My soundcard has a lot of hiss!!!

[ntracker]

Hey everyone,

I am starting to record some tracks at home and I started trying n-track (a nice mixer) but I experienced a lot of crashes on my computer using that. Then I tried Samplitude but it freezes my computer everytime my tracks reachs about 2 minutes of playing. I tried Cool Edit too but didn´t like its style. Finally I tried Cubase and I am enjoying it (for a while it isn´t annoying me...).
Well, as I am recording and pre-mixing using my headphone (an old Koss HV-1 with about 20 years old - cool phones!) I realized that I am getting a lot of noise, meanly "hiss".
I have almost aboslute certain that the guilty if my soundcard (a Genius 5.1), but I need some confirmation.
Is that a bad bad BAD BAAAAAD card?
Which card you suggest that have low hiss and low price????

Thank you!!!

PS: My system is an Athlon XP 1600+, 512 MB, 40GB, nothing on-board, attached to a hi-fi system with good monitors (JBL like).

[jitteringjim]

Try going into the control panels (windows and the soundcard) and disabling all inputs that you don't need for recording ie: cdrom sound input, mic input, whatever. Those open analog ports can introduce a lot of noise into your recordings.

[Bass Master "K"]

I have never heard of that soundcard, which is a bit unusual since I like to think I keep up with that sort of stuff, but it may not be the culprit altogether.

A few things to add to jitteringjim's good advice:

1) You say your monitoring through a Hi-Fi device...I take it this is a stereo. This is not the optimal setup and the hiss very well could be coming from the connection of the hi-fi device to the soundcard, or the device itself. If you can press a CDR and play it on a different stereo that may answer your question right there. Lot's of hiss....keep looking. No hiss....it's your hookup.

2) See if your soundcard accomadates both consumer and pro level inputs. If you have inputs set to pro and your using consumer grade outputting devices that will heavily degrade your sound.

3) Check every single cable that is plugged into your setup. Make sure the plugs are tightly screwed and look for severe nicks in them.

4) Make sure your recording your tracks at as hot of a possible level as possible without clipping. This one is a biggie.

Check this stuff out as well as input from others here, and if your still running into trouble, let us know and I am sure we can all recommend great soundcards for you.

***********************************************

Jim- I played your music for my drummer. For some reason he thought you were a local guy that I got a CD from, not someone over the net. He immediately said "Dude...this guys voice rocks! Let's get him in and do a project." I told him it was a little tough since you live in the South. He told me to tell you he wants you to move to Portland.

Anyhow, it's great stuff...your a true talent. Hope your able to do stuff with it. I have picky ears and almost never go out of my way to compliment someone like this, but you really have something going on. If you ever find yourself in Oregon, message me.

[jitteringjim]

Originally posted by Bass Master "K"
I have never heard of that soundcard, which is a bit unusual since I like to think I keep up with that sort of stuff, but it may not be the culprit altogether.

A few things to add to jitteringjim's good advice:

1) You say your monitoring through a Hi-Fi device...I take it this is a stereo. This is not the optimal setup and the hiss very well could be coming from the connection of the hi-fi device to the soundcard, or the device itself. If you can press a CDR and play it on a different stereo that may answer your question right there. Lot's of hiss....keep looking. No hiss....it's your hookup.

2) See if your soundcard accomadates both consumer and pro level inputs. If you have inputs set to pro and your using consumer grade outputting devices that will heavily degrade your sound.

3) Check every single cable that is plugged into your setup. Make sure the plugs are tightly screwed and look for severe nicks in them.

4) Make sure your recording your tracks at as hot of a possible level as possible without clipping. This one is a biggie.

Check this stuff out as well as input from others here, and if your still running into trouble, let us know and I am sure we can all recommend great soundcards for you.

***********************************************

Jim- I played your music for my drummer. For some reason he thought you were a local guy that I got a CD from, not someone over the net. He immediately said "Dude...this guys voice rocks! Let's get him in and do a project." I told him it was a little tough since you live in the South. He told me to tell you he wants you to move to Portland.

Anyhow, it's great stuff...your a true talent. Hope your able to do stuff with it. I have picky ears and almost never go out of my way to compliment someone like this, but you really have something going on. If you ever find yourself in Oregon, message me.

Damn, man - you're making me blush.
It's a pretty good high though when folks dig what you do -

e-mail me sometime if you and your drummer want to collaborate on something. I was pretty busy over the summer, and wasn't able to get much done, but things are opening up a little now. I've started charting some new original tunes, and a few classics just for fun. I'm a bit sleep deprived, but what the hell.
Thanks again.