I got a couple random questions about recording audio?

Has the hum always been there, or just started?

Does the hum exist with the computer off and monitors on?

Ground loops issues? Cable modem induced hum? Is the hum just part of having the monitors turned all the way up? 

Did you issue the code red Col. Jessup?

-D

Be sure to have any audio cables as far away from any power cables as possible. And where they do cross, put them in a "+" pattern.

The monitors are always turned all the way up, i dont think that contributes to the hum because its very routine, never during recording always during playback. I always adjust mic volume on the soundcard. I get an insane hum when i record guitar and play it back too, I suppose it could be interference i have alot of audio and power cables crossing paths, theyre longer than i need them to be so i end up having a bowl of spaghetti on the floor, I'll try spreading them out today

Me, I run monitors at less than full volume, following the principle of cascading gain - i.e. run high gain devices into lower gain ones, not the other way round. So you want your earlier gain stages to be set high and subsequent amplification stages to be set lower - do it the other way round and the noise floor will be much higher. To hear this in action, if you've a mixer, set up one channel open, with high gain/low volume and another open with low gain and high volume then compare the noise floor from each channel. Or compare the noise from a guitar amp with high gain/low volume then low gain/high volume.

As for playback being louder than recording, assuming you're not monitoring through Sonar when recording, in my experience that's probably because the volume of monitoring when you record is set by your source - the mic then preamps/interface, and on playback it's set by a different source - Sonar's channel, master volume and output controls. Your interface may also be amplifying incoming and outgoing signals to different levels as well (which may also be contributing to the hum).

Now, on to the guitar. 

Computers are generally very, very noisy electrically and give off shedloads of interference. Guitars pick up that interference which then gets amplified along with the rest of the signal from the guitar. Computer psus and drives (even good ones) can emit radio interference/noise, cathode ray-screen monitors are dreadful noise emitters and the amps in active monitors can be as can wall-wart power supplies.

Even my SG picks up a little noise from the PC and other electrical gear and my Fenders are much, much worse. Using a Lace-equipped Strat, or, worse, a stock Telecaster, I have to be careful about not applying too much gain/compression or the noise swamps the signal. Pedals (or further processing in the computer) that increase gain considerably (fuzzes, compressors, some wahs, eq) will amplify that noise, can add their own noise, pick up noise themselves (unless they're very good) and play havoc with the noise floor generally. Well designed/built valve gear tends to pick up less interference than solid state, by the way.

Ideally, we want to stop as much of that noise from getting into the audio signal as possible in the first place, then apply as little gating/noise reduction as possible.

Good cabling will help but don't go mad (despite the manufacturer's claims, there's no noticable benefit from the super-expensive leads made by some hi-fi cable companies over e.g. Planet Waves or George L's cables), just avoid coiled guitar leads. Electrically shielding the inside of the guitar if the manufacturer hasn't already done it for you is a very good idea as well. Also check the guitar's string earth is connected - if it isn't you'll get loads of hum that is much worse when you don't touch the strings/metal parts of the guitar.

It's worth trying turning to face a different direction when recording - this can reduce the amount of noise the guitar picks up quite dramatically.

My personal answer to the noisy guitar problem is good cables, good quality shielded guitars, being careful which pedals I use and how they're set, and a Boss NS-2 as the first thing the guitar sees in the chain, with the guitar going to the NS-2 and all pedals but delay/reverb and a Sansamp (set at fairly low gain as a clean-ish amp) in the NS-2's loop. Finally, I remove everything from the guitar tracks that is meant to be silence (but is actually usually 20db or so of noise). That gets things pretty much under control and has barely noticable effects on tone or guitar "feel".
 
If I were using e.g. Guitar Rig or a Pod (I can't stand either, I find them very unrealistic "models") I'd still say shielding the guitar plus decent cables is essential, then if necessary put a noise gate after the guitar and before the interface/Pod so there's as little guitar noise as possible for the "modeller" to amplify in the first place, Then, if necessary, gate again at the modeller's output to reduce any noise it adds.

