Hissing

[botelito]

Hello everyone!

Im new here and glad i found you! Ive already been through some threads and finally decided to register!
I want to get into voice overs, so im trying to set up a decent recording studio. I know i cant set up a high end one, i just want to make the best of what i have.

So, lets start with my gear.
I have an m-audio fast track
behringer B1 mic
AKG K 131 MKII headphones

pc: amd 64x2 dual core 5600+ at 2,9 Ghz
6 gb ram
running on windows 7

I have a fan for the cpu cooler and my graphic card also has a fan on it.


So. The hissing noise.
What i have done so far:

I have a 6 meter cable for the mic so i took the mic far away from the pc. Nothing. (maybe its the cable? hold on)
I took the sound card as far from the pc i could (dunno if it matters, im bad at electronics xD )Nothing.
I unplugged the microphone only to realize that i can still hear the hissing sound ( i press "listen" on the recording devices menu)
So i figured, it has something to do with the pc and/or its power.
I took all the plugs out (modem, phone etc) and only plugged the pc and the monitor. Still Nothing.
I can still hear the hissing sound, with or without the mic plugged in, and also in recordings. Cause every time i changed something i recorded too , so i can see the difference.

I also cleaned my computer, the fans and even changed the thermal paste of the cpu.

I can still hear the hissing sound. Its a shame cause other then that, this house i live in now is quite quiet.
Id love to have some feedback. I will try to send a sample of the sound, but im sure everyone knows this anoyying sound way too well.

Thanks in advanced!

Pat

 

[mjbphotos]

Get 10 posts in the appropriate thread, and then upload a sound clip. What some people call a 'hiss' others call something else. A hiss wiht no mic plugged in means its inherent to the equipment (noise generated by something). Does the noise go away when you turn down the headphone volume? (assume you have the headphones plugged into the Fast Track).

 

[mclarensmps]

There could be many reasons for this hiss, but as stated above: A recording of the sound you are talking about is useful, because it will help narrow down the possible causes.

 

[botelito]

Thanks for the replies!
I'll make the posts.

The hiss appears when i press "listen" to the recording device and of course it appears when i record. So in order for me to check out where its coming from, i just pressed "listen" to the device with the mic unplugged and switched around the cables.
Yes, it does go down when i lower the headphone volume and yes i have the headphones plugged on my fast track.
and the noise DOES NOT go away when i turn down the mic gain, but it does when i turn down the mic levels from the windows7 recording device properties. I also have disabled the mic from the web cam i have. Just mentioning that.

I cant think of anything else that would help at the moment besides the track itself.

Thanks again for your replies!

 

[botelito]

This is interesting (for me at least)

I changed the sample rate from windows to studio quality 48000 , the hiss went away but it turned into a distortion and now whatever i play sounds distorted a bit. Also it gets worse when i turn the phantom power from the fast track on and off.


**edit, ok i did the same for the speakers, it went away . xD and with it, most of the hissing! I'll keep you updated!

Just thought that would help. Now im off to see where im supposed to post to get to 10 posts

 

[mjbphotos]

What DAW (recording software) are you using? The fact that you are adjusting the 'Windows recording device' mic levels looks like you may not have a DAW set up correctly.