What's the best way to nuke noise from single coil pickups while recording my guitar?

April 21, 2004 1:16 AM

Guitar recording question: What's the best way to nuke 60hz hum and monitor noise from my single coil pickups? [more inside]

I'm using Magix Studio 7 software, and my signal path looks like this:

Guitar -> Zoom 505-II pedal -> Computer

The single coils on my guitar only sound this noisy with either my PC monitor, a dimmer switch or flourescent light on, so I need a way to either cancel that noise or record with the monitor off.

posted by arto to Technology (8 answers total)

Try using a sound gate/ noise gate. Most FX pedal firms make them.

I built my one from a kit bought at Maplin's & it does the job.
posted by the cuban at 1:23 AM on April 21, 2004

Response by poster: Actually, I just figured out that standing about two feet away from the computer, turned away at a bit of an angle, nixes all that noise. Which means I just need to learn my HD recorder's keyboard shortcuts, I guess.

BTW, the Zoom pedal I'm using has a built-in noise gate, but that only cuts out noise when I'm not playing, not when I am.
posted by arto at 2:35 AM on April 21, 2004

Get an LCD screen. Really. You'll pat yourself on the back afterwards. If distance from the PC is still a problem, invest in a decent wireless keyboard and mouse. You'll be able to stand a guitar-lead-length away and still record. Provided you can see the monitor :)
posted by armoured-ant at 9:37 AM on April 21, 2004

yeah, the noise gate is a threshold-type device. once the signal exceeds the threshold, it all goes through, 60hz and all. notch filter? as in, something you could "tune" to 60hz that would allow everything above or below to pass? are such things available? (i'm not doing any recording but this is an annoyance for me just practicing, and if i kick on any kind of gain device, like my tube screamer stompbox, well, it obviously gets ten times worse.)
posted by quonsar at 11:10 AM on April 21, 2004

I have heard of people using parametric EQs to do just what you are describing, quonsar: set the frequency to be cut/boosted to 60 hz, set the bandwidth around that frequency as narrow as possible, and cut as much as you can.
posted by crunchburger at 11:20 AM on April 21, 2004

That approach would probably help, but there are two problems:

• 60hz is pretty close to the low E string's 82.5hz(?) so you need a pretty narrow filter
• 60 cycle hum is a square wave so you'd also need to notch out 120hz, 180hz, 240hz, 300hz, etc.

posted by timeistight at 11:42 AM on April 21, 2004

I know a guy who recommended the Behringer Shark to me once. IF you'd rather kill the noise than kill the source, this'll do the job.
posted by armoured-ant at 4:17 PM on April 21, 2004

timeistight, good points. and i bet the remaining square wave minus the 60hz notch would manifest as clicking? damn! years ago, i stood behind wings stadium and eavesdropped (all gape-mouthed star-struck fanboy, ya know!) on chris squire and eddie offord discussing hum and clicking noises. i wonder...
posted by quonsar at 9:28 PM on April 21, 2004