Eliminating hum while recording

knarleybass · #1 07-09-2006, 12:28 AM

Hi,
I am sure this has been coverd before, I am recording at home using a guitar and bass equiped with EMG Pickups, and I am getting a terrible 60 cycle hum, it changes in volume as I move the guitar or bass the volume of the hum changes... Is there any way to eliminate this hum? I am recording with a Mac and Flat Panel monitors, (not CRT).

thanks

Howard

ogrossman · #2 07-09-2006, 12:34 AM

First thing I always try is to take all your power from the same outlet. That helps eliminate ground loops.

D-Bone · #3 07-09-2006, 01:01 AM

Grounding issues are always a concern when recording. First off, what type of bass is it? (P, J, etc?) For instance,the easiest way to get a Jazz to quiet down is to balance the volume knobs, but being as I don't know what kind of bass you've got, there could be bigger grounding issues. I would also make SURE I was using a good solid instrument cable. (I bought a Fender/Craver Studio cable, expressly for recording.)

If you're getting a Hum with a Precision bass, you have something wrong. (Shielding, ground wire to the bridge, etc).

Are you recording thru a D/I? out of the 1/4" inputs ? If so, I'd use the XLR outs. The extra ground also cuts noise and sounds better. If you're running in with USB, again I suggest buying a better cable, suited for recording.

In any case, you're going to have to give more details.......

D-Bone · #4 07-09-2006, 01:01 AM

Grounding issues are always a concern when recording. First off, what type of bass is it? (P, J, etc?) For instance,the easiest way to get a Jazz to quiet down is to balance the volume knobs, but being as I don't know what kind of bass you've got, there could be bigger grounding issues. I would also make SURE I was using a good solid instrument cable. (I bought a Fender/Craver Studio cable, expressly for recording.)

If you're getting a Hum with a Precision bass, you have something wrong. (Shielding, ground wire to the bridge, etc).

Are you recording thru a D/I? out of the 1/4" inputs ? If so, I'd use the XLR outs. The extra ground also cuts noise and sounds better. If you're running in with USB, again I suggest buying a better cable, suited for recording.

In any case, you're going to have to give more details.......

knarleybass · #5 07-09-2006, 01:09 AM

I am recording with a Sadowsky Bass with Stock electronics and pickups, and my guitar is equiped with an EMG 81 pickup, both should be pretty quiet, everything is plugged into one outlet, bass is recorded with a DI, Guitar is recorded through a mic'ed amp.

FunkSlap89 · #6 07-09-2006, 04:34 PM

I don't know if anyone else has experienced this, but whenever i bring my pickups to close to the computer tower, i get an aweful hum from my amp. Try recording further away from the computer itself.

Rem · #7 07-21-2006, 11:55 PM

try turning off you computer screen, you pickups "pick" it up and causes them to hum , crazy, but it works

Elemetal · #8 07-21-2006, 11:58 PM

Monitor off on computer and any electronics such as DVD player if it's on and tv and such.