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Hey...i dont know if this is the right place to ask this question, but is there any software or a plugin that would reduce or eliminate the hiss that you get thru a mic or preamp or a sound card...WITHOUT affecting the quality of the vocals?

thanks !

Comments

CharlesDayton Thu, 08/11/2005 - 12:45

Anything you do to the track is going to affect the quality of the vocals. If you roll off the high end, you'll lose some of the "air", if you use software like Waves Restoration X-Noise, you'll get artifacts, a Dolby Cat. 43A will take out some of the sparkle. So its a trade off no matter what. There is also Bias Soundsoap/Pro and NoNoise software. On the high end is the Cedar system DNS 1000 or 2000. But even the Cedar is a compromise for badly recorded tracks.
If this is a one time problem, try one of these solutions, if the problem is a continuing one, look at your recording chain.
Good luck.

anonymous Thu, 08/11/2005 - 19:01

Hey thanks for the replies...I'll definately download those softwares you mentioned ....

James, when i posted this question, i was recording vocals, so that was the only thing on my mind. But I was just recording acoustic guitar...& yea well, My question remains for the acoustic as well. I use sound forge. Do you know how to use the 'gate' in that? Thanks again !!

maintiger Fri, 08/12/2005 - 09:42

If you have a quality recording chain, good mic, good pre, cood ad conversion, you should not have a problem with hiss. usually you get that with cheap mic cheap pres, cheap AD- nad by cheap I don't mean inexpensive but lousy sounding. Some inexpensive mics do sound pretty good, but you have to pick and choose.

anonymous Tue, 08/16/2005 - 22:45

heyy..thanks...

I've a MXL 990 & Behringer Mic200 Preamp..record straight into a computer with a standard soundcard..yes i know most of the hiss can be cuz of the sound card...but if i plug my headphones in the preamp...there's still hiss..also..how important is the wire..cuz i've just a cheap XLR cable...

anonymous Wed, 08/17/2005 - 13:38

Like Charles Dayton said, the options for fixing something after it has been recorded will all diminish the recording in some way - but you have to figure out what aspect you want more: to eliminate the hiss or gain the artifact, for example, that a "fix-it" plug in might create.

For me, it was the hiss.

I tested Waves X-Noise on my last recording and was really pleased! That lame hiss was history and I was still completely content with the sound of the vocal.

Ta da.

anonymous Mon, 08/22/2005 - 04:53

hi,
I think what these fellow producer types are saying is that you should solve the porblem first. Personally I would leave a hiss sound there then surrender my quality to cheap audio software. Though I do recomend using the noisgate in soundforge (thats's what I often use). Just set the thresh hold to the maximum level of hiss and run, if the hiss is so loud that your recording is de-chunked then you have some problems under your belt (so to speak).

tim.