Another possible solution is to use active pickups - my active bass is almost silent, barring a slight hiss from the pre-amp, even with quite a bit of compression. If you're into mega-gain then active pickups may well go some way to solving your problem.

I see you described it happens on any type of input on an Audio Track, does this also occur on a midi track playing back?
Is this Hum duplicated when using headphones as well?
What voltages are you running 120/60Hz or overseas from US?
Are you running the US800 with USB Bus power or plugged into the wall?
Are you able to verify the ground and Neutral is good on the outlet being used and the voltage is clean and where it needs to be?
BiAmped monitors, +1 on turning volume down and ensure all cables are good and routed seperately

chuckebaby


reminds me of a cool story which if you pay close attention you can find out if its a ground issue...back in 2204 i was recording a band and there guitar player had this pod 2.0
my whole studio has a great ground set up where i have no hum no nothing.but this pod was picking up a serious hum..and it was bad..real bad.and it was getting caught on the reel..no matter what i did i could hear it.so went down to the hardware store a mile down the road.i bought 25 feet of ground wire about 13 gauge i think.i losened up a srew on his pod and conected the wire..i ran the other wire to a water pipe in my hoouse.at wha-la..gone..no nothing..i used that same trick a few other times as well..you see your pipes are all grounded in you house..dont try one under the sink..it needs to be a copper pipe usualy near the main where the ground wire for the pipe is set up..just do what i did..use vise grips and very gently attach the wire to the pipe..then make good contact to your sorse thats causeing you a problem.

Yeh, I prefer dedicated circuits for anything in the studio-nothing else on those circuits but the equipment.  Your solution is a great work around as long as its not a GAS pipe and the ground wire is installed on both sides of the water meter(Many older homes were upgraded this way).  You can get a copper ground rod and install it then you your grounds to it-prefered method (LOL). Also, kill everything in the Distro Panel and check all your connection on the breakers for tightness, they come loose over time and reak havic on everything (Alot of electrical noise from various things with motors in the house).

ASG


The monitors are always turned all the way up, i dont think that contributes to the hum because its very routine.....

I'm not sure what you mean by "turned all the way up" but surely, any amp and speakers that you turn up to the max is going to make a lot of noise? I have always said that max on amp/speakers/cabs/ should only be turned to 7. The only time I turn up full is with power amps that are connected to the output from a mixer - and there the output faders from the mixers are all around about unity and the channel gains are at about 7.

And yes, audio cables separate from power cables. or crossed if they're together - one of the most difficult problems for a project studio with lots of analog gear - been there, t-shirts etc

Bristol_Jonesey

back in 2204 i was recording a band

I am seriously impressed!

How much did the DeLorean cost?

...must be the good weather!!

     Thanks for the responses, by "turned all the way up" i always have the volume maxed out on the monitors.
-the hum is never on a midi track
-default voltage is 115v, thats what i use
-my interface is hooked up to the wall cause it needs to be for phantom power..

so far turning down the monitor volume and crossing cables has helpd alot

edjay

chuckebaby


i losened up a srew on his pod and conected the wire..i ran the other wire to a water pipe in my hoouse.at wha-la..gone..no nothing....

Classic stuff...nothing like getting the job done!  

I remember when I was about 15, I had no amp and I wanted to get distortion out of my first acoustic, so I wrapped fusewire around the strings and tapped the other end to the needle on a record deck and turned the amp up - instant distortion!!!

thats a great effect..good idea too.

chuckebaby

edjay

chuckebaby


i losened up a srew on his pod and conected the wire..i ran the other wire to a water pipe in my hoouse.at wha-la..gone..no nothing....

Classic stuff...nothing like getting the job done!  

I remember when I was about 15, I had no amp and I wanted to get distortion out of my first acoustic, so I wrapped fusewire around the strings and tapped the other end to the needle on a record deck and turned the amp up - instant distortion!!!

thats a great effect..good idea too.

Always remember that people and electricity don't mix though!