Ableton Forum

I am recording guitar and I am getting crackling sound (like static) whilst I am playing. When the guitar is silent the crackling stops. Set up is:

guitar > boss me-70 multi effects > Roland UA-1G audio interface > Pc windows 7, ableton 8

I have checked the levels at each stage, it isn't going red anywhere. I have done the adjustment of the buffer sizes and other common stuff. The crackling isn't the normal pops and drop outs you get when the buffer is too small.

I am puzzled, please can someone give me a pointer to what to check next.

Electrical/grounding issue?

you could be clipping inside the FX chain in the multi-effects box.

littlepig wrote:I am recording guitar and I am getting crackling sound (like static) whilst I am playing. When the guitar is silent the crackling stops. Set up is:

guitar > boss me-70 multi effects > Roland UA-1G audio interface > Pc windows 7, ableton 8

I have checked the levels at each stage, it isn't going red anywhere. I have done the adjustment of the buffer sizes and other common stuff. The crackling isn't the normal pops and drop outs you get when the buffer is too small.

I am puzzled, please can someone give me a pointer to what to check next.

This is common when recording guitar in a direct line input. I.e, your guitar input input signal is not properly calibrated. Does the interface have a dedicated Hi-Z/Lo-Z switch for your guitar input?

Try recording with your BOSS on BYPASS mode.
Try recording with your guitar direct (With LoZ/HiZ switch on)
Also, make sure your interface is grounded properly and is being powered by a uninterruptible power supply/strip such as a Furman strip. Plug all devices in your audio chain to that.


Another way crackles gets in your guitar recording is if your distortion/overdrive settings are not gated properly, you might be getting "distorted/overdriven noise" which can sound like crackles because your distortion/overdrive effect amplifies the noisefloor emmensly, and your noise floor may contain static blirps, though those in the -80dbu to -120dbu region. To get rid of this, be sure to enable "GATE" on your guitar effects device, especially if you are compressing your guitar signal. The more compression applied to your input or pre distortion signal, the more noise you introduce to the signal chain.

I tried recording with the guitar pluged straight into the audio interface (Hi-Z setting) and it was better but there were still some crackles.

BTW on the multi effects I was just adding a little gentle compression and the gain every where was at a fairly low setting.

Thanks for the replies, I will try some more at the weekend

try a different cable? maybe your soundcard jack is dirty.

if the pre-amp volume is lowered does it crack the same amount?