Getting Rid of Hiss etc...

[pretzston]

I am a newbie at PC recording.

I am running the following...

Behringer B1/Audio Tech dynamic ---> Audio Buddy ---> Tascam 424 4 track ---> Sound Blaster Live / PC ---> Cool Edit Pro 2

I am however hearing a fair bit of hiss... and this hiss is coming from even just the behringer b1/audio buddy/tascam stand alone.

so.. I am wondering... while I can continue to screw with decreasing the hiss physically (any suggestions are welcome) what about the option of decreasing eliminating stuff like that via programs and all inside programs?

what programs? how etc? any info would be appreciated!

[Stealthtech]

Sounds like record trim and gain problems along with the inevitable tape hiss.
If you go digital you can eliminate some of that.

[pretzston]

well...

I am just running through the 4 track as a mixer and not taping with it.

trim is down mostly, using a bit of the preamp... to compensate but still getting some hiss.

[Stealthtech]

Could be that ol Soundcraper and 1/8" input
A soundcard upgrade would improve things.

[drstawl]

Originally posted by pretzston
well...
I am just running through the 4 track as a mixer and not taping with it. trim is down mostly, using a bit of the preamp... to compensate but still getting some hiss.

I used my 4-track in the same way while using the PC to record on a soundcard that had a -90dB noise floor.

Major Hiss City.

It most certainly is the 4-track. The Behringer has GOT to be quieter than what you are describing as should the SoundBlaster.

But just for shits and giggles try an A/B test like this:

Plug in the mic pre/424 and the Soundblaster with no mic connected but the gain(s) set like you would have it set.
Record a few seconds of mono input with no mic connected and save the .wav as a MONO .wav file.

Then disconnect the input from the Soundblaster and repeat the experiment saving the file under a different but related name.

Open up the two as left and right in a stereo .wav editor and you will know the answer.