Perhaps you could clear something up for me?

M

Mont97

New member
Basically, I'm not entirely sure if a noise suppressor pedal is used for both cutting back noise from your pedal board and amp noise due to high gain from your amp, or is it ment only for cutting the noise from other pedals? Seems a bit strange, but I want to cut back some hiss i'm getting from my amp as I crank the gain, and was thinking about getting a noise suppressor pedal, but after watching some videos around the net, i'm no longer certain on it's actual function?

Thanks!

EDIT: I should note, it's a cheap amp, but it suits me perfectly at the moment, I like it rawness, and it's a humbucker equiped guitar, but I want to use this pedal to get rid of hiss when playing at louder levels with high gain (it'll be my only pedal, I'm not one for many effects, so it'll go guitar - noise suppressor - amp)
 
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Re: Perhaps you could clear something up for me?

noisegate PEDAL if set up correctly 1) cuts back pickup noise which is where a lot of "hiss" comes from, and 2) cuts back noise from pedalz... noises from the amp are not cut back, but some amps have built in noisegates that do just that!
 
Re: Perhaps you could clear something up for me?

It depends on where you place the noise reducer. In the simple in-out type, it filters anything going in to it. You can even put it in the effects loop of your amp, and it will also filter noise introduced by the pre-amp section. In the kind with one in/out to "read" the guitar's signal, and another in/out, between which you put the things that you want filtered, there a couple of ways to hook them up. This latter style of noise filter is also generally more transparent, as a totally clean signal from your guitar is being used to decide when and when not to apply the filter to the stuff that you have in the loop.
 
Re: Perhaps you could clear something up for me?

A few things come to mind.

First, you should try to understand where the hiss is coming from. Does the amp hiss if you unplug the guitar and effects and then turn up the volume? If so, your amp is the source of the noise and may need to be re-capped. Bring it to a tech if you aren't comfortable making your own repairs. If the noise is only there when you have a certain pedal connected, get it serviced or replace it outright.

Have you tried rolling off the treble? This may reduce the hiss somewhat, though you may not be satisfied having your tone dictated by the need to filter out noise. You might also be able to use an EQ in your effects loop (right before the return) to filter the hiss out.

This may not be the most practical option, but the THD Hot Plate has a switchable filter - labeled "Bulbs" - that soaks the high frequencies through a set of lightbulbs inside the unit. If the noise is in your output stage, or if you don't have an effects loop in which to place an EQ, you could run a Hot Plate at 0dB attenuation with Bulbs On to filter out the noise. But for the cost of a Hot Plate, you might be better off investing in a better amp.

I personally can't stand using a noise gate. No matter how low I set the threshold on any unit I've tried, I just don't like the way they chop off the signal when the gate engages. Maybe a noise gate is acceptable for high-gain playing, but I like to ride the sustain of notes down into the harmonic breakup, and a gate just doesn't let the signal get there. Also, this won't do anything about noise while you are playing (although the hiss should be much quieter relative to your guitar) so I find it better to eliminate noisy pedals or sources of interference rather than throwing a noise gate in the path. YMMV.

Start by determining the source of the noise. Also, if you provide more information about your setup (what kind of amp? what pedals are you using?) you'll get better advice.
 
Re: Perhaps you could clear something up for me?

Dr. Vegetable said:
I personally can't stand using a noise gate.
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I felt the same way until I tried the Decimator G String. Simply stated, it does what it claims to do in terms of transparency.

It's also important to realize that they should be viewed as noise reducers, not noise eliminators. If you set them up high enough to actually eliminate all noise, they will kill sustain. It's just the nature of how noise gates work.

Also, they come in stomp box format for a reason. Using the button is key to getting the most out of them.

When cranked up, they can also double as anti-sustain pedals, which, believe it or not, can actually be useful sometimes.

I set my noise gate to the point right where it first takes a bite out of the noise, no higher. It kills the most annoying chunk of the noise, without affecting the tone or sustain. I also tend to turn it off during gigs, for the most part. I turn it on when there is a break between songs, or at practice when we are talking.
 
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Re: Perhaps you could clear something up for me?

Dr. Vegetable said:
I personally can't stand using a noise gate. No matter how low I set the threshold on any unit I've tried, I just don't like the way they chop off the signal when the gate engages.
Click to expand...

I've been eye balling a regular decimator for awhile now and this is my concern as well. I'm hoping the regular is enough for me, without having to go with a more complicated g string setup. I guess I can always return it if the regular doesn't work out.

As far as at what point do they apply, I thought they only apply when there is no signal, based of course on the threshold setting. But in general I thought that once your sound comes through and is audible (vs the silence from the gate), it stops treating noise completely, rather than somehow also trying to pull out noise from the sound let through above the threshold. Am I wrong on this?
 
Re: Perhaps you could clear something up for me?

I got the decimator g string, it is really killer, I use it even on my recordings cause I like the envelope better than pluginz
 
Re: Perhaps you could clear something up for me?

I keep hearing good things about it. It's been 10 years since I did the home recording thing, and it'll likely another 2 before I have time and money to start again. That's really what I'd need it for anytime soon.

But I do get tired of the noise that starts when the washer or dryer are on upstairs...lol. Without those on I really don't have any noise issues.
 
Re: Perhaps you could clear something up for me?

gvis said:
I've been eye balling a regular decimator for awhile now and this is my concern as well. I'm hoping the regular is enough for me, without having to go with a more complicated g string setup. I guess I can always return it if the regular doesn't work out.

As far as at what point do they apply, I thought they only apply when there is no signal, based of course on the threshold setting. But in general I thought that once your sound comes through and is audible (vs the silence from the gate), it stops treating noise completely, rather than somehow also trying to pull out noise from the sound let through above the threshold. Am I wrong on this?
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Correct. As long as the input signal is above the threshold, a noise gate will (should) pass your signal through dry.

My issue has always been that if you just play a note and let it ring, at some point the level drops below threshold and suddenly the note is choked off. I hate that - literally sends me into a rage when there's a noise gate in my chain. I'm a sustain junkie; I don't want a pedal that shuts off notes that are still ringing. So I just turn down the volume on my guitar between songs instead.
 
Re: Perhaps you could clear something up for me?

Ah, ok, that's what I thought. Thanks for clarifying. I feel the same about sustain. I play 90% dirty & 10% clean, but I would still be put off by sudden cutting as dirty sustains trail off to almost nothing. Probably because I play a more stoner side of heavy music, versus the on/off, synchopated style of your typical metal styles (not saying I don't do that as well, it's just not the predominant style I use).

GC is great with me about returning pedals within the 30 day period, so eventually I will still give the decimator a shot and see how it goes. It may come down to knowing when to use and when not to.
 
Re: Perhaps you could clear something up for me?

gvis said:
Ah, ok, that's what I thought. Thanks for clarifying. I feel the same about sustain. I play 90% dirty & 10% clean, but I would still be put off by sudden cutting as dirty sustains trail off to almost nothing. Probably because I play a more stoner side of heavy music, versus the on/off, synchopated style of your typical metal styles (not saying I don't do that as well, it's just not the predominant style I use).

GC is great with me about returning pedals within the 30 day period, so eventually I will still give the decimator a shot and see how it goes. It may come down to knowing when to use and when not to.
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I would recommend you to look at this video before taking a decision!

 
Perhaps you could clear something up for me?

If you use a tube amp, get various brands of tubes and swap them until you find the quietest ones. I was getting some hiss with my Marshall and don't have a noise gate. So, I swapped preamp tubes until I found JJ's to be the best ones for the amp
 
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