Struggling with unwanted noise from your virtual amp? Whether you’re using Guitar Rig, Pro Tools, or another DAW, amp noise can be a major issue—especially with high-gain patches. In this guide, I’ll show you three simple techniques to eliminate that annoying hiss and hum.
Why Does Guitar Amp Noise Occur?
When you open a virtual amp like Guitar Rig and select a distortion-heavy patch, the amp can generate noise even when you’re not playing. For example, let’s choose a high-gain patch in Guitar Rig. As soon as I enable monitoring, you can hear the noise coming from the amp.
Now, let’s fix it!
Technique #1: Use a Built-In Noise Gate
One of my favorite philosophies is: Fix the problem before you record, not after. Most virtual amps include a built-in gate function that helps reduce noise before it gets recorded.
Steps:
- Locate the gate control on your amp sim.
- Increase the gate threshold until the noise disappears.
- Be careful not to go too far—this can cut off soft guitar notes.
Before & After Example
I recorded a short lick and duplicated it onto two tracks:
- Track 1: Used the built-in gate
- Track 2: No gate applied
You’ll hear the difference immediately. If I freeze the track, you can visually see how much noise is removed in the waveform.
Technique #2: Use a Gate Plugin
If your amp sim doesn’t have a built-in gate, don’t worry—you can use a gate plugin instead. Every DAW includes a stock gate plugin. In Pro Tools, you can find it in the Dynamics category.
How a Gate Plugin Works
Guitar amp noise is usually the softest sound in your recording. A gate plugin allows us to reduce the volume of the quietest parts while keeping the rest of the performance intact.
Steps:
- Select a section of your recording with soft notes.
- Loop that part and mute the track (so the noise doesn’t get annoying).
- Set the gate threshold just below the peak of the softest note.
- Adjust the attack and release settings:
- Attack: Controls how fast the gate opens.
- Release: Determines how smoothly the gate closes.
💡 Want a detailed tutorial on using a gate plugin? Let me know in the comments!
Technique #3: Use an EQ to Remove Hiss & Rumble
Even after using a gate, some noise may remain. This is where EQ filtering comes in. We’ll use:
- High-pass filter (HPF) to remove low-frequency rumble
- Low-pass filter (LPF) to remove high-frequency hiss
Steps:
- Set the high-pass filter around 100 Hz (or higher if needed).
- Set the low-pass filter at the upper range of the guitar’s tone.
- Listen carefully—don’t cut too much, or the tone will sound unnatural.
This technique also helps remove the harshness that makes virtual amps sound fake.
Bonus Tip: Automate the EQ for a Natural Fade-Out
If you want a note to ring out and fade gradually at the end of a performance but don’t want noise to linger, you can automate the low-pass filter.
Steps:
- Enable automation in Pro Tools (or your DAW).
- Select the low-pass filter parameter for automation.
- Slowly increase the cutoff frequency at the end of the track.
This method ensures a smooth, natural fade instead of an abrupt cut.
Final Thoughts
By combining these three techniques—using a built-in gate, a gate plugin, and an EQ—you can eliminate unwanted noise and achieve a cleaner guitar tone in your mixes.
👉 Did this tutorial help you? Let me know in the comments! And if you want more music production tips, subscribe to the channel and check out my other videos on Pro Tools and amp settings.
Thanks for reading—see you in the next tutorial! 🎸
