Questions tagged [noise]

Any unwanted sound from a musical instrument, the environment, people etc

84 questions
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Noise while not touching guitar strings or metal parts

I get a buzzing noise from my guitar when idle. However, when I touch the strings or touch any metal parts (strings, bridge or the metal portion near the output jack), the noise goes away completely. What is the reason for this and how can I…
Bijoy Thangaraj
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What is the difference between increasing volume and increasing gain?

Out of experience, I found that recording with smaller microphone gain results in less noisy audio, which later can be amplified by increasing its volume or adding a gain. My question is which one is recommended in music production to make music…
Mehdi Haghgoo
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7 answers

How can I reduce the echo/reverb in a large room if I can't add physical damping?

I was at an event this evening in a restored ballroom - absolutely beautiful, but parquet flooring, high ceilings, solid walls etc all made for terrible acoustics, and in fact I could hardly make out the voice of the individuals on stage. I think it…
Doktor Mayhem
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6 answers

Do bass traps actually reduce noise for neighbors?

I've been having some issues with neighbors and I am looking for ways to reduce noise from my accoustic piano. One of the things I understand is that low frequency notes propagate a lot more than high frequency ones. I have been reading about bass…
nsn
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Electronic drums in apartment

I'm a drummer and recently moved into an apartment with high ceilings and hardwood floors. I have a Roland TD-4. I've been researching for ways to be able to practice quietly without disturbing my neighbors. I'm sure if I used all mesh heads that…
wwwuser
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6 answers

How can I prevent the noise my guitar pick makes?

When I play the guitar (electric with steel strings), I can hear the noise of the pick clashing against the steel strings. When I play a chord, after my pick triggers one string it then falls against the next string causing a clashing noise which…
Tamara Wijsman
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How to avoid unwanted scratching/squeaking/hissing noise from the fretting hand when playing hi-gain electric guitar?

I have been playing the electric guitar for over ten years now, and this is an issue that has been troubling me for ages. Whenever I play hi-gain songs and have to switch fretting hand positions quickly (there is no time to lift fingers from the…
Asciiom
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String sticking to the fretting finger - how to avoid?

When raising a finger from a fret, it sometimes happens to me that a string "sticks" to the finger, producing an annoying sound (like when I would do a pull-off, but unintentional). This happens most often when I do the scales: C D E F G (starting…
anatolyg
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Is there such a thing as a silent drum set?

One can learn to play the piano on an electronic or midi keyboard with closed headphones without waking up the roommate. Is there anything equivalent for drumming? Some sort of nearly silent drum pad or percussion set with midi out?
hotpaw2
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Is there a name for the sound of a performer physically interacting with their instrument?

Is there a name for the sound produced by the mechanical action of a musical instrument? I'm referring specifically to sounds not usually associated with the instrument's voice—the movement of a trumpet's valves, the hiss of a trombone's slide, the…
derektb
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What should I look for when determining the quality of guitar and pedal cables?

I've read many postings about how important quality cables are for eliminating noise and preserving tone. What should I look for to make sure I'm buying a quality cable? I have a very good 10' main cable that is braided. The soldering looks good…
Andre Oporto
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Playing acoustic guitar in a dormitory room

I've been learning playing guitar (classical nylon-string) for 4 months and I practice in my dormitory room. As it has nylon strings and I don't play too much rhythm guitar, I don't think I've disturbed the other residents. I'm playing it in a small…
Melih
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How to reduce screeching "string noise" when playing the guitar

When I play some chords which are on the same strings but on different frets, I produce much string noise, when changing between them. For example take Eric Clapton's famous "Cocaine" riff, which can be played by the power chord sequence: E5, D5,…
arminb
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Sound proofing underneath the drumset

I live on the 3rd floor of my apartment and people downstairs are just about to lose it cos of me practicing my "L R Kick" triplets. I want to know if there is an intelligent, makeshift way to soundproof the floor to minimise the noise of the Kick…
Tushar Koul
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What's this weird sound coming from my speakers?

I keep hearing bursts of static from the speakers of my electronic keyboard. At first I thought there was a loose electrical connection, but sometimes it has a rhythmic pattern to it, like “rat tatatat tatatat tatatat.” And once I think I heard it…
Bradd Szonye
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