does anyone have a recording of the 60 hertz hum?

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iovaykind

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i get a low pitched noise in some of my recordings but i don't know if its the 60 hertz hum, has anyone recorded it as reference for noobs like me? and if it is, how do i get rid of it? i read an article saying i should remove electrical wires, and not have my cables run parallel to it, but i haven't tried it yet..any ideas?

thanks,
iovaykind
 
I don't have a recording, but there's a couple of ways you can determine what you got. First would be to use a parametric EQ band, set it to narrow width ("high Q") and using the frequency control, slowly sweep through the low frequencies until the sound is knocked down. Read your frequency setting at that point and it'll tell you the frequency of the hum.

The hum may have more than one frequency component; e.g. there may be harmonics in there as well. A second method which would help ID it in this regard is to use a frequency spectrum analyzer. Most DAW software comes with a plug for this. But there is also a free one available from Voxengo called "Span" (www.voxengo.com). Play back a quiet part of the track where the hum is relatively isolated (e.g. the few seconds at the beginning of a track before the instrument starts) and look at the analyzer display for ominous bumps in the frequency curve.

Common causes for a 60Hz hum are a bad ground or a bad cable somehwere in your signal chain, proximity to neon or florescent light fixtures, or audio cables running close to and parallel to AC cables.

HTH,

G.
 
or if you are in a basement, like i am, the walls might have been slapped up all messed up, and the electric might have been ran like crap, and more problems there, possibly..
 
Dimmer switches on the lights are usually the worst offenders.
 
TragikRemix said:
or if you are in a basement, like i am, the walls might have been slapped up all messed up, and the electric might have been ran like crap, and more problems there, possibly..

How's it run? Just wondering :)

iovaykind, try taking a mica cable and crossing it across an amp power cable or something, you may hear it there. That's the only experience I accidentally had with it.
 
iovaykind said:
i get a low pitched noise in some of my recordings but i don't know if its the 60 hertz hum, has anyone recorded it as reference for noobs like me? and if it is, how do i get rid of it? i read an article saying i should remove electrical wires, and not have my cables run parallel to it, but i haven't tried it yet..any ideas?

thanks,
iovaykind
Hold your finger to the hot side of your line or mic input and I think you will hear the 60 cycle hum good and loud.
Art
 
asulger said:
Hold your finger to the hot side of your line or mic input and I think you will hear the 60 cycle hum good and loud.
Art

Good answer! Just stick a 1/4" cable into any amp or mixer channel and touch the tip of the other end with your finger. Also makes a handy dandy cable tester.
 
does anyone have a recording of the 60 hertz hum?


I do but it is out being mastered.
 
I don't have a recording of 60hz hum, but for those who do: Can you recommend a condenser mic that would be good for recording 60hz hum? something for under $100?
 
Anybody know how to take the vocals out of a 60hz hum?
 
Mixxit12 said:
Anybody know how to take the vocals out of a 60hz hum?
Oh yeah, that's a great tune! From Wikipedia:

"How To Take the Vocals (Out Of A 60Hz Hum)"
Recorded in 1972 by The Homewreckers and released by ABC/Dunhill as a "B" side to their top 300 hit, "What Compression Ratio Do You Use, Baby?"


G.
 
cubase

my cubase LE has something called a grungilizer. You can set it to add a 50Hz or 60Hz hum. It's for making your recording sound like an old record.

maybe you can find the grungilizer as a plug in and download for not too much $$$.

(Assuming you're recording on computer)

and no, I'm not making this up. ;)

Obi -Wan yrraB evaD

[wow. my hundredth post. woot.]
 
Last edited:
SouthSIDE Glen said:
Oh yeah, that's a great tune! From Wikipedia:

"How To Take the Vocals (Out Of A 60Hz Hum)"
Recorded in 1972 by The Homewreckers and released by ABC/Dunhill as a "B" side to their top 300 hit, "What Compression Ratio Do You Use, Baby?"


G.

Hahahaha, wonderful!
 
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