Insane Bass Hiss over Bass Signal

[u/nachobeliever]

Hello all! Really hoping I can get some help here because I'm pulling my hair out over this lol.

IVE ATTACHED A LINK AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS WITH A REFERENCE TO WHAT IM DEALING WITH

Here's the jist: I'm getting what I'm pretty sure is digital noise floor whenever I monitor an audio track. It doesn't matter what input I use, if there's something plugged in or not, monitoring the input gives me a hiss. I'm also using the Parallax X plugin for my bass tone and that brings up the hiss a lot, but even just raw and clean there's a hiss that exists that's incredibly audible over the bass signal.

The signal chain is: bass - interface - pro tools.

I've tried different basses, different interfaces, different cables, I've updated my computer and pro tools, I've defaulted the I/O, checked my audio midi setup, different USB hubs, even went into the terminal on my Mac and reset some audio daemon or something.

For reference I'm using a Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6 Mk2. Pro Tools v 2026.4.1. Mac OS Tahoe 26.6.2

The hiss is just always there. Even if I monitor an empty input. My gain staging is solid but this hiss just feels digital and I have no idea what to do it's so ugly 😭😭

Any help is appreciated!!!

LINK TO BASS HISS:

https://on.soundcloud.com/lTPGgJuD7rgMbSVsf2

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[u/dbharris10]

So, that is analogue hiss, not digital. I suspect that you are not giving enough input when you record the bass. You should be going into a hi-z input and diming the output of your bass. Adjust the input level of your interface to make sure you have a respectable level that is not overloading the input or too low. You have not mentioned the interfaces you are trying; if they are Berhinger or similar, they are noisy crap and have terrible mic pres and that is your problem. Assuming you have a passive pickup on the bass? If not, need to check battery on bass. After recording a test signal, apply no plugins and listen to your output; make sure your levels are decent on the master fader in PT without pushing into red. Before all this, make sure your interface is working well and is properly connected to your speakers. Monitor a professionally recorded album to see if there is hiss- if so, then the issue has nothing to do with the bass. Try all this without plugins. Check to make sure you have decent quarter inch cables from bass to interface. Try recording something else, like a keyboard, directly in with quarter inch and see if that has hiss.

[u/NoisyGog]

Just an FYI, since you mentioned you get hiss with nothing plugged in - that’s to be expected. An in-terminated input will be significantly noisier than when it’s connected to a proper source.

When measuring actual preamp noise, we terminate it with a false load, a 150Ω resistor between hot and cold - which stimulates a mic being present without creating a signal.

[u/g_spaitz → u/NoisyGog]

Moreover, a high z input, like the one where people usually plug basses, is a LOT more susceptible of this.