Hiss sound from Interface

Discussion in 'Soundgear' started by Nehal, Jan 8, 2020.

  1. Nehal

    Nehal Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2019
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    16
    I’ve a Behringer UM2 and a sire V7 2nd gen jazz bass guitar. When I plugin my guitar to interface and my interface to my Mac n open Logic Pro, I get a hiss sound CONTINUOUSLY. Ive tried several cables and 4-5 other active jazz basses. I’ve verified it’s not a pickup or cable problem. My home is grounded. I get the hiss even with the gain knob 0 on my interface and my bass guitar. I get it with both active and passive modes. The batteries to my bass are brand new. This is not started now. It started from the day I got my interface. It’s not even an year old! I won’t plugin the charger to my Mac when I’m tracking bass.

    Where else could be the issue? Do help. Thanks. It’s annoying to have the hiss ALWAYS.
     
  2.  
  3. Kwissbeats

    Kwissbeats Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2014
    Messages:
    1,559
    Likes Received:
    652
    Interesting, have you tried putting a DI in between?
    These things are actually quite common, maybe some musician you know can lend you one.
     
  4. Nehal

    Nehal Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2019
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    16
    The preamp in my bass itself brings the signal to line level. So, why do you think a DI box might be required? Thanks.
     
  5. Baxter

    Baxter Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2011
    Messages:
    3,828
    Likes Received:
    2,657
    Location:
    Sweden
    Impedance. Also, no bass outputs line level.
    Borrow a DI box and try it out. :like:

    Edit: I misread. You seem to have had this issue even before you started plugging anything into the audio interface, so I doubt it's the bass. You might want to check for ground loop, EMI, swap to balanced cables, etc.
     
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2020
  6. emmepicsd

    emmepicsd Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2017
    Messages:
    23
    Likes Received:
    11
    Hi,
    I think it's an impedance problem. Have you checked both line in ed inst in?
     
  7. Nehal

    Nehal Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2019
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    16
    Ohh. That is sad. It's better I get a DI box for myself. So, no matter what interface I use, I will be getting this hiss sound if I Plugin my bass in active mode to the interface without a DI Box?

    DI Box is compulsory for bass if there's no amp?
     
  8. Daskeladden

    Daskeladden Rock Star

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2018
    Messages:
    985
    Likes Received:
    373
    What it could be is that you have the pc and audio interface in the same power input in your wall. If you have another power input in your wall try and separate pc and audio interface in the power chain
    so:
    Don't put the speakers and audio interface power in the same power strip
    Don't put the pc power and audio interface power in the same power strip
    Don't put the pc power and speaker power in the same power strip
     
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2020
  9. Nehal

    Nehal Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2019
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    16
    I don’t connect my charger while I track bass. Also, mine is a USB powered interface. I will have to plug it in to my Mac to get the signal. It’s a Behringer UM2.
     
  10. Olymoon

    Olymoon MODERATOR Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2012
    Messages:
    5,814
    Likes Received:
    4,461
    Does the hiss occurs with your computer turned off?
    Have you tried with another computer?
    Some computer's fans and hd can emit high frequencies magnetic noises.
     
  11. Kwissbeats

    Kwissbeats Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2014
    Messages:
    1,559
    Likes Received:
    652
    do u use the instrument insert? (that should be high impedance)
    you're not by any chance using a TRS cable?
    do u use the original usb cable for the interface?
     
  12. playtime

    playtime Rock Star

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2016
    Messages:
    654
    Likes Received:
    448
    THIS solved all my hiss/hum/buzz problems. You may want to try it out :guru:
     
    • Interesting Interesting x 2
    • List
  13. Daskeladden

    Daskeladden Rock Star

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2018
    Messages:
    985
    Likes Received:
    373
    but what about your speakers are them in the same power strip as pc?
     
  14. DoubleTake

    DoubleTake Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2017
    Messages:
    2,184
    Likes Received:
    1,147
    With the gain on inputs down, you have eliminated the preamps as source of 'hiss'.

