I can't be alone in thinking the amount of hiss that "analog" style plugins add to a track is just ridiculous. It's not that bad if you're only using one instance, but if you have multiple instance in the project (like one on every track) then the buildup of hiss is horrible! And sometimes I can't even work out who the biggest culprits are, for example I'm trying to reduce hiss in a project right now and my first idea was the waves H-comp which has these analog modes which create hiss. But the instance I'm using has its analog control set to "off," and when I turn it on the hiss actually reduces in noise. 
 
Sometimes it's really hard to trace. For instance you might turn off a plugin and the hiss reduces in volume, but is the hiss coming from that plugin or is the plugin simply increasing the gain of pre-existing hiss somewhere else up the chain? 
 
Does anyone actually think this hiss adds anything good to a track? It's noticeable for me in quiet parts and it bugs the crap out of me. I really like the sound of some of these plugins but WHY the hiss. Some of them you can't even turn it off. I can't help feeling that in 10 years time when the novelty of analog modeling has worn off, we're going to look back and laugh at this ridiculous hiss. And what about electrical hum as well? Ooo look, you can have 50Hz or 60Hz. Decisions decisions......

It is a totally dumb concept if you ask me and it is taking analog modelling way too far. I remember going to great lengths years ago to remove hiss or reduce it as much as possible and now they are putting it back.
 
I think you will find with almost every plugin that does it that you have the option to turn it off.  If you cannot then use another brand that either does not have the hiss or it can be turned off.
 
And yes it builds up for sure just like it did in the old days. One way to check is to solo every track that you think it is coming from and try turning it off one by one. Or there may be a pot that allows you to alter the level of the hiss. If there is then set it to zero.
 
It is not the same either like older analog gear used to introduce it.  In the older gear it just seemed to somehow be added in or really integrated with the signal but now they just generate it and add it in almost on top of the signal. It does not even sound the same.

I agree, it's not natural sounding at all. I have the RC-20 Retro Color plugin and while I think the vinyl surface noise, tape wobble and tape dropouts can add some nice color and interest to a track, I'm at a loss as to why you'd want to add any of the other varieties of noise they offer. 
 
I mean there's VHS noise, cassette noise, "studio noise" (two kinds), white noise, pink noise, 7.5' tape noise, 15" tape noise, tube noise, DC noise, "Muff" noise (from the Big Muff pedal?), radio noise, 8-bit noise and something called "Apollo." I don't think you'd ever want any of them in a track unless you were genuinely trying to recreate those sounds for a movie or something. 
 
And I hear some people say "oh it adds air"! Really? There are, surely, far better ways of adding air to a track. 

sharke
But the instance I'm using has its analog control set to "off," and when I turn it on the hiss actually reduces in noise.

I wonder if this isn't some kind of phase cancellation going on.
 
I also wonder if you bounce it down if you could use a transient shaper/designer to reduce or eliminate it.

Usually the first dial on an analogue emulation plugin that I reach for is the noise dial or noise on/off switch. WAVES e.g. always has it enabled by default when you insert the plug and I definitely turn it off first thing (although there were occasions when I added some of it back in .... but more for FX than "reality")
 
What I really do not like is when the amp sim modellers also model noise/hum but often without the option to turn it off! I have several bass amp sims which I don't use anymore for that particular reason.

telecharge

sharke
But the instance I'm using has its analog control set to "off," and when I turn it on the hiss actually reduces in noise.

I wonder if this isn't some kind of phase cancellation going on.
 
I also wonder if you bounce it down if you could use a transient shaper/designer to reduce or eliminate it.

That's certainly possible. 

telecharge

sharke
But the instance I'm using has its analog control set to "off," and when I turn it on the hiss actually reduces in noise.

I wonder if this isn't some kind of phase cancellation going on.
 
I also wonder if you bounce it down if you could use a transient shaper/designer to reduce or eliminate it.

That sounds possible. 

sharke
...I'm at a loss as to why you'd want to add any of the other varieties of noise they offer. 
 
I mean there's VHS noise, cassette noise, "studio noise" (two kinds), white noise, pink noise, 7.5' tape noise, 15" tape noise, tube noise, DC noise, "Muff" noise (from the Big Muff pedal?), radio noise, 8-bit noise and something called "Apollo."

Like everything else, it is all about sales.
Put in features that get people's attention. Put in features that people think they need.
If it looks like it does all kinds of cool stuff, more people will buy it, even if they never use the special features.
 
 

Jeff Evans
It is a totally dumb concept if you ask me and it is taking analog modelling way too far. I remember going to great lengths years ago to remove hiss or reduce it as much as possible and now they are putting it back.
 

Maybe it the necessary removal processes that really made the analog sound what it was.
 
 
 
 
kidding of course, that'd be awful.

James,
 
hiss and noise are a feature, not bug, of analog recording.  ;-)