4 track hiss whilst recording

[Love & Light]

Ok, I got myself a wee 4-track for Christmas. I record the first track ok, then I record the next track while monitoring the 1st....everythings going well so far. When I get to the 3rd track there is a large amount of hiss whenever I hit the record button. Sometimes its so loud I cant hear the previous two tracks. However, this hiss does not appear on the playback. What is this and how do I stop the hiss during recording so I can monitor the first 2 or 3 tracks effectively?

Any help would be appreciated!!

 

[hasbeen]

What kind of recorder? What (inst,drums,vox) are you recording? What type of inputs, cables?

 

[Rokket]

If it's an anolog 4 track, that hiss is probably natural. I own a Tascam MF-P01 and had a Fostex X-12, and both of them did this when I was recording. It's something I had to deal with. I turned up the faders on the other tracks in order to monitor them when I was laying that 3rd track. You will notice it gets progressively louder as you add tracks. You can compensate for it a bit by turning down the master volume and turning up the faders on the other tracks.

 

[Mark7]

Erm. Are you using the noise reduction?

Do you have the channel and master stereo faders at Unity Gain (in the shaded area on most models)?

Are you using the correct tape (usually high bias type II)?

Are you remembering to disarm already recorded on tracks before moving onto the next track?

Are you remembering to switch the select switch in any channels you aren't using to record to OFF?

How are you monitoring previously recorded tracks?

 

[Love & Light]

If it's an anolog 4 track, that hiss is probably natural. I own a Tascam MF-P01 and had a Fostex X-12, and both of them did this when I was recording.

Its a Tascam MFP-01 so I guess this is something I have to deal with due to the fact its a bottom of the line 4-track.

Mark,

- There is no noise reduction function
- No gain, just track level (?)
- Yup, Im using Type II
- I can only record one track
- Im monitoring using earphones.

Anyway, I appreciate the help but I reckon Im gonna have to live with it like Rokket says.....or else save a few pennies for a digital machine!

 

[Rokket]

Its a Tascam MFP-01 so I guess this is something I have to deal with due to the fact its a bottom of the line 4-track.

Mark,

- There is no noise reduction function
- No gain, just track level (?)
- Yup, Im using Type II
- I can only record one track
- Im monitoring using earphones.

Anyway, I appreciate the help but I reckon Im gonna have to live with it like Rokket says.....or else save a few pennies for a digital machine!

It's not the bottom, actually. There are others that are worse. It's got a really warm tone, and even though you can only do 4 tracks on it, it's a nice machine to learn on.