tape hiss

[magic man]

Recording on a Tascam 424, I demagnetized it and keep the treble not too high to reduce excessive hiss in the intial tracking. I have to transfer it over to a computer to burn CDs. while I'm doing this is there a way to cut out some of the hiss from the 4-trk? If I use the EQ in sound editing software, is their a particular frequency I should cut?
I realize a 4-trk is what it is, and it's going to be dirty. At first I thought the tape hiss was warm and raw, now it is starting to annoy the hell out of me.......

thanks

 

[Niimo]

if you have a significant hiss sound i think maybe you oughta look at where your recording first. Is your recording area somewhat segregated from anything that makes even a little bit of noise? whats the quality of your microphone? after those questions i'd then start to think about adjusting the eq and then maybe some type of noise reduction unit. i'm still learning about eq so i can't really advise you on that. i'm still just turning the knobs until something sounds right.

 

[A Reel Person]

You should have the dbx NR set to On during recording and playback.

The 424 should be set to High Speed. You should also be using decent quality Type II cassettes.

It's okay IMO to boost high freq's with EQ on the way in to the recorder (input-side of recording chain), to achieve a "brightness" on tape that somewhat offsets the high freq "rolloff" you'll naturally get with cassette 4-tracks. This actually helps offset residual tape hiss, too, as there's less need to boost Hi EQ on playback.

Just my 2¢. )

http://www.soundclick.com/davemania

 

[magic man]

thanks, i'll try it with the dbx NR on tonite and see how it sounds. i do have good tapes and always record on high. feeling my way through this one.
thanks again

 

[Dani Pace]

You might try recording some nothing, by that i mean just record the hiss without other sounds, then adjust your EQ to eliminate or at least quieten it down. I've done it that way using a Yamaha 4 track and it worked fairly well, maybe it will work for you too.

 

[ChazzMo25301]

I've got a hiss problem - faint but noticable - using a Fostex MR-8.

I've tried a couple of different mic combinations (condenser mics), a decent soundhole pickup, combinations of the two, runnign straight into the MR-8, running through a powered mixer - everything I can do with the equipment I have except running through my eq (because I lost the power cord and am trying to find a new one ).

I posted this on the Fostex board but got no reply, and since I'm still trying to figure out the culture of this board, I thought I'd try again here.

Anybody have any suggestions? Is this problem (the hiss):

A) normal
B) a function of my mic / mics
C) a function of the MR-8
D) something I can hope to evenually figure out and eliminate
D) noise fairies - learn to live with it

Anybody?

Pretty please?

 

[magic man]

i am learning all this myself, but so far Dani Pace's suggestion to record nothing, then listen back and try to EQ out the hiss has helped alot. i also demagnetized the unit, and cleaned the heads with rubbing alcohol....that and Reel's advice to use dbx NR and set the speed on High with good quality tapes...

 

[A Reel Person]

I've read that the MR8 has "weak" preamps,...

so in practice that means you have to crank up the gain to get a good signal, to the point of boosting audible hiss,... the self-noise of the preamps. I'm not an MR8 user, but I've heard that issue over & over again. It's a weakness in the design of the Fostex MR8, CF memory recorder.

One thing you can rule out is "tape hiss".

Oh,... a solution? I've heard people recommend a small outboard mixer, to give you extra mixing capability, as well as to develop a stronger signal outboard, so you don't have to drive the MR8's preamps to the point that self-hiss becomes audible.

Y'know,... speaking personally,... I kinda hate when another piece of gear is a "fix" to something that's supposed to be a one-piece-do-all item, but it's indicative of the budget gear makers cutting corners and using lesser quality designs and components in order to meet a price point. That's probably another post!!

So,... the Fostex MR8 is an 8-track flash memory recorder (originally) for $299?... (currently $250)? Yes, and it has no input side mixing, no EQ, it records only 2-tracks simultaneously, 5/6 & 7/8 are linked pairs, and the preamps are hissy! But hey,... it's 8-tracks for $250! Y'gotta give to get. Y'gotta give up some higher features and quality to get 8-tracks for $250.

I'm afraid that's how the game is played, or how the gear wars are fought.

There are numerous MR8 threads in the Fostex forum, which will provide good background study on the MR8. I won't go on any further, as I've already posted my opinions of the MR8, numerous times.

======================

(I've read) a Behringer UB802 would be low cost a problem-solver for the MR8's limited input mixing capability and preamp hiss problem.

You may want to call on MR8 users named "cellardweller", JUnplugged, ch2so7, or Dave in Toledo for actual user's advice.

BEST OF LUCK!

======================

PS: there is no defined "culture" on this board. Just be yourself, ask your questions, and be prepared for e'one to offer their own opinion as if it's the gospel truth! ... along with the usual cast of jokesters, ballbusters and trolls that you'd find on any board!!

 

[ChazzMo25301]

ARP and MM -- thanks so much! Those are specific suggestions that I can definitely follow up on. And - the MR-8 was a gift from the wife. I kept dropping Korg hints - but I'm just happy to have anything. Even the MR8 beats the old worn out Yamaha analog 4 track.

 

[A Reel Person]

I'm not gonna knock the MR8. It is what it is. And what it is,...

is an 8-tracker for $250. It's a pretty good value, but has a few little shortcomings, here & there. People use external mixers and PC transfers into their DAW software to raise the utility of the MR8. The whole link to the PC for the MR8's utility is a keystone of the design.

PS: Never leave a wife who gives you gear.