Recording first demo issues!

  • Thread starter Thread starter jamie.pope
  • Start date Start date
J

jamie.pope

New member
Hi there. I'm new to these forums as i've been having some major (though probably minor to some of you) problems recording my songs.

I have an amateur setup as follows:

KRISTAL -> Behringer Eurorack UB802 -> Shure SM-57

I basically just want to lay down one vocal track and an acoustic guitar but i seem to be getting this persistent hiss/ambience, however i adjust the gain/input/level. I've tried cutting the 'hi' out altogether as the hiss is well, quite piercing and i thought removing the 'hi' would rectify it. The problem still persists though...

Initially, i thought that i could be using a dodgy lead from mic to mixer so i went and bought a brand new one. I'm still hearing a really loud hiss though.

Could anybody help me with this? I'd really like to get to work.

Many thanks,
Jamie
 
Without hearing the noise, it's difficult to say what it is - but it sounds like it's just ambience. Cutting out the high won't do much in these cases as it's more like white noise which is along the whole spectrum.

How far away from your computer are you when recording?
 
Tifstorey said:
Without hearing the noise, it's difficult to say what it is - but it sounds like it's just ambience. Cutting out the high won't do much in these cases as it's more like white noise which is along the whole spectrum.

How far away from your computer are you when recording?
Click to expand...

Initially i was quite close to the computer, purely for convenience sake of pressing record and playback etc. Ofcourse, it then dawned on me that my mic could be reacting poorly to my laptop. So, i seperated the entire setup to different corners of the room. Mixer in the middle of the room, computer on the far right and the microphone on the far left.

The problem still remains though. :confused:
 
jamie.pope said:
Initially i was quite close to the computer, purely for convenience sake of pressing record and playback etc. Ofcourse, it then dawned on me that my mic could be reacting poorly to my laptop. So, i seperated the entire setup to different corners of the room. Mixer in the middle of the room, computer on the far right and the microphone on the far left.

The problem still remains though. :confused:
Click to expand...

Are you normalizing the signal at all post-recording? Or is the signal good enough to listen to straight after you've recorded?

Have you tried a different XLR?
 
Tifstorey said:
Are you normalizing the signal at all post-recording? Or is the signal good enough to listen to straight after you've recorded?

Have you tried a different XLR?
Click to expand...

As i said, i'm very new to this recording lark. In terms of normalizing the signal post-recording, i've sort of been operating a trial/error process where i'll record something, listen for flaws, return to mixer and start again etc, though i'm not 100% sure what you mean by normalizing the signal? By no means whatsoever is the signal good enough to listen to straight after i've recorded. The sound itself is half decent but the hiss just overrides any quality.

I'm using an XLR to jack lead. Mic (XLR) to mixer line in (jack).

Cheers mate.
 
Normalizing is a tool that increases the audio signal to the maximum range it can before it distorts (0dB). If you have a low signal when recording, when you increase the signal afterwards, your also increasing the hiss/ambience. That's why you want a good strong signal when recording.

Have you turned yourself nice and loud (But ensuring your not going above 0dB!!) when recording?

XLR cables can also pass higher signal strengths than jacks, although in your case of using a dynamic microphone, i don't think this would make too much difference.
 
Tifstorey said:
Normalizing is a tool that increases the audio signal to the maximum range it can before it distorts (0dB). If you have a low signal when recording, when you increase the signal afterwards, your also increasing the hiss/ambience. That's why you want a good strong signal when recording.

Have you turned yourself nice and loud (But ensuring your not going above 0dB!!) when recording?

XLR cables can also pass higher signal strengths than jacks, although in your case of using a dynamic microphone, i don't think this would make too much difference.
Click to expand...

Are you familiar with the mixer i'm using?

I figured that ofcourse, the lower the signal, the less hiss/ambience i'd be detecting. Within reason though, the mic needs to be at a semi-decent level to pick up optimum performance which is where my problem occurs. Generally, i've been working with the gain/level/main mix at about midway. I would've considered this to be a decent level?

If anything, how should i be utilising the gain/level/mix controls? They seem simple but have become quite the mystery now. :confused:
 
In general, you want to get your input signal as high as you can but keeping it below 0dB. I've never actually used your mixer, but with a quick read it says it has 2 invisible (?) preamps. Are you using these for your mic?

Regarding gain/levels: Gain is basically used to set the input signal. The levels are for monitoring purposes. In your case, you obviously want to be turning that gain up to get a nice signal.
 
Tifstorey said:
In general, you want to get your input signal as high as you can but keeping it below 0dB. I've never actually used your mixer, but with a quick read it says it has 2 invisible (?) preamps. Are you using these for your mic?

Regarding gain/levels: Gain is basically used to set the input signal. The levels are for monitoring purposes. In your case, you obviously want to be turning that gain up to get a nice signal.
Click to expand...

I've no idea what these invisible preamps could be and where they're located. Any idea mate?

I'm setting the gain at atleast midway to get a decent signal but once again, the problem is still here and i've no idea what's causing it and how to remove it. :mad:
 
I think they're only used on your XLR channels. What i'd suggest you do is purchase an XLR-XLR cable. This will not only boost your signal by a little from a standard jack, but it'll also get these pre's boosting your mic signal.

If possible, i'd borrow one first just to make sure it's not a problem with your mixer (Doubtful), but i think the above is the main reason for the hiss/ambience your getting.

Have a go with an XLR and let us know how you get on,
 
What part & connection to the computer does the mixer plug into?
Mic -> mixer -> ? -> Krystal ????
 
You're plugging a mic signal into something designed for a line signal. Go get an xlr-xlr cable and plug it into the xlr input on the mixer.
 
jamie.pope said:
I'm using an XLR to jack lead. Mic (XLR) to mixer line in (jack).

Cheers mate.
Click to expand...

Is the 1/4" jack a TRS connection or a TS connection? I've seen cables that have and XLR female to a 1/4" TS and that is NO GOOD.
 
rayc said:
What part & connection to the computer does the mixer plug into?
Mic -> mixer -> ? -> Krystal ????
Click to expand...

Mic -> mixer -> Microphone line-in -> Krystal

I only have two inputs on my computer, the microphone and headphone input.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top