And.................................no difference.
![]() Well, now I know REALLY beyond a shadow of a doubt. I'll keep trying the computer and take it apart and see what I can see ![]() |
I think it's time you posted a sound sample of the noise you're getting. Maybe we're all on the wrong foot here.
Also, the quality of the usb cable plays an important role, even more so with bus powered audio interfaces. You want to experiment with different cables there, with low cable resistance and maybe with ferrite chokes on them. |
It's the computer interfering with the instruments. Now I have to open up the computer and see if there is anything obvious, if not (and likely I will not find it myself
![]() Thanks for all the suggestions. We gave it the 'ol "college try" ![]() |
+1 on switchback' s suggestions re usb cable lengths and quality and use of ferrite chokes ( a big bag of snap on ferrite chokes is uber cheap on amazon)
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AAV wrote+1 on switchback' s suggestions re usb cable lengths and quality and use of ferrite chokes ( a big bag of snap on ferrite chokes is uber cheap on amazon) Your suggestions are NOT lost on me, and I'll almost certainly try that too ![]() But remember, the lappy and other desktop are much better with exactly the same cables/setup/etc. It's the computer. Additionally, the fans are acting up all of the sudden. This could be a thing, but I doubt it. I think the MOBO is the ultimate culprit. Again, once you eliminate the impossible..... Today I've unhooked the Furman (I guess I'll send it back ![]() |
EDIT: UNCLE!!!!!!!!!! For now (just until after the holiday) I'm over it, toss it! Moving the computer, buying a bunch of stuff and all the rest of it. Moving the computer further away improves one thing, and then introduces another list of oddities.
So, for those in the States that celebrate the holidays, happy holidays! (I personally can't wait for turkey and green bean casserole ![]() ![]() |
Reggie- hope you (and all 'Mericans on these forums) have a very Happy Thanksgiving). As a Canuck myself, we celebrated ours last month. Still feeling the after effects of Turkey OD.
When you get back to it, it would still be interesting to hear what the noise sounds like, (can you record it with a room mic or maybe a webcam?) and to understand when specifically it occurs- when you touch something, strictly guitar, strictly non- xlr audio, strictly mics, intermittent or not, etc,etc. Meanwhile - have a blast and enjoy some football! Happy Thanksgiving |
So the ferrite stuff is coming today. We'll see about that of course. But, even though I haven't been in testing mode the last few days, there is something even stranger happening that I've, "kinda" pinned down.
About 6 or 7 PM (which is usually play time for guitar and me) it gets worse. MUCH worse. I had hoped that the Furman would put the kibosh on that, but no such luck. This has to be a power issue that is not the computer. What other conclusion can I draw? What's a boy to do .... I've gone through the house and tried to come up with something that could be the reason, but I'll be damned if there is anything I can find. I think I mentioned this but it bears repeating. Now that the computer is behind the desk, it's both better and worse. Instead of it being something that is absolutely tied to the guitar being closer/further away, it's more consistent. ![]() Between the suggestions and stuff I've tried we're still at an impasse. ![]() |
I still feel that your problems are caused by poor noisy grounding, which starts with the technical state of your wall sockets. Domestic wiring can be very sloppy or even outright dangerous. Depending on local building regulations there should be strict specifications for socket grounding in particular, which should include the maximum impedance to earth. Long/skimpy wiring, poor connections and other gear sharing any part of that circuit to earth all contribute to uncontrollable noise. Consider using an alternative ground connection.
I know nothing about your studio's situation (location, building, storey, pipe-works) and your power circuits (age, quality, live-live or live-neutral, ELCBs on them?) but metal pipes for water or central heating can sometimes prove a better/cleaner grounding alternative to the power sockets. Or it may need dedicated studio grounding. A service tech can investigate, test your sockets and pipe-works, and advise. As I wrote earlier, not all computers are built equal. A computer's power supply always has some leakage to ground for mains filtering and to prevent exposed metal parts from floating to dangerously high voltages. Your new computer('s power supply) may need better grounding than what you could get away with before. And grounding of various components inside that computer may need an upgrade too, to prevent them from injecting noise into the shielding. So yeah, solving noise problems can be a journey ![]() |
First, this is "califonaya", so our building codes are "usually" stronger than much of the nation. Now, that doesn't mean poop in the real world.
![]() This was a "model" home in its original state, built in 1996. Without all the unnecessary details, crap has changed considerably since then. One thing that was a problem was the sprinklers. 4 of the 7 houses on this court were "models" and our sprinklers were tied directly into the next-door neighbors at one point. ![]() But I'm still really disappointed that the Furman didn't even make a single bit of issue. Isn't that what it's supposed to do ... help with such things ????? |
No. Power conditioners clean up the live wires (or live vs. neutral) for a clean sine wave between them without 'grass on it' (as we call it over here). It can do preciously little against ground noise because typically that should be a through-connection. Even worse: The conditioner uses the ground connection to dump the unwanted power noise and distortion, making the ground plane even noisier.
Surge protectors do have filters to block EMC but these can be both a blessing and a curse. Putting a filter between input ground and output ground can keep some noise and surges from mains out, but it will keep more local noise (e.g. from a computer) in. |
Ok, so I figured it out. No instructions so it was far from obvious, but they are on (including the guitar/bass cablel). Of course it didn't do anything
![]() So here is where I'm at, and I'm kinda repeating myself: I think Switchback is largely correct. It's something wonky in the electrical because even though this computer is worse, they all have that problem AND again, it's worse at times with exactly the same settings. MANY MANY people have the same problem, but this is a bit different. I could change the power supply, or the mobo, but I might be grasping at straws. Troubleshooting the electrical is outside of my comfort zone. As mentioned, I'd bulldoze this place and start over if I had the money and wanted to stay ![]() Rabbit holes and ancient aliens. That is where I stand. Again, I just love all the suggestions even though it has not been fruitful thus far. At least I've eliminated the impossible. |
reggie1979beatz wroteOk, so I figured it out. No instructions so it was far from obvious, but they are on (including the guitar/bass cablel). Of course it didn't do anything HaHa, that would be crazy to bulldoze a 1996 home (i know its just frustration, I think ![]() Vocal point is right on, you must eliminate the possible electrical issues you may be having. You may not be comfortable troubleshooting electrical but start simple: Get a decent outlet tester and Voltage Sniffer (the sniffer is to verify power is really off) to verify the proper wiring on your outlets. If that all looks ok you could take apart the outlet / outlets in question and check the ground wires. Sometimes they are crimped together and come loose (be sure to turn circuit off first and verify with sniffer). look close at the power outlet itself i.e. does it look ok, not cracked ect) and that the wires into power outlet looks ok. Some electrcians will use the plug in section of power outlet that can cause isses. I ALWAYS prefer the wires wrapped around the screws. If you are a Homeowner (and even if you ara not) you will want to learn this simple electrical stuff and have these basic tools. I can't begin to tell you the money saved knowing just basic electcial. There are cheap books avaiable also. Some are basic electrical, some are advanced. |
reggie1979beatz wroteYeah, next year You are so correct. the sniffer does NOT detect any thing wrong. It just lets you know that power is actually off at the item you are servicing. What is worst sometimes than others?? The unit simply lights up or beeps or maybe both. It detects power. If it works better sometimes than others I would assume the unit is bad or needs a new battery. It really does pay to buy decent tools. The crap i have seen at Home Depot / Lowes just simply does not make the cut. Anyways, good luck with it. Hope you get it sorted ![]() |
Testing ground rods and connections requires specialist tools, not of the house&garden variety. Wiki has an extensive article on the subject.
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