fizz/white noise

[[UEAK]Clowd]

So sometimes(not every time but more often than not) when I need to record something relatively quiet - like an acoustic guitar or soft voice - I am unable to turn it up loud enough without being bombarded with fizz/white noise.

I can't figure out what's causing it because sometimes it's not there at all and (most) other times it's extremely bad. If I turn off all the tube gear then it gets a little less extreme but it's still bad enough to not be able to record anything worthwhile.

Any ideas?

 

[Morgan C]

Are you just talking about mic/preamp noise? In which case that's inevitable.. 24bit helps a lot but its still going to be there.

If its something else.. can't help you, post a clip.

 

[Fox Mulder]

Simplistic me would ask you to check the cables before anything else.

 

[Trevoire520]

Best to know what your signal chain is. A crappy soundcard/cable/mic will lead to alot of noise, but even with my old setup of Red 5 audio mic's, stagg xlr cables and a yamaha aw16g I was able to mic acoustics without a terrible noise floor.

 

[[UEAK]Clowd]

AT4040 into either an ART Tube PAC or presonus firestudio pres - both make noise, the ART makes more - into an Echo Audiofire12.

If it's just mic/pre noise then it is pretty over the top. It's literally unusable to record and acoustic guitar.

 

[Trevoire520]

Shouldn't be getting too much noise from that setup at all tbh. The 4040 is a very high output mic so it rarely needs alot of gain. Try a different mic and a different cable to see if you can figure out the culprit.

 

[[UEAK]Clowd]

resurrection time.

http://fromheredown.com/noise.mp3

here's an example of the noise, it actually isn't nearly as bad here at home than it sounds at the studio.... weird?

it's most prominent right in the middle when that chord rings out and gets quiet, and at the very end when the guitar gets muted.

it's weird, some days it won't be there at all and other days it's like over the top.

 

[Harry Hughes]

Lasse wont be happy

 

[LeSedna]

Couldn't it be linked to a bad alimentation, even if it's not a 50/60Hz buzz ?

 

[AudioGeekZine]

what peak level are you tracking at? Try -12dB and compressing after, see if the noise is always there or just at the higher gain settings on the preamps.

Make sure it's not Preamp -> Preamp.
Balanced cables

 

[[UEAK]Clowd]

what peak level are you tracking at? Try -12dB and compressing after, see if the noise is always there or just at the higher gain settings on the preamps.

Make sure it's not Preamp -> Preamp.
Balanced cables

It's always there - in fact, I think it's even still there if I just plug a guitar right into the interface.

all my cables are balanced as well.

 

[ahjteam]

Try to track like this:

highpass filter "on" and no pad engaged -> preamp with as little additional gain applied as possible so that the peaks hit ~-20dB -> soundcard

Also try to switch off the lights and air conditioning. Do you still get that noise?

 

[gabriel g.]

In what way do you connect your speakers to your interface?
You get alot of noise by NOT using balanced cables or "stereo-klinke"

Record at -18dbfs with 44.100hz and 24bit

Then post a UNMASTERED clip please