Noise Floor

[Kovacic]

using a USB Mic, I am getting a high hiss noise floor, but I am not sure how to capture it so i can remove it. I am recording just vocals, and between the words and somewhat mixed in, you can hear it. I dont know if it is a drawback to the USB MIC or what, but I am hoping if I can get a clear sample of the noise floor, I can analyze it and remove it all together without affecting the vocals.

[NationalSandwic]

a USB mic?? ok... never heard of such a thing... anyway...

CEP has a function called noise reduction. effects/noise reduction/noise reduction

select a section of audio where you can only hear that high end hiss, in noise reduction click 'get profile from selection'. save that profile. select all the audio you want to remove hiss from. open up the noise reduction tool again, load the profile, click 'ok'. it's a pretty good reduction tool, but remember that any time you remove material from a recording, it's going to affect the quality of the audio too, not just the noise you're targeting.

try put a noise gate on your vocal tracks, so the track is silenced when there are no words. make sure your lookahead and release times are not too tight. effects/amplitude/dynamics processing. use this as an FX insert in multitrack mode; don't do a destructive change in Edit mode.

[thajeremy]

I would also add that when you do the noise reduction, there is a meter that allows you to add 0% to 100% of the reduction. Start with it low and work your way up towards 100%. Stop when it gets to the point that you can no longer hear the hiss...I am usually able to get rid of noises around 70%. Just as NationalSandwic said, when you remove stuff from your recording, the quality suffers, so you want to remove as little as possible but still get rid of your noise.

[Kovacic]

You guys are great! I cant wait to try it!

Thanks!

[Havoc]

What mic is that indeed? The Samson C01U or some Logitech karaoke desktop mic? That could make a serious difference.

The fact that Samson is completely silent about the noise performance makes me wonder as well. Getting a condensor running well from the 5V usb power must not be simple.

[BigRay]

They sound like ass generally speaking. Blue has one called the "snowball" for 140 bucks..maybe it would sound better???though for what it does it cant sound too good.

http://www.wwbw.com/Blue-Snowball-US...source=froogle

Originally Posted by NationalSandwic

a USB mic?? ok... never heard of such a thing... anyway...

CEP has a function called noise reduction. effects/noise reduction/noise reduction

select a section of audio where you can only hear that high end hiss, in noise reduction click 'get profile from selection'. save that profile. select all the audio you want to remove hiss from. open up the noise reduction tool again, load the profile, click 'ok'. it's a pretty good reduction tool, but remember that any time you remove material from a recording, it's going to affect the quality of the audio too, not just the noise you're targeting.

try put a noise gate on your vocal tracks, so the track is silenced when there are no words. make sure your lookahead and release times are not too tight. effects/amplitude/dynamics processing. use this as an FX insert in multitrack mode; don't do a destructive change in Edit mode.

[Kovacic]

Yes, I am using the The Samson C01U. About the condenser, I found a free tool that lets me use VST plugins on CEP, but only one at a time. The condenser seems to work well with that. I think I am going to try the noise reduction, then the compressor and see how that works.

Thank you all very much! I have alot to learn about CEP.

You guys rule!

[macbodock]

Originally Posted by Kovacic

using a USB Mic, I am getting a high hiss noise floor, but I am not sure how to capture it so i can remove it. I am recording just vocals, and between the words and somewhat mixed in, you can hear it. I dont know if it is a drawback to the USB MIC or what, but I am hoping if I can get a clear sample of the noise floor, I can analyze it and remove it all together without affecting the vocals.

~and~

Originally Posted by Kovacic

Yes, I am using the The Samson C01U. About the condenser, I found a free tool that lets me use VST plugins on CEP, but only one at a time. The condenser seems to work well with that. I think I am going to try the noise reduction, then the compressor and see how that works.

Thank you all very much! I have alot to learn about CEP.

You guys rule!

Kovacic,
The C01U is a very good choice for a USB Microphone it will serve you well. So let me understand your getting a "Hiss" in-between your vocals? Have you tried a foam wind guard this may help. I am using a "SnowBall" from blue and have no problem with a hiss (Of course I am using it with the -10db pad that cuts down on some of the surrounding echo and other noise). The only time I got a hiss in-between my vocals was when I used a digitalfish compressor it added some noise.

Warmest Regards,

[Kovacic]

I have a specially built sound room that is 98% quiet. I am also using a pop filter. So there is no wind in the room, but I do suspect that the fridge in the next room could be it. I cant hear it in there, but can the sound travel through a shag rug and the mic stand from the next room?

[ozpeter]

I'm afraid that the Samson usb mic is seriously noisy - a friend has one and was very disappointed. But admittedly that's comparing it with proper condenser mics, which it isn't - it's got an electret-type capsule which is always going to be noisier than a real condenser capsule.

[macbodock]

Originally Posted by Kovacic

I have a specially built sound room that is 98% quiet. I am also using a pop filter. So there is no wind in the room, but I do suspect that the fridge in the next room could be it. I cant hear it in there, but can the sound travel through a shag rug and the mic stand from the next room?

Kovacic,
WOW and you are still getting noise from the C01U. I use my SnowBall in my dinning room with hardwood floors, a brick wall no special treatment. I would assume that the noise you are getting is from the Fridge through the AC wire that your rig is plugged into. You might want to try unplugging the fridge and then record and see how it sounds. I think that there is even some typ of filter that you can plug into. Here is a basic AC Filter at Radio Shack. It seems that people want to "trash" what they do not know. I have read alot about the C01U and the SnowBall and they are good microphones, sometimes being an early adopter has it's issues. Hope this helps.

Warmest Regards,

[macbodock]

Originally Posted by ozpeter

I'm afraid that the Samson usb mic is seriously noisy - a friend has one and was very disappointed. But admittedly that's comparing it with proper condenser mics, which it isn't - it's got an electret-type capsule which is always going to be noisier than a real condenser capsule.

An Open Post To Ozpeter,
You might want to offer solutions instead of trashing someones hardware. If the C01U is not a proper condenser microphone because it's got an "electret-type capsule" and the user has a noise in his/her recordings, one would think that the fridge plugged in could possibly be what is causing the noise? You did not even try to answer the users post, but rather tell em how bad their hardware is. How helpful. I am the 1st to admit that I do not have all the answers and my hardware is not top of the line. My budget does not allow me to buy top line equipment or even a proper condenser microphone, but when it comes right down to it at least I am recording and attempting to do what I love.

Regards,