hiss reduction

[newie]

New to home recording. Singer/songwriter/guitarist.
Just set up home studio with mbox mini, Protools 7.4, Mac G5. Dissapointed in the level of hiss I'm getting with guitar DI'd in. Got to have the pad on and gains up real high to get a decent level. Any guidance as to wherein lies the problem? Is it the capability of the mbox? Any recommended solutions. Appreciated.

[Ryan Young]

If you're using a CRT monitor, face away from it with your guitar. I've noticed that alone may help a lot. Press the "pad" button and see if it helps with the level. Good luck.

[DigiTechSupt]

Originally Posted by newie

Got to have the pad on and gains up real high to get a decent level.

That seems contradictory - why would you put the pad in and then turn up the gain? Does it overload with the pad out? Putting the pad in and turning the gain way up is almost assuredly going to give you more hiss than keeping the pad out and reducing the gain.

Which input are you using? If it's input #1, do you have the Mic/DI switch in the proper position?

What type of guitar is this - active, passive, single coil or ?

[newie]

thanks mate. No, I'm not using a CRT monitor. Having the pad in does cut the hiss to a certain gain level but in chasing an increase in signal level with the pad in, the hiss cuts back in.

[newie]

thanks. With the pad in there is a reduction in hiss at lower level gain but I have to increase the gain to get more signal with the pad in, then the hiss starts cutting back in.
It doesn't overlaod with pad out but the hiss cuts in at earlier gain levels.
Its an acoustic guitar with pick up (BBand). I'm plugging in to line 1 using the inbuilt DI.

[Craig F]

the hiss is coming in at the same relative gain level
w/ the pad in it takes more gain to reach the same level of hiss than w/ the pad out
(I'm going to guess 20 dB is the pad value) so probably a 1/4 to a 1/3 more of the gain knobs travel is needed w/ the pad in to get the same level of signal and hiss/noise.

[newie]

thanks Craig. Have come to this understanding, which is good learning wise. Tried Pre-amping as an experiment but as you say, but the hiss is still there at the same relative gain level.

[newie]

Workin my way thru it all. By a process of elimination and trying other things out, thinkin my problem with hiss is most probably directly related to my acoustic guitar/pick up, plugged in line 1, DI button in. But got to overcome this. The hiss cuts in half way up the gain on my mbox mini, needing my gain at about 70%. Anyone with knowledge of acoustic guitar pickups causing buzz would be appreciated.

[newie]

hiss not buzz, definitely.

[Craig F]

type/model of pick-up would help