Hi,
I recently purchased Sonar X2 Studio.  I am a guitar player and am having an issue when I try to record my guitar into Sonar.  I am able to record audio, but I am getting a high end background hiss (noise).  I am using a Shure SM58 mic into a dbx 286 mic pre, into an M-Audio Fastrack Pro.  I have tried every combination that I can think of, including bypassing the dbx mic pre and plugging the mic into the sound card, still there.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  I am new to this and just learning the program, so I hope someone can help.
 
Thank You!

Are you recording at 24 bits?

What are you pointing the SM58 at?
 
If you think that it is pretty much the same with or without the dbx286 and assuming you are tracking/capturing at reasonable levels then I'd try to figure out if you are pointing it in the direction of something that includes hiss.
 
So, what are you pointing the SM58 at?
 
and
 
Are you setting your analog input gain (on the DBX286 or the M-Audio) so that the the recorded tracks peak some where in between -20dBFS? and -6dBFS?
 
 
and
 
Are you using the "pad" on the M Audio Pro? If you are and you don't actually need to... it will add hiss.
 
 
best regards,
mike
 
 
 

At first glance, it appears the FastTrack Pro has either mic or instrument level inputs, but no line-level inputs. Try bypassing the dbx and plugging the mic directly into the FastTrack and see if that affects noise.

I am recording at 16 bits.  I am not using a pad and I have the mic sitting right against my amp cabinet.  I even tried to mic my acoustic guitar and I still get the hiss.  I've also tried to adjust the gain levels down on the mic pre.  Even if I record at low volume very clean, I still get it.

When you record in 16 bits you need to have the signal as hot as you can get it without clipping. I suggest you try 24 bits for recording. I'll bet the hiss will go away. And you don't need to worry so much about how hot your signal is. 

It won't let me configure to 24 bit, my sound card is capable of only 16 bit, when I apply the settings it goes back to 16.  Also, the Fast Track does have line level imputs, I have tried to line into the fast track, didn't work.  Maybe I need to upgrade my sound card, any suggestions?
 
Thank you all so much for taking the time to help!

What Record Mode are you running with in Sonar?  WDM or ASIO?
 
If you have installed drivers for your audio interface, try using a Sample Rate of 44.1 for it, and an ASIO Buffer Size of 128, and go into Sonar preferences, Apply a Record Mode to change it to ASIO, and also Apply a Sample Rate 44.1 - then try recording again and post back with results.
 
Bob Bone

TomG7861
It won't let me configure to 24 bit, my sound card is capable of only 16 bit, when I apply the settings it goes back to 16.  Also, the Fast Track does have line level imputs, I have tried to line into the fast track, didn't work.  Maybe I need to upgrade my sound card, any suggestions?
 
Thank you all so much for taking the time to help!

 
When you say "sound card" are you referring to the M Audio FastTrack or are you using the analog or digital outs on the Fast Track into some other sound card?

SuperG
At first glance, it appears the FastTrack Pro has either mic or instrument level inputs, but no line-level inputs. Try bypassing the dbx and plugging the mic directly into the FastTrack and see if that affects noise.

IIRC
 
The mic inputs are for the mics.
 
The TRS input is for the Line, and it can be switched with the Line/Inst switch to TS instrument input.