#1725969 - 03/30/07 01:02 PM
Acceptable Noise Levels and Solutions
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Ken Walker
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Registered: 03/30/07
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I'm a voice over artist and musician and I've setup a new studio. I built a room inside of a larger room and I've got fairly good results with room quietness. I've treated my walls and I have a bass trap. Here's my problem though.
What is an acceptable level of electronic noise or ambience maybe. I'm using an Edirol USB Audio Capture device and a Marshall MXL 992 mic. My computer is outside of the recording room and the room itself seems quiet, but if I check levels in the room (using Audition's preview), they bounce around -40dB with the mic at the gain I use. If I turn the gain all the way down, my levels drop to around -60dB. Now, I can't use the mic at that point obviously, but with the gain up, since I'm digital, is there anything I can do to get my noise levels down from -40dB, or is that considered OK?
I'm picking up a Symmetrix 528 today, which will cut the noise when I'm not talking, but I just want things as quiet as I can get them.
Thanks,
Ken
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#1725971 - 03/30/07 01:07 PM
Re: Acceptable Noise Levels and Solutions
[Re: Ken Walker]
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Ken Walker
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I wanted to add something. After I record, I change to spectral view in Audition, here I can see frequencies. There is a small signal, at very low frequency. There is also a thin band of high frequency that is visible even when I'm not talking. I typically capture this pattern and remove the noise with Audition's noise filter. This works, but I'd like to find the source and eliminate it if possible. Where do I start?
Ken
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#1725995 - 03/30/07 01:35 PM
Re: Acceptable Noise Levels and Solutions
[Re: Ken Walker]
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Ken Walker
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I've found the source of the high frequency noise. It was a piece of equipment and the mic was picking it up.
The low frequency noise is around 200Hz and down. It's not really audible, but what could it be?
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#1726041 - 03/30/07 02:48 PM
Re: Acceptable Noise Levels and Solutions
[Re: Ken Walker]
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Griffinator
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the rumble of a refrigerator compressor or other constant-on large appliance can create that LF noise.
Edited by Griffinator (03/30/07 02:48 PM)
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#1726048 - 03/30/07 02:58 PM
Re: Acceptable Noise Levels and Solutions
[Re: Griffinator]
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Ken Walker
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Well, no refrigerator on my floor. I did discover this, it doesn't appear to be mic related, because if I unplug the mic, that real LF is still picked up. So either it is just that the Edirol has some noise to it and I'm just being picky, or there is some interference. I'll start checking cables maybe. What about acceptable noise floors? What are you working with?
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#1726054 - 03/30/07 03:03 PM
Re: Acceptable Noise Levels and Solutions
[Re: Ken Walker]
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Griffinator
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Edirol didn't publish input noise specs. Interesting that the noise is still in the signal path without the mic.
They claim SNR on the output jacks at 105dB - but that says nothing about the input.
What setting are you using? 96? 48? 44.1?
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#1726055 - 03/30/07 03:04 PM
Re: Acceptable Noise Levels and Solutions
[Re: Griffinator]
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Griffinator
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Oh - I was assuming you're using the UA25...
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#1726095 - 03/30/07 04:12 PM
Re: Acceptable Noise Levels and Solutions
[Re: Ken Walker]
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miroslav
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What about acceptable noise floors?
That's really up to you and your ears...and less about the specs.
Also...the Edirol and the MXL and even the Symmetrix...well…I wouldn’t call them high-end gear as far as low noise is concerned.
Not to mention that your computer itself may be the source of the noise...?
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miroslav - miroslavmusic.com"Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important."
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#1727634 - 04/02/07 03:52 PM
Re: Acceptable Noise Levels and Solutions
[Re: miroslav]
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Ken Walker
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I'm recording at 44.1 for now. It's only voiceover work. I will say this though, it looks like the problem is all but gone. First, there was a slight 'buzz/hum' coming from the Edirol (from the front) that went away after moving the unit around on my desk (EFI?) and second the Symetrix processor is totally awesome! I'm at around -60dB right now and I'm very happy with that. I don't even have insulation in my walls yet, just the inside drywall and acoustic treatment. At this point, during playback, I hear no sound but voice, and that's what matters. Thanks for the input.
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#1890126 - 02/12/08 08:38 AM
Re: Acceptable Noise Levels and Solutions
[Re: Ken Walker]
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Cristiano
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cooll....................
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#1890385 - 02/12/08 01:49 PM
Re: Acceptable Noise Levels and Solutions
[Re: Ken Walker]
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audiorulez
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...with the mic at the gain I use...
What is your nominal input level dbfs at that setting?
Edirol unfortunately does not list the 0dbu reference to dbfs, so I recommend using -15dbfs as this reference. Set your nominal input level to that, and then see what your noise level is.
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