Maybe, maybe not. Depends on what's causing the hiss. What are you using to record now?

Im using edirol M-16dx mixer with sonar home studio 7xl

It's likely the mic and preamps that are causing the hiss. A better preamp may help but I think you would need to spend quite a bit of money to get one that is quiet and still has decent gain. Whenever you push the gain you will get hiss. The more you have to push the gain, the more hiss.

I wouldn't jump to that conclusion at all.
While it is possible that the hiss is caused by some combination of mic and preamp, it's far more likely an environmental variable or even an improper use of the mic.

While those interfaces aren't exactly sonic gold, they're not bad. The preamps on those are pretty darned quiet. However, for example, if he's trying to run a 57 into the device using a 1/4" plug and trying to make up the gain using a line leven input, then there's going to be a problem...

To the OP -
Please give us more details -
What mic are you using?
What source are you recording?
How are you plugging your source into the mixer?
What gain do you have it set at?
How much hiss are we talking about?

Can you post a clip?

FWIW, the device you own HAS preamps in it. The only way to get a mic up to line level signal is some sort of amplification (the job of the preamp). Whatever you're using to accomplish this is considered the preamp. The preamps in these new Edirol devices aren't half bad. If you're using your mics properly, you shouldn't be experiencing too much hiss. Again, environment could be the difference too.

More details...
J.

Of course you are right. I should rephrase. Basically, all I was trying to get at it the more gain the more hiss.

maybe hi freq noise from a pc in the room?

What mic are you using? sure SM57
What source are you recording? Acoustic guitar
How are you plugging your source into the mixer? XLR
What gain do you have it set at? i have it turn up notmally alot to get it loud enough.

yeah i might be using the mics wrong. im not sure. im just kinda a beginer at recording i dont know to much. i place the mic about 6 inches away around the 12 frett.

thanks fot the help.

also the room im recording in is pretty large.... could that be adding the the hiss?

What gain do you have it set at? i have it turn up notmally alot to get it loud enough.

There is likely your problem. 6 inches away from the sound source is plenty close to get a good signal without turning it way up. You don't need to push it to the limits. Turn it up in Sonar (or I guess you can use the level knob on the mixer channel to do the same thing), not as it comes into the mixer (the sensitivity knob). Put the level knob at U, and then turn up the sensitivity knob until you hear the hiss, then turn it down a bit. Do the rest of the amplification in Sonar or with the level knob (if the level knob actually affects Sonar, which I think it does). And while you're at it, try pointing that 57 at the sound hole, it's the loudest part of the instrument. You may or may not prefer the tone there so it's worth trying.

At 6 inches away, the room is not the source of the hiss. Unless you have a really loud, angry cat.

Put the level knob at U, and then turn up the sensitivity knob until you hear the hiss, then turn it down a bit.

Or vice versa, I can't really tell how that thing works. The important thing to be aware of is that your signal doesn't need to be pushing close to the red LEDs on the meter to be usable. Anything around half way up (0) or thereabouts ought to be just fine.