Question about Guitar Recording
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Posted on Feb 08, 2009 05:38 pm
Tanel
Member Since: Jan 22, 2009
When recording a high gain amp, especially at a louder volume, how do you get rid of the "hiss" type noise that comes from the amp even when it is silent, especially for moments in the song that need to be quiet this is important. Would i use some type of filter? If so is there one you could recommend possibly for free, or do I need to go through and automate those parts? Thanks
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Keith WarrenMans reach exceeds his graspMember
Since: Oct 23, 2007
Feb 08, 2009 06:42 pm I'm not an electric type of guy, so I have little experience with this sort of thing, but I personally would put a gate on it or lower the volume on the amp.
Are you micing up an amp, or using direct inputs to a soundcard? Your answer to that will make all the difference.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Feb 09, 2009 10:21 am Definitely use a noise gate. Either a VST plugin or a gate in your guitar rig itself.
I tend to use Steinberg's Dynamics plugin for its terrific noise gate. Or Fish Fillets has a free noise gate (Blockfish maybe?) that does a good job. Both have the ability to set a "listen" frequency, plus a threshold and hold time. Both are very configurable and capable.
Put the gate first in the chain of effects, and definitely put it before any reverbs or delays. Otherwise it might chop off the tails of these effects.
I generally gate almost every track in my projects. Especially guitars and vocals, so that they're always completely silent when tacet. It really helps the overall background noise to stay very low.
TanelMember
Since: Jan 22, 2009
Feb 23, 2009 01:52 pm thanks for the help, i was advised to just go through and scrub the track myself, but i was hoping that there would be a quicker way to do it. i am using a gate on the amp, however it doesn't take all the hiss away from what the amp itself produces, and as i am micing it, it poses a problem, i will try the gates on the software though. thanks again.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Feb 23, 2009 05:14 pm Well, if a hardware gate is not taking all the hiss away then I'm thinking the amp might be turned up a bit too loud.
When recording high gain sounds it isn't necessary to have it at ear splitting volume. Most pre amps can be made to break up with a pretty mellow volume setting.
What amp are you using?
Dematrixhttp://www.reverbnation.com/2ndgMember
Since: Nov 27, 2007
Feb 23, 2009 06:21 pm If yer using a pedal, make sure the vol of the pedal isnt turned all the way up.
Turn it down till it goes away.
also some power point can do this.
some in my house make more noise than others. eg; i have a flourescent light in one room that makes quite a bit of noise in the chain. dodgey wiring of course.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Feb 23, 2009 06:33 pm Ah yes, good point on the grounding issue Deon.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Feb 24, 2009 09:57 am Yes preamps break up easily at low volumes, but if you're using a tube amp then its best to push the power section pretty hard to get power tube saturation. Its pretty unavoidable to have some hiss when recording loud, distorted guitars.
But the good news is that the difference in signal strength between the hiss while tacet and the guitar while playing will allow for a software gate to be very effective in clamping down on the hiss while leaving the guitar playing unscathed.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Feb 24, 2009 09:19 pm So true Tadpui, so true.
