Why Do I Hear Hiss or Noise in My Stems?

Introduction

Some users notice a faint hiss or noise in their stems when using Auto-Bounce — especially when all stems are played back together. This can be surprising because you may not hear the same thing when bouncing stems manually using the solo button.

? Myth vs. Fact

Myth: Auto-Bounce adds noise to my stems.

Fact: Auto-Bounce does not generate noise. It simply uses the Track On/Off buttons (instead of solo), which keeps background plugin noise active. That noise was already there — Auto-Bounce just reveals it when stems are layered together.

Why This Happens

Many plugins and sample libraries intentionally add noise to emulate the character of analog hardware. This is often labeled as “Analog,” “Noise,” or “Vintage Mode” in the plugin’s settings.

Common culprits include:

• Delays (e.g. H-Delay with Analog noise)

• Tape emulators

• Amp simulators

• Reverbs

• Kontakt instruments with built-in noise layers

Quick Fixes

• Turn Off Noise Settings: Check the plugin’s parameters (look for “Noise,” “Hiss,” “Analog,” etc.) and disable them if you don’t want the added character.

• Use a Noise Gate: A simple trick is to add Logic’s built-in Noise Gate after any plugin you know is noisy (H-Delay is a classic example). This usually removes the hiss without affecting your sound.

For the Curious: How to Troubleshoot Noise Sources

If you want to track down the exact culprit:

1. Turn your volume up carefully.

2. Mute channels one at a time.

3. Listen for when the hiss disappears — that’s the noisy plugin.

Once identified, you can disable its noise setting or tame it with a gate.

Key Takeaway

Auto-Bounce isn’t introducing noise — it’s simply exposing what your plugins are already generating when tracks remain active. A quick settings adjustment or noise gate usually solves the issue.

✅ Tip: If you’ve tried the above steps but still hear unexpected noise, send us a screen capture and the project file (stripped down if needed), and we’ll help troubleshoot.