dbx 286A is causing problems

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tannerest56

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I have my dbx 286A preamp/processor hooked up to my computer with a 1/4" to usb cable. I am recording with Acoustica Mixcraft, but there is a constant hiss/static noise and it won't go away even if I unplug the input to the preamp or with any configuration to the dials. What is the cheapest way to get rid of this hissy static?
 
What 1/4 > USB cable are you talking about???

Some kind of inline converter???

The dBx is an analog unit. It doesn't output anything digital. Take the output from the dBx and route it into the input of your soundcard.
 
The cord is an Alesis LineLink AudioLink Series Dual-1/4-inch-to-USB-Cable. I'm not sure what an inline converter is. I have always used a USB chord for my mics to plug directly into my computer so I have never used the sound card input, where can I go to learn more about that? My laptop doesn't really have anything compatible with a 1/4 cable.
 
I'm wondering what level of signal is coming out of that preamp, and what level of signal that cable is prepared to handle.

I looked at the manual for that preamp, and it seems the only control you have for padding the output is the output gain control knob on the far right. Do you still get hiss if you turn it all the way down?

What kind of power supply are you using on the pramp? Is it the power cable that came with it? Is it an ioslated power supply?
 
I still get the hiss even if the output gain control knob is in the off position. I still get the hiss even when all the knobs are turned to the off position and even if I don't have a mic plugged in (when I hit record and no mic is plugged in and all the knobs are off, it still records a static hiss).

So I know the problem with my set up has to be the connection from the preamp to my computer. I'm guessing its because I'm supposed to connect to the sound card and not use a USB, but I'm pretty new to recording so I don't know how. I've always used USB.
 
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