Too much HISS on vocals ... Please Help !!!

[cjacek]

Hello,

I hope I'm asking in the right place ... Anyway, here's the deal and if you can help then God love ya !

My setup: (1) Apex 420 condenser mic connected to (2) Art tube pre-amp connected to (3) Alesis 3630 Compressor/Limiter connected to (4) Tascam 414 MKII (4 track recorder).

I try to be VERY minimalistic with the compressor and try to get the most signal to noise from each of the components BUT I seem to have a nasty little problem ... The problem is that there's HISS apparently coming from the pre-amp. I tried hooking the pre-amp to the Tascam directly with and without the mic and it seems the pre-amp generates that noise or hiss. I mean, I crank up the trims of the Tascam and some hiss is there but that's ok. However, when I ONLY hook the pre-amp to the Tascam, even WITHOUT switching the phantom power button on, that hiss becomes more apparent. Then, when I turn the phantom power on, and slowly increase the output of the pre-amp, noise level increases even more. Ok, sure, the vocals are nice, rich and loud BUT there's also backgroud hiss. It's not that bad but it's there and I want to make it go away ! Problem is that I'm on a budget and I rent the stuff I mentioned and I can't really add any more stuff to the ones I already have. I can exchange or MAYBE add one not very expensive thing but that's it. PLEEESE HEEEEELLP !!!

Thanks.

 

[Tim Brown]

Hello,

I hope I'm asking in the right place ... Anyway, here's the deal and if you can help then God love ya !

My setup: (1) Apex 420 condenser mic connected to (2) Art tube pre-amp connected to (3) Alesis 3630 Compressor/Limiter connected to (4) Tascam 414 MKII (4 track recorder).



Thanks.

Hi,

Which Model PreAmp is it? Since they make several.

Have you triedsetting the preamp for a "mid level", then use the Compressor's output to control the actual volume?

I know that alot of people like the Art Tube Pre-amps, but I personally am just not a big fan of them-I think they are pieces of Junk.
On the other hand, I'm not a big fan of "tube pre-amps" in general...I just see them as Noise makers.

So what you are hearing may just be "the Tube sound" that everyone is after.

I personally would see if you could lose the Pre-amp, and see if you could get an effect unit of some type in it's place. Kick out $50 and get a Phantom power unit for the mic-and plug out of that right into the 4 track.

I'm not really familiar with the 414(that was after my 4-track days), but doesn't it have a pair of insert points? well, THAT is where your Compressor should be-not before the Pre-amp in your 4 track...

Tim

 

[Stan Williams]

ART MP

I use a Art mp into a yamaha md8 mini disc recorder and i have no noise problems at all. It could be the cassette recorder itself. Also have you demagnetized and cleaned the heads lately? And you should use insert jacks if you gotem as Tim said.

 

[cjacek]

Hi Tim,

Well, it's called "ART TUBE MP PERSONAL PREAMP PROCESSOR".

Yeah, I tried all the settings but I still get some hiss when I plug the amp to the outlet. The guy that works at the music store said that it's normal to get a bit of hiss without actually turning the phantom power on when using a preamp.

I also tried to find a normal preamp but I couldn't find one yet. Actually the same music store guy, who I rent from, said that if I get a normal preamp then the sound will be flat. He was really into tube preamp's apparently. Well, if I see one of those normal amps somwhere I'll be sure to give it a try. Have you heard of the MIDIMAN AUDIO BUDDY ?

I'm also getting a newer version Tascam which has insert points for a compressor in the back. Should help I hope.

Thanks Tim !

Dan

 

[cjacek]

Stan Williams wrote ...

I use a Art mp into a yamaha md8 mini disc recorder and i have no noise problems at all. It could be the cassette recorder itself. Also have you demagnetized and cleaned the heads lately? And you should use insert jacks if you gotem as Tim said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi Stan,

Thanks for the reply ! I'm pretty sure it's not the recorder as I don't have to record to hear the hiss. To tell you the truth I have no idea what it is. Could it be a faulty preamp ? Also, I'll use insert jacks at the back of the Tascam to hook up my compressor. Thanks Stan !

Dan