cut background noise

[anywhither]

hi all.
I've got problem with my mic tracking.
I record Voice and acoustic guitar in bed room,so there are many noise during recording the track.
anyone knows how to remove those background noise?
or it doesn't have a way to cut them,because it's Home recording?HAHA

[justwantyou2kno]

Are you recording onto your computer? What software are you using?

[TexRoadkill]

Anything that removes background noise during the parts you are playing will also remove those frequencies from the instrument. You're better off recording when everyone is gone, unplug the fridge, turn off the AC, etc.

[anywhither]

Originally posted by justwantyou2kno
Are you recording onto your computer? What software are you using?

Yes,computer.
Im using Sonar.2

[anywhither]

Originally posted by TexRoadkill
Anything that removes background noise during the parts you are playing will also remove those frequencies from the instrument. You're better off recording when everyone is gone, unplug the fridge, turn off the AC, etc.

I try to record when everyone is gone,turn off anything.
but i still hear some air sound?!it's loud that I can hear

[c7sus]

That is your room you are hearing. And probably noise from your pre and computer on top of that.

Try building a little space with blankets strung across booms laid horizontal. If your room is bare walls or other hard surfaces you're gonna have flutter problems and short little weird echos everywhere. Try blankets on either side of you and one BEHIND THE MIC. That should stop some stuff from bouncing off the walls and back into your takes.

If you have a walk-in closet full of clothes that will be a pretty dead space to try vocal takes in.

Another way to cut the noise floor is to close-mic exclusively. That will get some of the room out of the equation. And you won't need as much gain from your pre so that will be quieter too. (Hopefully) If you can get your computer out of your tracking room that will help too.

Good luck.

[ted88]

Try putting your computer in your closet, or another room. Your computer is undoubtedly a source of noise. You absolutely cannot have a condenser mic AND a computer in the same room.

As far as that goes, anything else with a fan (amps, etc.) have to go as well. This is not difficult, you just connect your keyboard to your computer with a long USB cable and move the computer right on out of the room. Monitors are not usually noisy enough to introduce any serious artifacts to your recrded signal. However, you should check out any other electronic equipment that is plugged in. They can sometimes emit an electronic hum, even when they are turned off.

But really, you have to get your CPU out of your room.

[willovercome]

Originally posted by c7sus
If you have a walk-in closet full of clothes that will be a pretty dead space to try vocal takes in.

i just have a regular closet, but i've hung some thick blankets around it and it makes pretty good vocal booth. i can't hear the CPU at all.

[anywhither]

I tried to stand away from my computer during tracking.
but I still got some "air sound"!?and I used Close-miking.
I need to switch alot gain of mic pre...is it beacuse I give too much gain?
but if I don't do that,the sound is too low.I use the mic-pre in mixer(Behringer MX 602)..or is it beacause its mic pre too suck?hehe

anyway,I tried another method that got a better result.
I used a plug-in(Waves X - Noise) to cut some noise.
it helps me to cut alot background noise.
it's a better way for me to do it in this moment.
but I prefer a transparent track than using plug-in to cut them.

[TexRoadkill]

The preamp and mic quality will definately affect the amount of hiss on the track. Is it a hiss problem or is actual noise?

The problem with noise removal plugins is that they usually kill your presence and if used too agressively you end up with a bunch of swirly sounding artifacts on the high end.

There is always some amount of noise or hiss so don't be too critical about it. It's only rock and roll (or close enough for jazz). I'd rather have a little noise and a full tone then a muffled but clean track.

[StevenLindsey]

I have judiciously used a Behringer Denoiser with some success. If you can cut the background noise on a few tracks, those with high gain levels like bass or guitar, it helps immensely. It works well even when micing an acoustic if it's a loud strumming part. I use the expander as a gate on some vocals too. Every little bit of noise you can cut really helps when you start mixing them up. I know that this piece is frowned upon around here, but it is really a useful device if you set it up right and don't overdo it. Check it out. It's cheap.