Need help with Noise Reduction

I've read a few other threads but I can't seem to find anything that completely solves my problem. I'm getting a hiss out of my guitar amp when I record in Sonar X3 Professional. I have a gate on, but the music I'm recording is very clean instrumental music with little to no percussion, so when I play and the gate opens, the hiss is still very noticeable. I tried using a low pass filter and it works ok, but it ruins the tone of the instrument to a point that I can't fix an eq. I looked into audio restoration software but even the cheapest stuff seems to be too expensive for me. I could probably stand to spend up to $100 if I had to and was sure it would work but I couldn't possibly go any higher. Is there a solution to this? thanks.

 

Kylotan
Normally this is a problem you need to solve at the source. Do you hear the hiss from the amp when you're not recording from it? If so, it might be necessary to turn the gain down, with obvious implications for your tone sadly. Or do you only hear it when recording? That implies a problem with the signal chain, perhaps in how you're connecting things up. (eg. If you're recording into a Microphone In socket, that adds extra amplification and therefore more hiss.)
 
I suggest you tell us your whole signal chain, from pedals to amp (to microphone?) to cables to interface to computer to Sonar, and we might have some ideas.

The noise is there when I'm not recording but it seems to perform the same even at low levels and even if I remove the typically noisy effects. I have a Fender Strat running into a Crate amp & Half Stack (unsure of the exact model, just a cheap amp I picked up about 10 years ago) into an effects chain. Guitar - Polytune tuner - Crybaby - Chase Bliss Audio Warped Vinyl - Morley Volume Pedal - Earthquaker Dispatch Master - Boss DD3 - Amp. I'm miking the amp with a Sennheiser 609 into an M-Audio Mobile-Pre usb interface and then into the PC. The only pedal that causes extra issues is the Warped Vinyl. I get the hiss even when the chain is removed but I get extra when the Warped Vinyl is plugged and not in bypass, which is an issue because that pedal is vital to what the sound I want and unlike my delays, I can't easily replace it with a plugin. 

John T
Audacity is free and has not-bad noise reduction. Not as good as something like RX, but if the hiss isn't too loud, it might do what you need.

I'll definitely have to try this before buying anything

Ebonah
Well bro, the FIRST and I would say the MOST important thing in mixing live instruments is making sure you got a clean take in the first place. So, an analog gate/compressor, noise reduction, good cables, no "grounding", so on. Me personally I know "they say" the best method in recording a guitar is micing the amp. I find that using an FX module that's also a USB interface has a VERY clean sound. 

I'm using monster cables. I used to use an effects module directly to my PC but I really prefer the sound of my amp and would prefer to continue micing it. With the effects modual I either had to play through one of the effects, which I didn't love, or bypass, in which case I'm getting a bland sound. Even the "clean" effect setting wasn't ideal. I am considering a hardware suppression effect like the NS-2 if all else fails.

I was looking for that thread when I found the other one. FYI, Beep, the R-Mix available for purchase is not a plug-in. The R-Mix plug-in was only available in X2 Producer.

js516
If the amp is hissing with nothing plugged into the front and effects loop, it would indicate a problem with the amp ( such as a bad capacitor).

The ns2 can be setup using the 4 wire method which places the noise suppression circuit of the ns2 in the effects loop. This configuration helps if the noise is before the effects loop. However if there is an issue with the amp's circuitry after the effects loop, it won't help much.

Also keep in mind that the ns2 is a noise gate and not a filter. Hiss will still be present while your playing.

Yeah, it's a pretty cheap amp, I need to invest in a new one, but that's down the road somewhere. For now I pretty much have to live with this one. It's not that noticeable unless you get within a foot of the amp or so. Unfortunately, that's where I'm placing the mic, and the mic picks it up well enough. If I recorded more percussion or used overdrive of any kind it would probably be drowned out and a gate would work fine. 

It is a stand alone editor with more features than the plug-in. The price has dropped drastically on the product, you can read about it here  http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/3207246. Might be a good solution here if the freebies don't work.