Recording Instruments BUZZ

[Dormyr]

I am trying to record Bass and Guitar through my Digidesign Mbox 2. I am DIing the instruments but there is a shocking amount of noise.

I know in a studio you'd have to use a DI box but I thought you didn't have to use them in this situation.

When I hold my hand over the strings, with the bass it's the G, it stops the buzz. It's really loud if I release making it pretty much unrecordable. My housemate said I need a Pre Amp, but the MBox has pre amps so I don't see how that would help.

PLEASE advise this is killing my recordings.

[Anfontan]

It sure sounds like something in the signal chain is ungrounded to me. You might check the AC outlets to see if one of them is the problem!

[tom18222]

yep. make sure everything is plugged into the same outlet.

[Roguetitan]

fluorescent lighting is bad about causing unwanted noise on recorded tracks
try not to use any other electrical appliances except your recording equipment during recording sessions this will help reduce/eleminate any line noises.

[rayc]

CRT screen on the computer can cause a LOT of interference - esp with single coil pick ups.
Have you tried turning away from the screen?

[nzausrec]

I have this problem occasionally with my cheap bass. It comes and goes. If it comes it has the effect of when I put a finger on a string the electric buzz stops. Strings open .. buzzzzzz.
I took off the pickguard and put alum foil throughout the inners and surrounded the pick ups too with foil and have it so the foil overlaps so no gaps. It did seem to cut down the noise about half.
So, some sort of grounding problem in the wiring etc of the cheap bass. It doesn't happen with my US Fender gat.