Noise existent when there are no playable tracks

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exitmix Author

Level 1

16 points

Noise existent when there are no playable tracks

Hey fellas here's the situation.

I'm mixing a song using an up-to-date version of Logic X (10.1.1).

All original all up-to-date software. DAW, plugins (Waves, Slate, Goodhertz etc.)

There are exactly 60 tracks.

Only 24 of these tracks have plugins.

Some of these 24 tracks have a single plugin slapped on while others have up to 4 plugins at once.

I always leave a 4 bar count-in at the start of the song.

Now when the song is played from the top (4 bar count-in included), I hear white noise.

On other Logic X files where there isn't a single plugin slapped on, there isn't a noise.

How do I get rid of this noise?

Because it exists in the bounce files as well.

Why is there even noise on an empty space?

4 bars worth at the start and throughout the entire song as well.

What seems to work is if I slap on Waves' X Noise on the master but it compromises the top end.

Another thing that works is if I am inactive on Logic X (the DAW is still open in the back haha) and come back say after 10 minutes.

Meaning to say that the issue is apparently intermittent.

Posted on Aug 11, 2015 2:50 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 11, 2015 3:52 AM in response to exitmix

Assuming the noise isn't on the actual files, it definitely sounds like the plug-ins are the culprit. If it is actual white noise, it could be a rogue plug-in, but it sounds more likely that what you are hearing is the accumulative "hiss" that many vintage modelled plug-ins have (eg. Waves PuigTec EQ). In most cases, you can switch this to "off" on the plug-in :

If you're using a lot of vintage modelled plug-ins this will obviously multiply the "hiss".

The other option is to put some bypass automation on the 4 bar pre-roll for each of the affected tracks. Other than that, it could be a hardware issue - have you confirmed the noise is still apparent when playing back bounces on another system?

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Answer 2

Pancenter

Level 6

14,788 points

Aug 11, 2015 4:09 AM in response to exitmix

To add... if you have recorded audio, like a guitar track or one of the guitar modeling Amp/Plugins... and a compressor, the compressor will bring up the white noise level of any hiss on the track or the hiss of the modeling plugins.

Also, make sure all the inputs on your interface are lowered no tracks record enabled, also before playing back create an empty MIDI or audio track set to no output and select that track before playing the song.

The automation is a good idea.

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Answer 3

exitmix Author

Level 1

16 points

Aug 11, 2015 12:00 PM in response to F-L-E-X-I-S

Hi Flexis thanks for your reply I really appreciate it.

The noise isn't on the actual files. All 60 tracks have been cleaned up.

I believe the plugins are the culprit too, but why though?

It seems that if I have a certain number of plugins, this will happen.

What is a rogue plug-in?

All vintage modelled plug-in "hiss" are always turned off in my mixes. Bypass automation is a good idea however they exist within the song as well (this particular song has an quiet middle section and the song has a "retard" ending which I have applied a fade-out to all tracks but its still there at the end it'll just resurface at the end). The noise is apparent on other systems.

Absolutely perplexing.

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Answer 4

exitmix Author

Level 1

16 points

Aug 11, 2015 12:06 PM in response to Pancenter

Hi Pancenter thank you for your words as well.

I understand what you're saying because I've experienced it myself, however in this case, there are no compressors on the amp modeller tracks.

All channel input gain on interface are not used. Good ideas thank you guys.

I'm honestly wondering how this can happen. 4 bars of emptiness at the start but there's white noise. I pause playback and there isn't any more noise.

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Answer 5

Jan 4, 2016 9:28 PM in response to exitmix

I am having this same problem. And I have also tried to use X-Noise to remove the hiss which does work, but it compromises all the high end as well and makes the song sound slightly muffled, albeit after removing the hiss. If someone has a solution for this problem it would most greatly be appreciated!

I rarely post to forums, but it seems lately people don't have solutions that actually work. If I figure out the solution I will post it back here.

Johnny

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