    You can't turn off the computer, as that supplies power for the UM2.
    When you mute all actual audio from the computer, the only things left are UM2 mixing circuit / headphone amp .... and the USB.

    My PreSonus unit has a "mix" control that I can use to turn down all USB audio.
    But it does not work fully- I can still hear a tiny bit if I have my DAW playing at full volume.
    But it at least was another stage I could turn down that was closer to the main/headphone output.
    If I was getting USB leakage at the input of the mixing stage of the unit (even with computer audio muted) it might be a clue.
    USB might still leak into the mixer output stage, so it's not a perfect test either.
    It looks like yours has no such knob anyway.

    Sometimes that USB leakage will have a high-frequency 'whine' in with the 'hiss' and that is a clue it is a 'leakage' problem and not really audio amp stages. Poor design of those amp stages might allow it, but the USB whine would be the true source.

    I wish these interfaces had "battery power" or wall-wart power so you could eliminate the USB and connection to the computer completely. Maybe I will create a wall-wart adapter to test audio devices and sell a million on ebay. :rofl:
     
  15. Voo

    Voo Platinum Record

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2011
    Messages:
    288
    Likes Received:
    175
    This is not exactly on topic but real close (yours is a hiss)

    I was getting digital noise and whine playing my guitar at my desk as usual. My computer is 5 feet away BUT
    My keyboard is is very close. Its a keyboard that lights up with leds under the keys.

    Took me years to figure out the noise was the leds, Once I shut off the leds in the keyboard the noise went away.
    Ended up creating a profile in the software for playing guitar and all is well.

    If you play guitar close to a fancy keyboard this information may help you.
     
    • Interesting Interesting x 1
    • List
  16. Daskeladden

    Daskeladden Rock Star

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2018
    Messages:
    985
    Likes Received:
    373
    One other thing I forgot to ask about is if your using a laptop? Usually a laptop can create problems when you using a USB port to power the interface. Try it on a desktop and see if the same problem occurs. If not I would say it is related to the laptop and the limitations cause of the battery. I don't think it would help to power the laptop with the power in the wall cause the laptop settings are still on battery settings.
     
  17. Smoove Grooves

    Smoove Grooves Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2019
    Messages:
    5,209
    Likes Received:
    1,980
     
  18. Element23

    Element23 Ultrasonic

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2018
    Messages:
    48
    Likes Received:
    26
    Location:
    France
    Hello,

    Do you use a TRS cable on both ends? If you use a TRS output on your bass, and XLR input on your interface (some people do for instruments :dunno:) then it might be a problem of cable symmetry. Happenned to me once with a DSP, that makes a kind of ground hum/hiss that is constantly there. because cable ground is only connected on one side.
    I also had the problem with a synth input on my audio interface, constantly making a hiss in ableton. That was a power plug problem as @Daskeladden said. This is a totally common thing.

    EDIT : read too fast the first time. Both of those solutions are not suitable for your problem ^^'
     
  19. Smoove Grooves

    Smoove Grooves Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2019
    Messages:
    5,209
    Likes Received:
    1,980
    Too fast=incorrectly/didn't read. lol
     
  20. Daskeladden

    Daskeladden Rock Star

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2018
    Messages:
    985
    Likes Received:
    373
    @Smoove Grooves so does that mean he have a laptop? Like a Macbook or something like that?
     
  21. Nehal

    Nehal Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2019
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    16
    Yes. I use a MacBook. Laptop.
     
Loading...
Similar Threads - Hiss sound Interface Forum Date
A hiss sound from MacBook pro 2012 when audio interface is connected Computer Hardware Jan 12, 2020
Faint background hissing noise due to Ozone 11 Mixing and Mastering Mar 18, 2024
Jupiter 4 VST tape hiss? Software Nov 14, 2023
FL Studio... Clicks, Pops Hisses.. FL Studio Dec 25, 2021
Lustiges aus dem verschissenen I-net! DE Nov 5, 2020
Loading...