 chip you will never be able to record without hissing. I know people who said they achieved mediocre results by putting condensators (??) in front of the input, but unfortunately, I can't tell more.

[Striker62]

I have one of those bigger monitors in my room but the computer in my living room is an flatscreen

According to moaner the one in my room (where I record) will produce hiss when on?

The Big monitors (CRT monitors) = ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ LCD Flatscreen or Big monitor off = Get the point? i have to turn mine of or my gibson goes crazy especially with alot of gain.

[airborne50caliber]

yeah eliminate all sources off intereference. turning lamps off and big ac cable runs off helps too.