Pre-amo?, Pre-Amp Options

[Nicola Bloom]

Hello there.

Can someone suggest how I can get a less buzzy sound on my tracks.

Im using an electric acoustic guitar and microphone - and inputing them straight into a M-Audio FastTrack guitar/mic recording interface.

Guitar Amp & Bass (local music tech shop) suggested a Pre-Amp. Will this unit give the signal greater quality - less buzz?

If so, can you recommend cheap pre-amp budget £50

Thanks

Nicola (ibook G4 1.2 OX10.3.9)

[dixiechicken]

Hi Nicola!

If you're using the built in mick on your accoustic guitar - and going straight in with
your guitar-cable ( the usual cabe you can use to guitar-amp ).

1) Try to check if your mick in the guitar is humcancelling/humbucker type.

2) If not - you must try to break up the hum genarating loop:
a) Try to connect all your electric-gear to the same electric outlet.
Avoid daisychaining powercords/outlets - the connection pattern should be
starshaped.

b) Try to move the guitar/mick and other gear around so as not getting too close to
to every equipment.

c) Try to check that signal-levels out and impedance levels from guitar/mick and the
M_Audio input matches.
( I wont explain exactly what that means right here - too long )

d) If your M-Audio interface, computers,etc is connected to power via grounding
plugs/outlets pull the plugs and rotate them 180 degrees push them back in.
( in Sweden we can do this - you may not - depending on the shape of the plugs )

e) You can try to pull the plugs and isolate the grounding pins with silver-tape or such.
Start with the audio inter face

If this doesnt help you may have to get an "active direct/line box" to achieve a simulated balanced electrical signal from your guitar/mick into the M-Audio interface.

Some line-boxes let you adjust the output/input levels.

Some are rather expensive some are very expensive.
You would need an active linebox whose electronics is, at the very least, on par --
or even better than the electronincs in the M-Audio interface.

Cheers: Dixiechicken