Recording Level Question

[Kevin Caffrey]

Hello,

I'm new to this board and purchased a Tascam DP-24SD a few months ago. I'm just now beginning to use it and I noticed that when I plug my acoustic/electric guitar into the H output & switch it to the guitar mode, it seems like there is a lot of extra noise when recording. It does not sound as "quiet" as I envisioned a machine like this sounding (prior to this, I've used Roland's 880 DWS and as long as I'm not pushing the input level all the way up, there's very little noise coming through when recording).

I find it hard to believe that this machine would be like that, so is it possible I am doing something wrong that I'm just not realizing?

Thanks in advance,
Kevin

 

[-mjk-]

The machine-generated noise is negligible. If you're hearing noise, it's coming from whatever you are putting into that input. You can always turn the trim on the input down.

 

[Kevin Caffrey]

Thanks, that would be my take on it too, but there's a definite difference when I put the same instrument in my Roland VS880 and put the trim up to an acceptable volume to record, and when doing the same on the Tascam, it seems that to get to an acceptable volume, it comes with a lot of noise/hiss.

 

[Phil Tipping]

Welcome to the forum Kevin. Do you get any noise with the switch set to line?
If your guitar has its own pre-amp, you may not need the high-impedance and extra gain provided by input H in 'guitar mode'.
Update: if you are using a built-in pre-amp on the guitar, are the batteries ok?

 

[Kevin Caffrey]

I tried with both line and guitar, and the noise still came through. The guitar does have it's own pre-amp so perhaps I should just try it in input A. Battery is new so I don't think that's a concern. Thank you for the feedback. If anyone else has any suggestions, they are appreciated!

 

[Phil Tipping]

...so perhaps I should just try it in input A

It would be useful as a comparison in case there really is a problem with input H or its socket, but just to clarify, when input H's switch is in the line position, it should behave exactly the same as inputs A-G.

 

[mariusvideo]

Hello, with guitars may be a grounding problem.

 

[Kevin Caffrey]

If it were a grounding problem, any suggestions to resolve?

 

[-mjk-]

With the guitar volume turned up so you can hear the noise:

If you palm mute the guitar and rotate around in a circle, is there a perceptible change in the level of the noise?

 

[Kevin Caffrey]

Will check that out when I can, mjk.

Thanks for the response.

Kevin

 

[dctdct]

I suggest checking also this very well explained investigation about noise levels on DP devices.
https://www.tascamforums.com/threads/residual-white-noise-on-dp24sd-headphone-output.8092/
Follow also the linked additional information in the thread. All in all it gives a very good explanation of all the involved details of this fact.
And how to mitigate it.

(as soon I understood the problem I got a control preamp which gets the output of my DP devices. I have now a quiet clean signal on phones and monitors)

 

[Kevin Caffrey]

Thank you, dct. I will check that out!

Kevin

 

[Sahara]

Thanks, that would be my take on it too, but there's a definite difference when I put the same instrument in my Roland VS880 and put the trim up to an acceptable volume to record, and when doing the same on the Tascam, it seems that to get to an acceptable volume, it comes with a lot of noise/hiss.

Hi.
I had the same problem and I fix it by connecting a noise gate pedal between my guitar and the dp24sd.

 

[Kevin Caffrey]

Thanks, Sahara. What noise gate pedal do you use?

 

[Sahara]

https://www.amazon.com/Rowin-Guitar-Killer-Suppressor-Effect/dp/B01IV0CX7S

 

[-mjk-]

I had the same problem and I fix it by connecting a noise gate pedal between my guitar and the dp24sd.

You do realize of course that a noise gate does not remove the noise. It mutes the input below a threshold. When you start playing the gate opens and you hear the audio - but the noise is still there, masked by the audio. A better solution is to find the cause and fix it.

 

[Sahara]

In my case the noise came from the guitar, not the dp24sd. In fact, I tried several guitars. The noise was so much that the signal meters moved even when I wasn't playing the guitar. The noise gate pedal solved this for me, and left the audio signal completely clean.

 

[-mjk-]

The noise gate pedal solved this for me, and left the audio signal completely clean.

This is what I'm trying to tell you. The noise gate does not remove the noise from the signal. You may not be able to hear the noise when you are playing but it is still there, under the signal. All the noise gate does is mute the audio when the signal falls below a certain threshold. I use them also occasionally, but with the understanding that the noise is there and can produce intermodulation issues.

 

[Mark77]

I always prefer to record acoustic guitars with a mic or two (stereo). IMO it makes for a better recording.

 

[-mjk-]

@Mark77, Not everyone has a live room for recording.