Hissing in Recordings

I just got started playing with doing some simple recording with microphones, which is the bread and butter of recording.  Now, I've come across another glich.

I've tried two different microphones, the SM-57 and Audix OM-5.  I've just done some test tracks and each time I record, I am getting hissing in the background.  As the track is playing back, there is hissing.  As soon as the  transport reaches the end of the section which was recorded, the hissing stops.  I've tried different recording levels and levels in the preamp settings.  This is a major concern for me.  My prior experience with the VS2480 did encounter this problem.  When recording with microphones, the sound was pristine and what was recorded was the voice, guitar, violin, or what ever I was attempting to record without a hissing in the background.  I suppsed I could EQ it away but I shouldn't have to do that.  Anyone else experience this and, if so, what is the remedy?

There is nothing wrong with your VS 700R. In fact I would go so far as to say it's one of the quietest units I have ever recorded through!

You are not setting gains properly. Firstly with those Mic Pres with the 20 db PAD IN and sliders all the way down the input sensitivity is +4 dbu would you believe! ie serious line level.  So for microphones you need to turn the 20 db PAD OFF and raise the slider a fair way. You should be monitoring your track input meter while testing and getting a level.

There is plenty of gain in the VS 700R. Just keep raising the slider till the track meter shows what you want to see. For me I am setting average levels around - 15 db on the track meter and peaks to get to maybe -6db. (if I know the musician or source is very level though I tend to record a little higher on average eg -6db or so) Dont forget dynamic mikes like the Shure 57 dont have as much output as a condenser mike so you might have to push the Mic Pre sliders up a bit more.

Let us know how you go.

RA1222


After using the VS2480 for quite a while, there is a bit of a learning curve to this new rig.  I didn't realize the 20 db setting was like the pad button pushed down on the 2480.  Once I took it off of the -20db setting and started playing around with it, I found the hissing went away.  The source of the hissing was because I had the input gain turned down (as having the -20db setting "on") which made me have to turn the output gain for the monitors way up. 

Yep, a -20db pad engaged by default is a mistake in my thinking. You can't see it's on until you open another window. A control like that deserves it's own button or indicator visible at start. I had to go looking for where my levels went. Off by default? Or on by default? What do you think?