How can I minimize tape hiss?

  • Thread starter Thread starter timandjes
  • Start date Start date
T

timandjes

New member
After several months of trial & error, (emphasis on error), & using the advice of many of you on this sight, I made my best recording yet this week. I handed the tape out to a few people and their comments were that the tape is very well balanced between vocal & instruments and that the quality is as good as any they've ever heard.... While I appreciate that,... I disagree.. I'm very happy with the vocal/instrument balance and general tonality but still, there's a bit much tape hiss. I know analog is known for a little tape his, but I think I'm getting a little more than I should. I'm not sure if this is a new problem, or if it's been there all along but since I've applied so much of the advice from this sight, I've simply cleaned up everything else so now it's noticeable.

In my Tascam user manual, it says that when an electric instrument with it's own volume control is lined into a track, the trim of that track shouldn't be increased very much; if at all. I've also received advice that tracks should be recorded hot to minimize noise.... Well, when my electric piano is lined in, even with it's volume nearly maxed out, I have to raise the trim of that track quite a bit to get a hot signal. At times when I have to pick one or the other, should I follow the, "don't raise the trim," advice or the, "record a hot signal," advice? I did raise the trim to about mid-way to get the signal occasionally peaking & I'm wondering if that's the source of my extra tape hiss.

Also, advice I've received suggested that with analog, if high eq is needed, it should be used @ the time the individual track is recorded instead of @ mix-down because raising hi eq @ mix-down raises analog's normal tape hiss along with the music. So, that's the way I recorded. Also, I made this recording in a bedroom. Could the less-than-studio-characteristics of that room have attributed to my tape hiss?

Lastly, my Tascam 414 only has only two eq controls for each track, a high & low, unlike the Tascam 424 which also has eq sweep to notch out unwanted frequencies. While I'm trying not to spend any more money for a while.... Could it be that the eq sweep feature or an external equalizer could fix this last little problem of tape hiss?
 
Hey Bro;

Are you still using the RCA Cassette deck for your mixdown? If so, for some reason they are very noisy machines, especially when combined with another tape source such as the Tascam 414 MKII.

Here's what I do with mine since we basically have the same setup. I use CDex on an old penitum computer for my mixdown and also for conversion to MP3 for uploading to NoWhereRadio.
It's free and you can get it here: http://download.com.com/3000-2140-9471595.html

Once loaded, you go to the toolbar on top and and click on the Tools Button and choose Record From Analog In from the drop down menu. All you will need is an RCA to Stereo Mini-plug cord to plug into the Input on your computer from the Line out on the Tascam. You may also want a short Male/Female Stereo Mini-plug extention cord from Radio Shack to make it easier to unplug your puter speakers when you record to your RCA Deck to make tapes.

For the Master Tape, always use the same grade Metal Tape that you use to record on the 414 MKII. Cheap tapes, especially for your master only bring more noise.

A Stereo Graphic EQ or Stereo Parametric EQ can help some to cut out the ugly hiss butt not alot.

BHS;

CR

Bethel MP3's: http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/9/1352/singles.shtml
 
Thanks for the info. I think my computer was one that Moses sold in a yard sale.... (just kidding) But it doesn't have a line in. I've been thinking of getting a better sound card that does. If I do, is there one that you reccomend? Then, what else would I need?

I am still using that RCA. It's brand new, but since it's so noisy, I'm also thinking of EBay'ing it out... It's only a $99 dollar unit. Is there something else in that same price range that would give me better results?
 
Never use metal tape in a portastudio!

If that's what you're doing, then you need to stop immediately! Portastudios were not designed to be used with Type IV (metal) tape. For one, they don't put out a hot enough signal to record on metal tape, so no matter how well you do your recordings, it'll never sound good.

More significantly, though, metal tape will destroy your tape heads: the tape formulation has some rather abrasive particles in it that act like fine sandpaper. This is definitely a recipe for disaster! Only use Type II (chromium dioxide) tapes such as Maxell XLII or TDK SAX, etc.

The same holds true for your stereo mixdown deck, if it is in fact a cassette machine. Unless it specifically states that it is metal tape compatible, DON'T subject it to metal tape!!!!!




Bruce in Korea
 
Re: Never use metal tape in a portastudio!

overseas said:
If that's what you're doing, then you need to stop immediately! Portastudios were not designed to be used with Type IV (metal) tape. For one, they don't put out a hot enough signal to record on metal tape, so no matter how well you do your recordings, it'll never sound good.

More significantly, though, metal tape will destroy your tape heads: the tape formulation has some rather abrasive particles in it that act like fine sandpaper. This is definitely a recipe for disaster! Only use Type II (chromium dioxide) tapes such as Maxell XLII or TDK SAX, etc.

The same holds true for your stereo mixdown deck, if it is in fact a cassette machine. Unless it specifically states that it is metal tape compatible, DON'T subject it to metal tape!!!!!




Bruce in Korea
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOPs, I meant CRO2 myself.

Sorry bout that!!! I use Maxell XLII and I haven't been able to find the TDK SAX locally to try it. I hear it's better.

BHS;

CR
 
Hey Axe4Yahweh-

I now have a computer with a cd burner and a sound card with line in. I'm going to try that CDex. My band meets once per week to practice. Each time, I record just the electric keyboard on track one. Then I take that tape home and practice my recording skills by adding in drums on track two, vocals on track three, then mixing down different ways to find the best sound.

I'd like to take some of my old master tapes and send only the piano track into my sound card, turning the faders on all the other tracks all the way down so they won't record. Then send that piano track back to the Tascam on a fresh tape so I can continue my recording practicing. Will this be possible with CDex? Also, can I completely mix down with CDex and burn the mix onto CD instead of tape?
 
Back
Top