lot hiss from mixingdown recording

  • Thread starter Thread starter jungkang
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jungkang

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I am new in home recording. I recorded music from my synthesizer to my 4-track recorder (Tascam Porta02). The quality was good. I then mixed down all 4 tracks and recorded into a Sony cassette deck. I found that there was an extrememy loud hiss (Sony deck for mixing) while recording and playback by using the maximum Dolby noise reduction . I tried a less noise reduction selection, and it had less hiss. When I truned off the noise reduction funtion completely, it was much better. However, I still could not beliebe that the music in the Sony recorder transferred from the Tascam one would have much less clarity and still have more hiss sound. Is it normal that a mastering (mixing down) recording sounds worse than the original multi-track recording? Since my Sony is a double cassete deck, I also tried copying one tape into another at the same machine (Sony)by using the one which was originally recorded from Tascam. The copy sounded less clear and still had more hiss. I guess that this is the problem of the Sony machine, but I cannot believe that a $300 recorder sounds worse than a cheap boom box that has double cassette. I am really disappointed!!!!! I don't know if the Sony deck has defects or what, but if it does, it should not work at all????????? Does anybody have any suggestions for me? What should I do? Thanks.
 
you're gonna get hiss with any cassette tape recording. the trick is to not e.q. your track as it's going to tape, leave the e.q. knobs at 12 o'clock when you record. at mix down add your e.q. but don't use so much treble. when you are tracking, (recording your instruments), record you levels hot (this means as high as you can before the 4-tracks leds go into the red) do the same at mix down, record your levels on the sony tape deck so they peek and stay close to +5 db, if your sony has a record level control (which it should). this hot recording lowers your noise floor which results in less hiss on final mix. be careful though, cuz if you go above this +5 level on your sony tape deck it will result in audible distortion, leading you back to your original problem, hiss.
Adam
 
To Adam

Thanks Adam, great advice!!! Sorry for my bluntness, but what does e.q. stand for???
 
eq is equalization.. if you are going through the mixer, these are the fader nobs that read high, mid, and low.

Check the specs in the manual for the 4 track. What does it say under "Output Level" or "Nominal Output Level"? The output level on my Porta03 is -10dBV which means I have to plug my 4 track outs into an amp or stereo receiver before it goes to the tape deck. I'm not sure if the Porta02 has the same low output, but I had the exact same problem when I first started and this eliminated all the hiss..

Cy
 
To Cy

Thanks Cy!
You reminded me a very important point which I forgot all when the hiss problem drove me nuts. I have not checked the manual as you said yet, but I recalled when I read it, it says that I should connect the Porta2 to an amp first then to a tape deck. Since connecting the two recorders could be worked out, I elimineated the amp part.... I guess that it's the cause of the problem.. Thanks a lot, but I'll check the manual anyway..... :-)
 
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