Noise... Ground Issues... Noise Reduction Plugs

soundslikejoe · 31st March 2007

I live in a very old house with some electrical problems (knob/tube). Some of the wiring is grounded but I still have EM/RF problems. Every guitar track I record has some noise. I've found by taking the file to another location that certain plugins can clean the audio without any problem (Waves Restoration Bundle).

Do you know of any power conditioners that could solve this problem? (Monster)
Can you recommend any plugins aside from the Waves bundle that can remove noise effectively? (Bias SoundSoap,TC NR,...?)

Thnx

Jackie Treehorn · 31st March 2007

I face the same situation: An older home that has intermittent (and hard for me to pinpoint) grounding problems. I just bought an ART "Clean Box II" that has made a HUGE difference on a couple of occasions. I've only had it for a week, so my experience with it is limited, but so far it seems like a great deal for under 50 bucks.

For noise reduction plug-ins, I got a nice deal last year on the Sony Oxford Restoration Bundle. The de-noise plug-in can really clean up tons of hiss from noisy tracks--- and I can't hear ANY perceptible artifacts on guitars or vocals. It's amazing on most things, the exception being bass tracks. I can't even lightly touch those without artifacts. I've never used any other noise reduction plugs, so I don't have any frame of reference, but I'd buy the Sony stuff again in a heartbeat.

Try a box like the one I mentioned. It might solve your issues for a fraction of the cost of plug-ins.

soundslikejoe · 31st March 2007

Thanks for the tips. I have an Ebtech Hum Eliminator that I use inbetween the Gtr. and the interface. I thought it would make a difference but it only changes the character of the hum. Strangest part is that I can take a piece of metal and make it touch the metal casing of the two cables and it will reduce the hum a bit further.

matthew.sawicki · 31st March 2007

Bad cable?

chrisgraff · 31st March 2007

Guitar hum can be a very difficult/complex issue to deal with. All those balanced power boxes won't do a thing for RF/EMI, unless it's coming from the line itself. The $2000 unit I demoed actually made my guitar hum LOUDER.

Start by shielding your guitars. Suhr makes a backplate that is supposed to work miracles for strats.

The next step would be to hire an electrician qualified to deal with audio issues.

Balanced power is not a cure all for guitar amps.

soundslikejoe · 31st March 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthew.sawicki

Bad cable?

I wish it were that simple.

I'm not even using an amp. I'm direct into an interface. I have shielded my guitars as much as possible with coppper (Jazzmaster, LesPaul, GB10) and noticed little change.

The hum is also present when using an amp. It's so bad I can't even use a distortion pedal.

Considering I rent the house, I don't think I am willing to pay an electrician. I'm sure his recommendation would be to remove all of the old "knob and tube" wiring which is ungrounded.

All of the equipment is on a grounded line but the presence of the ungrounded lines spew EM/RF. I'm affraid there is no solution short of buying restoration plugins.

Unclenny · 1st April 2007

I addressed my noise issues effectively with a Boss NS 2 at the end of my guitar chain, a Monster Power Conditioner and Waves Z- Noise applied judiciously across individual tracks.

The Boss NS 2 will impact your tone.

A power conditioner (Furman, Monster) can make a big difference.

Z - Noise is amazing if used with care.

soundslikejoe · 1st April 2007

The house has a grounded circuit that the room is connected to. I've bought a meter and tested the ground in the room and it is well grounded.

Unfortunatly it also has some of the old wiring still in operation. (Is this legal? I've heard Knob & Tube is outlawed and dangerous.)

I have been taking audio that I record to another studio to clean it with Waves Restoration plugs. I would just buy them and use them but I find Waves to be extremely over priced and was hoping for alternatives.

**DrDeltaM** · 1st April 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by joenovice

I have been taking audio that I record to another studio to clean it with Waves Restoration plugs. I would just buy them and use them but I find Waves to be extremely over priced and was hoping for alternatives.

Noise reduction algorithms are very complex and are expensive to develope. Actually, the Waves still leave a lot to be desired, they are just middle ground plugins in audio restoration. Cedar will blow you away compared to Waves, but we're not talking low end budgets anymore either then

PDC · 1st April 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by joenovice

I wish it were that simple.

I'm not even using an amp. I'm direct into an interface. I have shielded my guitars as much as possible with coppper (Jazzmaster, LesPaul, GB10) and noticed little change.

The hum is also present when using an amp. It's so bad I can't even use a distortion pedal.

Considering I rent the house, I don't think I am willing to pay an electrician. I'm sure his recommendation would be to remove all of the old "knob and tube" wiring which is ungrounded.

All of the equipment is on a grounded line but the presence of the ungrounded lines spew EM/RF. I'm affraid there is no solution short of buying restoration plugins.

Plug ins will not elimnate it completely. You could put RF chokes on everything not grounded. That would be the first thing that I would do.

What is around you? Do you have towers around?

31st March 2007	#1
soundslikejoe Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Carolina Guy Posts: 719 Thread Starter	Noise... Ground Issues... Noise Reduction Plugs I live in a very old house with some electrical problems (knob/tube). Some of the wiring is grounded but I still have EM/RF problems. Every guitar track I record has some noise. I've found by taking the file to another location that certain plugins can clean the audio without any problem (Waves Restoration Bundle). Do you know of any power conditioners that could solve this problem? (Monster) Can you recommend any plugins aside from the Waves bundle that can remove noise effectively? (Bias SoundSoap,TC NR,...?) Thnx

1st April 2007	#7
Unclenny Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Terra Firma Posts: 5,955	I addressed my noise issues effectively with a Boss NS 2 at the end of my guitar chain, a Monster Power Conditioner and Waves Z- Noise applied judiciously across individual tracks. The Boss NS 2 will impact your tone. A power conditioner (Furman, Monster) can make a big difference. Z - Noise is amazing if used with care. __________________ "The main thing is to have a gutsy approach....but use your head." Julia Child "An old dog has been taught a new trick." Silvertone "Sometimes invisible are these glistening threads........" Janni Littlepage Orient.....Organize.....Decide......Act Leonard Scaper The JD Leonard Band

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31st March 2007	#2
Jackie Treehorn Gear maniac Join Date: May 2006 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 207	I face the same situation: An older home that has intermittent (and hard for me to pinpoint) grounding problems. I just bought an ART "Clean Box II" that has made a HUGE difference on a couple of occasions. I've only had it for a week, so my experience with it is limited, but so far it seems like a great deal for under 50 bucks. For noise reduction plug-ins, I got a nice deal last year on the Sony Oxford Restoration Bundle. The de-noise plug-in can really clean up tons of hiss from noisy tracks--- and I can't hear ANY perceptible artifacts on guitars or vocals. It's amazing on most things, the exception being bass tracks. I can't even lightly touch those without artifacts. I've never used any other noise reduction plugs, so I don't have any frame of reference, but I'd buy the Sony stuff again in a heartbeat. Try a box like the one I mentioned. It might solve your issues for a fraction of the cost of plug-ins.

31st March 2007	#4
matthew.sawicki Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: St. Louis Posts: 522	Bad cable?

31st March 2007	#5
chrisgraff Gear addict Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 411	Guitar hum can be a very difficult/complex issue to deal with. All those balanced power boxes won't do a thing for RF/EMI, unless it's coming from the line itself. The $2000 unit I demoed actually made my guitar hum LOUDER. Start by shielding your guitars. Suhr makes a backplate that is supposed to work miracles for strats. The next step would be to hire an electrician qualified to deal with audio issues. Balanced power is not a cure all for guitar amps.