Mirco
268 posts
Jun 21, 2015
9:04 PM
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Hi, I'm collaborating with a buddy on SRV's "Mary Had a Little Lamb." He got a backing track, laid down some lead guitar, and sent me the file for harmonica. When I recorded my harmonica parts, I got some unwanted sound in the recording. Please listen for a short, additional electronic tone at the completion of each harmonica phrase:
To make the problem more noticeable, I isolated some of the harmonica parts in this one. It's most noticeable at the very end, around 39 seconds:
Here is the full recording:
What is this extra tone? How do I record better to get rid of it? I am using a Danelectro Honeytone Mini-Amp with my bullet mic. I am using a USB microphone. Is this about equipment? Is it about placement of the equipment?
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Marc Graci
YouTube Channel
Last Edited by Mirco on Jun 21, 2015 9:08 PM
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timeistight
1793 posts
Jun 21, 2015
9:49 PM
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Sounds like a guitar to me. Any idea how it got there?
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Komuso
623 posts
Jun 21, 2015
10:00 PM
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That sounds like (ha!) amplified electrical noise, either from your audio interface or the Honeytone.
Given the honeytone is a dirt cheapo toy amp I'd probably pick that as the culprit. It's probably the noise of the cheap crap components they use being amplified by the setup you have.
What is your signal chain?
How are you connecting the honeytone to the computer?
You say you are using a bullet with the honeytone but then you mention a USB mic.
It's all about component noise, amplification, and signal chain when it comes to recording.
To be honest I think the tone of it sounds horrible and you should try something else. Harsh and boomy almost.
Just try playing acoustic with a tight cup.
Or try recording it with different levels both on the amp and into the computer to find the sweet spot, not just maxed out which will amplify any noise issues.
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Paul Cohen aka Komuso Tokugawa
HarpNinja - Learn Harmonica Faster
Bringing the Boogie to the Bitstream
Last Edited by Komuso on Jun 21, 2015 10:06 PM
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Danny Starwars
258 posts
Jun 21, 2015
10:02 PM
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Yeah it's odd - it sounds like n equipment issue, something to do with the amp. A setting change might get rid of it.
EDIT: Oh, what Komuso said ...
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Last Edited by Danny Starwars on Jun 21, 2015 10:05 PM
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Mirco
269 posts
Jun 21, 2015
10:40 PM
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Thank you very much. To clarify for Komuso: I am playing into a bullet mic, through the Honeytone. I have the USB mic 8-10" from the Honeytone amp. The USB mic records the sound into Audacity.
I should attempt an acoustic recording, but I thought it wouldn't fit in with the song's pre-existing sound. I will also try another, better amp. It was pretty late when I recorded this at my apartment and I didn't want to get a noise complaint, so I went with the smallest thing I own.
I don't have a definite answer, but at least I have some possible solutions. Thank you. Anyone else want to chime in?
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Marc Graci
YouTube Channel
Last Edited by Mirco on Jun 21, 2015 10:41 PM
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Komuso
624 posts
Jun 21, 2015
11:45 PM
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Try recording in different mic/amp positions too (eg: not mic straight on) , maybe you can get a less harsh sound. Even drape a towel over the mic to attenuate the sound.
I've heard that sort of electrical interference before from the small jack mics, but not a USB one.
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Paul Cohen aka Komuso Tokugawa
HarpNinja - Learn Harmonica Faster
Bringing the Boogie to the Bitstream
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nacoran
8544 posts
Jun 22, 2015
12:10 AM
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Remember you always have the option to change acoustic tone after you've recorded it. It's much harder to go the other way.
Even without the metal tones you are talking about you have a fair amount of background noise. Try to get the mic away from sound sources like computer fans if you can. You could also use a little echo or reverb to get a fuller sound (although you can always do that after you record in audacity). Play around with the distance between the amp and the mic you are sending into the computer with too. That can change your sound a lot. It sounds like you may also be near the top of your recording levels. I'm not great at recording by any means, but I've found I push the gain from my harp mic to the amp to get some crunch, but then keep the volume on the amp fairly low.
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Nate
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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Komuso
625 posts
Jun 22, 2015
1:01 AM
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Play with your bullet cable too, that might be picking up some interference as well if it's next to the computer.
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Paul Cohen aka Komuso Tokugawa
HarpNinja - Learn Harmonica Faster
Bringing the Boogie to the Bitstream
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Diggsblues
1858 posts
Jun 22, 2015
2:57 AM
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On the isolated track it sound like your recording too hot. The Honeytone is a bit cold for my taste.
