Hissing and noise

[Marty C]

Anyone having any issues with hiss and/or noise in the signal chain? After I make a voiceprint, I have hiss. It almost sounds like there is an issue with signal strength.

[Caleb_Elling]

Hey Marty,
I've talked to a couple of people who have had noise issues when using passive/low-output pickups. The Voiceprint creation process brings up the signal level of certain frequencies so that it can sound more like the guitar, which can raise the noise level in some cases.

Which pickup(s) are you using?

[jrobison11]

I am interested in picking up a Voiceprint for my acoustic guitars and have read this issue elsewhere. I recently acquired a Waterloo WL-K (Kel Kroydon style) which has a passive i-beam pickup. I don't want to add an internal preamp as the guitar is feather light. I've been looking at the VPDI and Para DI. In your opinion, is the VPDI alone enough to send a strong signal to the FOH (assuming I use a short cable between the guitar and VPDI) and what is the workaround for the weak signal during the capture process of the Voiceprint? Or is the a better setup you would suggest for the passive i-beam in a live situation for a small bodied guitar. I would only use this guitar for more intimate solo sets and not for a louder full band setting.

[Marty C]

[QUOTE=Caleb_Elling;n10839]Hey Marty,
I've talked to a couple of people who have had noise issues when using passive/low-output pickups. The Voiceprint creation process brings up the signal level of certain frequencies so that it can sound more like the guitar, which can raise the noise level in some cases.

Which pickup(s) are you using? [/QUOTE]

Hi Caleb,
Taylor ES-2. When I bypass the Voiceprint, my direct signal is much stronger than the Voiceprint. If offering that helps any.

I also have a Martin with an Anthem SL and I have the same issue with this.

I am feeding everything into a Bose S1 Pro. I have no issues with hiss plugging in direct to the S1 Pro.

I must be doing something wrong in the creation. Other than the hiss, the Voiceprint sounds great.

Forgot to mention I get the hiss when nothing is plugged into the unit.

[Guitarune]

Marty, to get better S/N ratio, increase the level of the voiceprint so that it matches the bypassed level. This will also make it easier to blend between direct and VP signal.

[Caleb_Elling]

[QUOTE=jrobison11;n10842]I am interested in picking up a Voiceprint for my acoustic guitars and have read this issue elsewhere. I recently acquired a Waterloo WL-K (Kel Kroydon style) which has a passive i-beam pickup. I don't want to add an internal preamp as the guitar is feather light. I've been looking at the VPDI and Para DI. In your opinion, is the VPDI alone enough to send a strong signal to the FOH (assuming I use a short cable between the guitar and VPDI) and what is the workaround for the weak signal during the capture process of the Voiceprint? Or is the a better setup you would suggest for the passive i-beam in a live situation for a small bodied guitar. I would only use this guitar for more intimate solo sets and not for a louder full band setting. [/QUOTE]

I've had pretty good results using the iBeam Passive with the VPDI, but since it doesn't have a proper input-gain stage, it won't have as much output as the Para DI. Some people have definitely been having noise issues with low output pickups, so that is definitely something to consider. The Para DI and the iBeam have been a great pair for 25 years or more, so that's an easy combo to recommend.

[Caleb_Elling]

[QUOTE=Marty C;n10844]

Hi Caleb,
Taylor ES-2. When I bypass the Voiceprint, my direct signal is much stronger than the Voiceprint. If offering that helps any.

I also have a Martin with an Anthem SL and I have the same issue with this.

I am feeding everything into a Bose S1 Pro. I have no issues with hiss plugging in direct to the S1 Pro.

I must be doing something wrong in the creation. Other than the hiss, the Voiceprint sounds great.

Forgot to mention I get the hiss when nothing is plugged into the unit. [/QUOTE]

If you use the Bypass or Mute button in the app, does that get rid of the noise?

I've seen a couple of cases where muting or bypassing the VPDI isn't getting rid of the noise, which tells me that the noise isn't coming from the Voiceprint. My suspicion is that there is some interference being generated by the DI that is being picked up by the amp/speaker. It's hard to say though because I haven't been able to reproduce the same kind of noise here at the shop.

We have an S1, but it stopped working after a few months of using it.

[Caleb_Elling]

[QUOTE=Caleb_Elling;n10854]

If you use the Bypass or Mute button in the app, does that get rid of the noise?

I've seen a couple of cases where muting or bypassing the VPDI isn't getting rid of the noise, which tells me that the noise isn't coming from the Voiceprint. My suspicion is that there is some interference being generated by the DI that is being picked up by the amp/speaker. It's hard to say though because I haven't been able to reproduce the same kind of noise here at the shop.

We have an S1, but it stopped working after a few months of using it. [/QUOTE]

Also, the VP level compared to the Bypass level is quieter. So you usually need to bring up the VP Level to balance that out. Doing that should also help the signal to noise ratio.

[Marty C]

Hi Caleb,
I ended up returning the voiceprint. Just wasn't for me. I guess I am a knob twister. I instead purchased a Venue DI. Much more my speed. Super quiet and easy to achieve a great sound.

[Caleb_Elling]

[QUOTE=Marty C;n10883]Hi Caleb,
I ended up returning the voiceprint. Just wasn't for me. I guess I am a knob twister. I instead purchased a Venue DI. Much more my speed. Super quiet and easy to achieve a great sound. [/QUOTE]

The Venue is an amazing piece of gear! And it has a lot of knobs :)

Sorry the VPDI didn't work out for you.

[blaineh]

Hiss when vpdi connected to other pedals. I've 4 LR align pedals, and 4 Boss pedals. I have tc electronics tuner/buffer at beginning. LR Bg Venue is at the end. I run rechargeable isolated supplies for everything except the VPDI, which currently is on its own supplied ps. If I turn vpdi on at same time as everything else, or if I turn vpdi on first, I get hiss. If I turn on everything else on first, let it sit a few seconds, then vpdi, It seems ok. I'll be getting in a 6000mah 12v 3a talentcell supply for vpdi and only it. Hopefully this rig will be totally quiet then. I think somehow vpdi interference causes issues with smps or the dc/dc converters in these isolated power supplies. I'll keep a eye on this and report back

[Caleb_Elling]

[QUOTE=blaineh;n11377]Hiss when vpdi connected to other pedals. I've 4 LR align pedals, and 4 Boss pedals. I have tc electronics tuner/buffer at beginning. LR Bg Venue is at the end. I run rechargeable isolated supplies for everything except the VPDI, which currently is on its own supplied ps. If I turn vpdi on at same time as everything else, or if I turn vpdi on first, I get hiss. If I turn on everything else on first, let it sit a few seconds, then vpdi, It seems ok. I'll be getting in a 6000mah 12v 3a talentcell supply for vpdi and only it. Hopefully this rig will be totally quiet then. I think somehow vpdi interference causes issues with smps or the dc/dc converters in these isolated power supplies. I'll keep a eye on this and report back[/QUOTE]

Which power supplies are you using right now?