What is noise?
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Recording Studio Suntans

Any unwanted artifact in your recordings...nuff said!

Well I guess so, something that is unwanted is generally known as "noise".

Of course noise can be generated from a variety of sources so I guess we could also start looking at it from that angle?

For example digital noise and analogue noise are two completely different beasts.. no?

In the digital domain "noise" is actually added in some areas to improve the overal sound quality!
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Recording Studio Suntans

I usually don't consider something that I have generated intentionally "noise". However, you are 100% correct in stating the difference between the digital and analogue realms, furthermore I agree with you wholeheartedly that the analogue "noise" is a beast! But that in itself can add warmth and presence to your recordings...I.E. the infamous vinyl skipping. Usually it's unwarranted but pleasent nonetheless.

Quote:

I agree with you wholeheartedly that the analogue "noise" is a beast! But that in itself can add warmth and presence to your recordings...I.E. the infamous vinyl skipping. Usually it's unwarranted but pleasent nonetheless.

It is interesting isn't it, that we now have arrived at the comic situation of adding "noise", by the way of an off the shelf "plug-in" to our (x)bit recordings in order to recapture times gone by.

I'm old skool also.. but ya gotta love the irony.

http://www.izotope.com/products/audio/vinyl/
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Recording Studio Suntans

Last edited by AC on Sat Oct 09, 2004 8:52 am, edited 1 time in total

Why can't we just find some happy medium between the digital and analogue realms. A device that is analogue yet offers all the benefits of the digital devices that are out there. I've heard that those UB series of Behringer mixers have great digital effects processors but in my experience with them has led me to believe that they add too much "noise"...Ironic isn't it...LOL I'm currently running the UB2442FX but very seldomly use the onboard effects processor. Beside a wall full of rack effects is much more impressive to look at.


Happy noise making!

Hi everyone! F.N.G. member here...I want to ask what process you use for removing noise on guitar amps or any analog imput. I heard there is a plug-in you can buy that analyzes the noise and eliminates it. Sounds too good to be true. I know several techniques to reduce noise, but most plug-ins reduce sound quality as well. I use protools LE, and generally use my AKG Solidtube for recording amps, sometimes with a sure 58 beta just behind it to tighten it up...but amps are horrible for noise and I spend much of my time dickering with this one track.

Thanks for your help,

JT Rocker

I'm assuming that you are miking your amp? How far away or how close is your mic? Do you have any ground loop problems? It's aways easier to start at the source and work your way back. Is there other "noise" present in the room your are recording? I usually don't point the finger at one specific thing without going through a diagnosis, start at the source check that the mic itself is working properly, make sure the amp is in not creating any hum, if so, it could be a grounding problem, check the cables, are they balanced or not, change them see if it makes a difference, make sure the plugs on you cables are correctly installed, are your gains too high?

Remember, start at the source and work your way back to the connection just before your recording gear.

Change things in the pathway see if it makes a difference, if everything is in top condition then you'll have to tackle this problem another way.

Try running your audio through a frequency band splitter to see where your problem frequencies are, and if need be, eliminate them from your mix.

If you are after proper "noise reduction" techniques please feel free to email me at savageis@telus.net and i'll send you some great reads on proper noise reduction techniques.

Also remember try not to assume that software can fix everything when more often than not it is something as simple as a bad cable!

Why not let someone else have a listen to your audio. A second set of ears is usually a great thing when your trying to locate problems with audio.

Hope this helps you a bit.



Happy noise making!

Thanks For The Suggestions. I never use unbalanced cables, so that isn't it. It is usually the owner's amp, effects box, etc. I do check for source problems and ground problems. The problems i refer to i see with all instruments that require a little noise. I am curious about the distance issue you brought up. I try not to get too far away as that can "tunnelize" the sound. I use a technique offered up by frank fillepetti (sp?) that incorporates multiple mics to get fat, fat sound. They are separated a little to create a natural reverb/delay effect, but as amps age, they get many ground problems, guitar pickups, owners analog cables etc. I may just be too anal about the whole thing...who knows. But my projects are completed with very little noise and when I have to use other people's equipment, you sometimes can not avoid it. I would never assume software could solve my problems...I am following up on a suggestion someone told me .I really would prefer to use old school stuff, Problem is that the cost of customized rack equip is just too unrealistic at this point(we are talking big bucks). I look forward to reading your articles as collaboration with others is the key. Hopefully I can return the favor someday.

HighNoteProductions

Just a thought but if you can get a sample of the noise alone, just the noise of the cab etc, you can sample that and create a whole track of it reversing the phase and summing it back into the noisy track. It's not always perfect but you can get great results, this is basically the concept behind many noise reducers too.
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Recording Studio Suntans

That's a good suggestion, funny, I never thought about phasing the noise. I'll give it a try. I have since bought a focusrite voicemaster platinum and it has a really good gate on it that gently turns down the volume at a specified threshold, played around with it and I was really impressed! I'll go back on some of my older tracks and use your techinuqe...Many Thanks!

Ambient noise... isnt that what engineers call it when they cant get rid of it ?

kasper wrote:

Ambient noise... isnt that what engineers call it when they cant get rid of it ?

No, not that I am aware of.
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Recording Studio Suntans

Not so much a statement... just tried to make a joke.
Oh well

kasper wrote:

Not so much a statement... just tried to make a joke. Oh well

Ha ha (bad day here)
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Recording Studio Suntans