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rogonzab
754 posts
Jun 22, 2015
7:12 AM
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You are recording to hoot. Put the Mic closer to amp (at the speaker), so the proximity effect can give you a bit more bass, and put down the input level on your computer (or in audacity, is the slide whit the mic figure). This way you are not saturating the preamp of your soundcard whit a big sound, or whit to much gain if your mic can pick up sounds that are away from it and you are compensating this way.
Recording is an art, an, as waltertore said one time, is just like learning another instrument.
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Sorry for any misspell, english is not my first language.
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Mirco
270 posts
Jun 22, 2015
10:10 AM
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It sounds as if this really isn't a quick fix, but something I need to experiment with.
I think I will simplify as much as possible and record acoustically, right into my USB microphone. If that goes well, I will try using an amplifier, but keep the amp volume low and keep the amp/mic combo as far away from the computer and other noise as possible.
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Marc Graci
YouTube Channel
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tf10music
247 posts
Jun 22, 2015
10:48 AM
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Not sure what mic you're using, but if it's a USB mic, there's a chance that you're recording at 16bit. Now, the reason I bring this up is that it might be possible to EQ away a lot of the grating high end in that amp sound, but you have much less maneuverability at 16bit than at 24bit or 32bit.
But yeah, first deal with mic placement and amp setting to make sure that you're minimizing the sound as much as possible.
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timeistight
1795 posts
Jun 22, 2015
11:37 AM
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Am I the only one who's hearing an electric guitar being brushed or bumped at around 8, 11, 32 and 40 seconds of the "Mary'sProblem" track?
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Mirco
271 posts
Jun 22, 2015
12:21 PM
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Timeistight: It's certainly not an electric guitar. There wasn't one in the room with me. But that's exactly the sound I was trying to identify in this thread.
Komuso thinks that, "it's probably the noise of the cheap crap components [in the Honeytone] being amplified by the setup." I have no reason to disagree. Whatever the sound actually is, I have to just experiment to eliminate or minimize it. I'll post another recording when I do this acoustically, and hopefully it'll be much better.
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Marc Graci
YouTube Channel
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Mirco
272 posts
Jun 22, 2015
4:32 PM
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Today, I made another recording and followed many of the suggestions. I think it sounds better. What do you think?
This time, I got rid of the amp and played acoustically. I took care to play at a lower volume and to not "spike" the sound. I used the noise reduction filters on Audacity. It's cleaner.
Here's the track, with guitar:
Here's the track, harp only:
My next challenge is to try out some amps, so I can get a sound more suitable to the track. But at least it's clean! Thank you, everyone, and I'll keep you posted.
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Marc Graci
YouTube Channel
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nacoran
8550 posts
Jun 22, 2015
10:30 PM
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Remember, although playing softer can fix peaking levels, so can adjusting the gain levels, and sometimes that gives you a little more control. It's good to practice at low and high volumes, but I think it's easier to control your dynamics if you don't go too quiet (although the more you practice quiet the better your control of dynamics will get). It's easy, when recording soft to accidentally just give it, well I have no idea what to measure air flow in, psi, millibars or whatever, playing low volume it's very easy to just give a little puff too much and throw everything out of whack. And background noise can be heard louder too. That said, it sounds like you made a working combination of adjustments. I still think it could use something to round the tone a bit, a tighter cup or a (very) little more reverb, but that can come down to personal taste, so take it with a grain of salt.
Good job and enjoy that rush that comes with you manage to successfully troubleshoot something like that. :)
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Nate
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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ridge
625 posts
Jun 23, 2015
11:55 AM
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It's a ghost! You should leave that place at once.
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Ridge's YouTube
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Mirco
273 posts
Jun 23, 2015
3:48 PM
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Actually, ridge, the first time I recorded (not posted here), there was a woman's voice that kept saying my deceased father's full name, over and over again. And the date September 24, 2018. Does that mean anything to anyone?
I managed to get rid of it with Audacity's "ghost voice removal" filter.
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Marc Graci
YouTube Channel
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nacoran
8552 posts
Jun 23, 2015
3:53 PM
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Micro, funny you should mention that... I think the last time I was in audacity I was playing around with a reverse echo (like the harp in Zeppelin's 'When the Levee Breaks'). If you use it on a vocal it sound very much like a ghost. :)
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Nate
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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Mirco
274 posts
Jun 25, 2015
2:55 PM
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I feel pretty good about this track, now. The recording quality is much improved, and I changed up some of the parts that didn't match the groove. I managed to get electric on this one, too.
Feedback is very welcome.
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Marc Graci
YouTube Channel
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