• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Eliminating string noise from a recording...

#2
To be honest I'm a fan of the string noise, keeps it human!

But, if you are getting an inhuman amount of string sound then there are a few things you can do,

firstly, look at your technique, sounds obvious but thats what CAUSES the sound after all, eliminate it at source!

then look at the sound on your amp, cut the tops a bit.

Try moving the mic in front of the speaker around, see if any area accentuates the sound.

in your program cut the highs, listen to a really bad section on loop and sweep an eq with a huge boost until it sounds really bad! then when you are sure it is as bad as it can get change the big boost to acut, adjust to taste.

cubase is a good piece of software for editing, get out the scissor tool, find the offending slides and slice them out. depending on the bass line this could be really effective or destroy the line completely. If its the right sort of line you could easily get an un humanly clean recording really quickly!
 
#5
flats.. yes.

you can also go in an automate a small volume notch every time it happens. keep on mind that compression will make those noises louder.

i often do what i can to make them less noticeable, or try to avoid them in the first place, but after the fact, leave them there. chances are you wont hear them over the rest of the mix.
 
#6
Personally the string slide sound doesn't bother me, but you can always try "Fast Fret" which you apply to the strings to add a slight amount of lubrication.

Once something is recorded there isn't any easy way that I know of to get rid of that sound without ruining your original sound.
Unless the sound is occuring while you are muting the strings between chord changes. In that case you can simply edit it out the sound.
 
#7
Watch your technique, esp where your left (fretting) thumb is. Excessive string noise is often caused by grabbing the strings and not floating. Flats can help that, but will change your overall tone.

You can try some of the noise gate settings. I think Cubase has a frequency window you can set, so put that around the higher frequencies and have it gate-out anything that falls in that. That's part of the Compression settings under Dynamics, I believe.
 
#12
try using a low pass filter @ 2 khz or even lower.
(if you aren't slapping or using fx, just going for solid bass tone).
if it is going to get masked by other sources, why bother leaving a noise that will compete with the fidelity of the other tracks?
"slotting" frequencies by using high pass and low pass filters to keep source in specific ranges has been a common studio (and live) practice for many years, definitely worth a try.
 
#15
^ most of these responses are only temporary fixes. Work on your technique in your free time, and the string noise will gradually disappear. If you need it gone quickly then listen to the above posts. Flatwounds would get rid of the noise completely but you may or may not like the tone.
 
#16
Yup, technique first, but sometimes pickups are just hot and you have new strings. Don't be afraid of pedals, man. Get yourself a noise gate and set the threshold low enough to get rid of string talk, but keep your dynamics. ISP Decimator G String is excellent.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back