Can't record my takamine acoustic-eclectric without excess noise!

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Member Since: Feb 27, 2005

I have a tascam dp-01 fx and I can't record direct without alot of noise. I have used my dbx mini-preamp coming out with a xlr connector. I went and bought a groove tube passive direct box and it didn't help at all. When I record my electric guitar or use my mic they are crystal clear but my acoustic direct is very noisy. I saw that there are active direct boxes....Could this help?

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Member
Since: Jul 02, 2003


Feb 27, 2005 03:04 pm

What type of noise? Distortion or Hum?

Dan

Member
Since: Feb 27, 2005


Feb 27, 2005 05:52 pm

definitely hum. I am not using any effects.

Member
Since: Jul 02, 2003


Feb 27, 2005 07:12 pm

Well the peizo pickup(s) used with most acoustic guitars are very sensitive to inteference, so make sure your no where near your computer, monitor, possibly even the tascam, or other noise inducing things like power cords, speakers etc. Other than that it's possible you have a bad cable.

Dan

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Feb 28, 2005 09:11 am

flourescent lights, dimmer switches as well.

I've seen where power wires running inside of walls will give off interference, you could walk up to the wall and it gets louder.

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Feb 28, 2005 10:54 am

why not just mic the acoustic guitar? It'll sound much better that way anyways.

also, if it only occurs when using your acoustic/electric, then I'd place the fault in the preamp on that guitar. Make sure that it has a fresh battery and that the cable (both electrical cables inside the guitar and the instrument cable connecting it to the mixer) is in good shape.

...wait a second...you say that you go out from your Takamine a/e, into a dbx preamp, then into one of the mic inputs on your Tascam? My Takamine a/e has a built-in preamp that takes a 9V battery. Then you're feeding it into another preamp (the dbx), then into another preamp (the mic input on the Tascam). No wonder it's so noisy! You're going thru 3 preamps, and each one that your signal passes through will introduce more noise.

I still recommend micing it tho...

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Feb 28, 2005 12:54 pm

i second everything Tadpui just said....if you're lookin' for a little 'warmth' from the outboard pre, you can set your recorders pre to unity, then set the pre on the guitar to unity (or not to taste), then use the dbx as your main gain stage...you'd hafta really play with this to get a good signal to noise ratio though...

but i bet the mic >dbx > tascam will sound much nicer

wyd

Member
Since: Feb 27, 2005


Mar 01, 2005 12:40 pm

Thanks to all. I do like the mic sound better but I was trying to go direct as well(recording on two channels at once)to get a fuller sound. Maybe two mics? Thanks again.

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