How do I get rid of hissing

[dny997]

Quick questions, I just upgraded my whole studio w/: Pro Tools, ADL 600, Mac Pro w/ 23" Mac monitor, a pair of Event Precision 8, ect... My prob is now I'm hearing some hissing and I was wondering what I could do to get rid of it? Note, it may have always been there but b/c of the older/cheaper equipment I had I just never noticed it? Also a friend of mine suggested that I should get rid of all my 1/4" mono cables/snakes and upgrade to 1/4" balanced cables. My question is, should I and if so what would I really benefit?

[Tibbon]

While overall, you should REALLY be using properly balanced cable with balanced gear...

I'd start at your monitors and work back. Make sure those have balanced cables, and then go back from there. Or start at the front of the chain. I'm guessing it's the cables going from your D/A to your monitors.

[rufus13]

Hiss is often from gain-staging problems. Nothing broken, just adjusted wrong.

In a simple set-up (short cables, no patch bay), bal or unbal connections makes little difference at line levels.

Are you using powered monitors? A monitor controller or analog preamp?

Chart your analog signal path from PT converter to speaker. You want full output from the D-A converters, then attenuation to desired level at the amp (or powered speaker) input.

Using digital attenuation (low output from D-A converter), and having the amp (or powered speaker) cranked could cause noticeable hiss.

kk.

[themaestro]

Originally Posted by rufus13

Hiss is often from gain-staging problems. Nothing broken, just adjusted wrong.

In a simple set-up (short cables, no patch bay), bal or unbal connections makes little difference at line levels.

Are you using powered monitors? A monitor controller or analog preamp?

Chart your analog signal path from PT converter to speaker. You want full output from the D-A converters, then attenuation to desired level at the amp (or powered speaker) input.

Using digital attenuation (low output from D-A converter), and having the amp (or powered speaker) cranked could cause noticeable hiss.

kk.

i had the problem too and i changed all my cables from el-cheapos to mogamis, bought new monitors, did the whole nine...all to no avail!!! only to find out that the glitch was the one thing that no on told me....the input on my protools was set on -10dbv instead of +4dbu....once i switched it back, the hiss was gone (and i needed a preamp on my frontend to get the proper gain going in to pt), but i was back in business! and oddly, when i brought back some el cheapo cables into my mix, they hardly paled in comparison to the mogamis and monsters, i think its a conspiracy!

[mixerguy]

do you have any pet snakes loose?

[Norman Lindsey]

Hiss is often from gain-staging problems. Nothing broken, just adjusted wrong.

that's where i would be looking. try and drive the preamp a bit harder.

[dny997]

thanx! Problem solved!

[themaestro]

Originally Posted by dny997

thanx! Problem solved!

what was it?

[dny997]

yes!

[Stitch333]

Originally Posted by themaestro

i had the problem too and i changed all my cables from el-cheapos to mogamis, bought new monitors, did the whole nine...all to no avail!!! only to find out that the glitch was the one thing that no on told me....the input on my protools was set on -10dbv instead of +4dbu....once i switched it back, the hiss was gone (and i needed a preamp on my frontend to get the proper gain going in to pt), but i was back in business! and oddly, when i brought back some el cheapo cables into my mix, they hardly paled in comparison to the mogamis and monsters, i think its a conspiracy!

I agree. Even more of a conspiracy is when you start making those mogami, canare, belden cables and realize how much someone was soaking the price for 10 mins of werk making the cable! www.redco.com is my cable place if anyone is looking...

[jaepilla]

how do you know if the cables are balanced? what exactly determines if they are balanced?

[khameln]

google:

http://www.mediacollege.com/audio/balanced/
http://www.tweakheadz.com/all_about_cables.htm

[AlexLakis]

Originally Posted by mixerguy

do you have any pet snakes loose?

That joke will never get old.

[rufus13]

Originally Posted by jaepilla

how do you know if the cables are balanced? what exactly determines if they are balanced?

The cables don't know if they are balanced or not. Just metal conductor and plastic insulator, without self-awareness. Electrons go where it's easiest.

"Balanced" transmission is determined by the input and output interfaces. UTP (unshielded twisted pair) works great, but you can add a shield or ground wire if you like. In audio, frequently connected with TRS plug/jack, XL-connector, or barrier strip.

"Unbalanced" is signal on one wire, ground on the other. Not interchangeable. Most often found on TS plug/jack or RCA push-on connector.

Local city or county library has this (and much more!) info available in-depth and for free via take-home paper editions.

kk.