Hiss and Noise on a new ESX1 SD main output - Is it normal?

Cesarsound · Post by **Cesarsound** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 11:51 am

Hi, this is my first post and also my 1st Korg product.

I just received my new ESX1 SD yesterday and I'm loving it.

But I noticed a high level of hiss noise on main output (L/R) and thru the earphones output when the play is stopped.

Is this normal? Is it generated by the high gain of the Tubes?

Any comment will be welcome

Thanks.
Julio.

picacoco · Post by **picacoco** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 3:38 pm

http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=55854

Not the SD, but seems like is a common issue...

Cesarsound · Post by **Cesarsound** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 9:39 pm

Hi picacoco, thanks for the information.

Additionaly, when I turn the tube gain down the hiss still there. When I increase the tube gain, the hiss increase, but not so much.
Well, based on some performance audio and videos I have watched, I am presuming that this level of hiss is normal on the ESX1.

I was a little upset with this issue because I am accustomed with workstations like Motif XS and Fantom X and they have a very quiet output.

Anyway, any others tips or comments are welcome.

Thanks
Julio.

picacoco · Post by **picacoco** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 7:44 am

Also, a thing that will reduce the noise is to select in the "Part Common" the "triangle" instead "square".

Just try it by yourself with some drum part and see the difference.

Cheers,

FailureNotice · Post by **FailureNotice** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 4:06 pm

How hot are you tracking in? You want the peaks to be -12db in your DAW.

Also, have you considered using a direct box?

picacoco · Post by **picacoco** » Tue Oct 26, 2010 12:42 pm

Hi Failure.

Yes in my case I consider to use a Direct box, but do you think that this will not affect to the frecuencies?

I suppose that this box will work over certain frecuency in order to reduce the hiss, I'm not familiar with this ;(

Best Regards

FailureNotice · Post by **FailureNotice** » Tue Oct 26, 2010 1:13 pm

I do not believe it will affect the frequencies at all. In my experience a DI box has always cleaned up my sound. Having the proper chain is extremely important if you have hiss.

You need 3 things if you want high quality tracking :

A good passive and active DI (possibly not needed with the Electribe, but WELL worth the investment in a small studio )

A good preamp. ( A must, you must have this)

A good audio interface.

If you have all 3 of these things and you are setting your levels right, then you should have a clean hiss free tone.

Here is the good news. I have all of these things and I just got an EMX in today. I will post if I experience the same hiss problems you have when I record through my chain with the proper gain staging. I have already read accounts where guys have a great pre and interface and are recording in with no DI, so this is good news.