get rid of amp noise/hum

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stupidfatnugly

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anybody know any secrets to minimizing the amount of amp noise that gets recorded?
 
stupidfatnugly said:
anybody know any secrets to minimizing the amount of amp noise that gets recorded?
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This is something that really pisses me off too. It depends on the guitar and the amp.

If you like running your amp hot with the gain cranked up, there's not alot that you can do - you're raising the amps noise floor.

As for guitars, Humbuckers don't produce as much extraneous noise as coils (nature of the beats and all that). Some pickup configurations are quieter than others; single coils wound out of phase for instance (positions 2 and 4 on a strat, traditionally). Also, whether or not the control cavity is shielded can play a part.

Finally, other electronic items in the room can contribute to hum...computer monitors, certain types of lighting etc.
 
the place to start is have the amp serviced... there's all kinds things that can add bits of noise that can add up to too much... perhaps a noise gate???
 
Gate it. this is assuming that you only hear the hum when the guitar is not playing.
 
If the noise goes up with the volume of the amp there's not much you can do besides gating and checking your equipment.

If the noise doesn't raise with the volume, turn up the amp to maximize the volume difference between the played guitar and the hum/noise.

Cords can sometimes make a big difference. You can always try a ground lift as well.

F.S.
 
Noise Gate? do I have a plug-in of this in protools? I think so but I don't know how to use it.

what's a ground lift?

the amp is 3 weeks old so I don't think it needs servicing.

my amp has a direct out and I'm just using that to record (no miking)
why do I get noise when I go direct?
 
stupidfatnugly said:
Noise Gate? do I have a plug-in of this in protools? I think so but I don't know how to use it.
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I don't know if you have one. It's easy to use, it's just like an adjustable switch that you set to shut off all sound below a certain volume. So when you are not playing it goes quiet. The problem is when you have things that ring or fade out. It will ring out to a certain point and then just shut off. Depending on the music, it can be very obvious.

stupidfatnugly said:
what's a ground lift?
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A ground lift is one of those adapters that you use to plug a grounded 110V plug into a non-grounded wall socket. You just don't screw down the tab to the outlet cover.

stupidfatnugly said:
the amp is 3 weeks old so I don't think it needs servicing.
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It could just be the way that amp is. Are you using a good signal cable going from the amp to your input? Your guitar cord can make a big difference too. You can also turn on the amp and go around turning lights on and off as well as other things to see if that makes a difference. Sometimes things like floresent lights, ceiling fans, etc can be causing the issue.

stupidfatnugly said:
my amp has a direct out and I'm just using that to record (no miking)
why do I get noise when I go direct?
Click to expand...

You should be getting the noise either way. If not then the problem lies somewhere between the preamp output of the amp and the input of your soundcard.

Some amps are just noisier than others. The quality of the amp can make a huge difference. The noise level and whether or not it goes up and down with the overall volume are things you should look at when purchasing an amp.

I'm not saying it is for sure the amp. You need to track it down by unplugging everything from the amp and seeing if the noise goes away or gets significantly better. You could have a bad cord, a bad ground in your guitar, a noise source in your room etc.


Good Luck.

F.S.
 
Freudian Slip said:
a ground lift is one of those adapters that you use to plug a grounded 110V plug into a non-grounded wall socket. You just don't screw down the tab to the outlet cover.
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I would only use this if my receptacle didn't have a ground then, right?
 
stupidfatnugly said:
I would only use this if my receptacle didn't have a ground then, right?
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Yes. But you also use it if you have a ground loop, which you might have.

If the noise is a low hum, it's probably a ground loop. Get a 3 prong to 2 prong adapter and see if that helps. They are normally less than $1.

If the noise is more of a SSSHHHHH sort of sound, you are just stuck with it and need to try the gate.
 
OK I'll try that

would I have less of this noise if I got one of those really nice DI boxes

I've heard of sansamp and countryman would those do the trick?
 
The sansamp is a DI AND amp simulator, so you wouldn't need your amp. The countryman would work, but you could get away with a simple passive DI. Assuming you have line inputs on your interface, you really don't need a DI to come out of your line out. The only thing a DI would do is isolate the ground.
 
dude you seem new to this. so DO NOT mess with mains wiring.. in the uk equipment without an earth is DEADLY.. with an earth it wont kill you (if your healthy) but will give you one hell of a suprise !!!

if your playing a guitar and get a shock you instantly grip tighter,you wont be able to let go... so your litrely toast !!!

try using a notch filter in your software (there should be presets for 50 and 60 cycle hums) with a gate....
 
cakewalkKaKed said:
dude you seem new to this. so DO NOT mess with mains wiring.. in the uk equipment without an earth is DEADLY.. with an earth it wont kill you (if your healthy) but will give you one hell of a suprise !!!

if your playing a guitar and get a shock you instantly grip tighter,you wont be able to let go... so your litrely toast !!!

try using a notch filter in your software (there should be presets for 50 and 60 cycle hums) with a gate....
Click to expand...

Ground lifts are standard equipment to have with you on gigs just in case you have a ground issue.

For years we did not even have grounded circuits in homes and there are still plenty that don't. I have yet to be electricuted.


F.S.
 
It is grounded through the computer. (that's the problem) The only way for him to get electrocuted is if he becomes a better path to ground than the cable between his amp and the interface. If that was possible, he wouldn't have a ground loop.
 
my amp has a ground lift switch on it, I just noticed so it probably sounds as good as it's gonna get.

do you get noise with a sansamp, then?

"The sansamp is a DI AND amp simulator, so you wouldn't need your amp. The countryman would work, but you could get away with a simple passive DI. Assuming you have line inputs on your interface, you really don't need a DI to come out of your line out. The only thing a DI would do is isolate the ground."

I'm lost as to what this means. I HAVE THE MBOX2 FOR AN INTERFACE which has line inputs, correct? don't all interfaces have those?
 
Cut down on the frecuencys in the recorded track put the low and hi at a certan frequency and slowly work your way down till its more quiet, it can also give the guitar a tighter sound
 
There are two uses for a direct box.

1. Isolation. It electrically isolated the input from the output of the DI, so you don't get ground loops ans stuff like that.

2. impedance matching. Taking high impedance line signal and changes it to a low imedance mic signal

All I'm saying is that you should just be able to plug the line out into the line in without a DI. However, you seem to have a ground loop problem so you might need to get one to isolate. You would plug the DI into the mic input of the m-box.
 
if you're trying to get rid of buzz on a track you've already recorded, and it's consistent buzz, you could try the "phase reversal" trick. copy just buzz to a separate track, then reverse the phase. never had to try this, but some phase cancelation should occur...therefore, knocking down the apparent volume of the buzz.
 
I've been doing some reading and it seems like there is some kind of noise reduction unit. hard ware or software that I can buy

somebody said something about it on another post

what is it?
 
stupidfatnugly said:
I've been doing some reading and it seems like there is some kind of noise reduction unit. hard ware or software that I can buy

somebody said something about it on another post

what is it?
Click to expand...
It depends. There are noise gates and there are Hush-type units. Neither one will work for a ground loop. They are used to get rid of feedback and hiss that comes from having too much gain.

Do you hear the hum through the amps speaker when it is plugged into the interface, when you aren't plugged into the interface, or both?
 
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