Noise During Recording: Part 5
Instrument noise is the focus of today’s continuing series on troubleshooting noise issues in the home studio. Sometimes this can add character, like creaks and cracks in an old piano. Sometimes the noise is not as flattering. This is most often an issue with electric guitars/basses and their pedals and amps. Old synths or pedals with dying circuitry can also introduce unflattering noise into your recordings.
Solutions to Instrument Noise in the Studio
If you have noise that is tied only to a specific instrument or pedal, then you’ve found your problem. Turn various gear on and off, listening for noise, until you find the offending piece of gear. Once you’ve isolated the noise to a specific instrument or pedal, try using a noise gate or otherwise muting the track when the instrument is not playing. The noise will still be there, but it’s much less apparent when the instrument is also making sound.
2. Make sure all amps are in good working specification. Check the tubes on your tube amps.
3. Make sure all instrument cables are in great shape and not shorted out, with good solid connections. Make sure you check any pedal board cables.
4. If you’re using single coil pickups on a guitar/bass, try rotating your body in 360 degrees while playing. You can sometimes find a specific orientation between the amp and the instrument that improves the noise.
5. Try using an instrument with humbucking pickups. These are less noisy than single coil pickups, but also have a different tone.
