Electronics > Beginners
Unwanted digital noise (Not the standard noise floor) from studio monitors
Bassman59:
Are the monitors plugged into a surge-suppressor power strip? If yes, how old is that power strip? Try replacing it. The MOVs in power strips get leaky with age and "hits," and that can cause all sorts of noise.
Once upon a time, a friend and I were trying to track down a noise source in our rock club's PA system. Turns out that a power strip which had only Little-Lites plugged into it, was the culprit. That power strip was plugged into the same circuit as the console. With the power strip unplugged, silence. And yes, we unplugged the Little-Lites' wall warts first.
NOON Design:
Some computers can have horrendous ground noise, for various reasons other people have speculated on. Your sound card is from a reputable manufacturer and is not likely at fault. You've likely got a ground loop happening.
Professional balanced audio connections are designed to handle this kind of situation though. The 2 signal leads are referenced to each other rather than to ground, which is just a shield. You can safely lift the ground from one side of the cable. It will probably be quietest if you lift it at the sound card end so the shield is coming from the speakers back, but only trying it will tell. Cut or desolder the shield in the XLR or TRS connector and see if it makes a difference.
magic:
This is a fine solution, but one caveat applies: if either end loses its earth connection through mains for whatever reason, things may go poof. It certainly is a danger with low voltage CMOS circuits and I'm not sure how resilient audio gear is.
EEVblog:
Can you get the frequency of the buzzing noise?
Vildhjarta:
Thanks for all the replies!
--- Quote from: David Hess on November 25, 2019, 10:36:04 pm ---But I agree with wraper, install a USB isolator between your computer and the USB sound device. USB is a real problem for audio because of its lack of galvanic isolation.
--- End quote ---
The new soundcard is firewire, still the same noise.
--- Quote from: Bassman59 on November 25, 2019, 10:48:33 pm ---Are the monitors plugged into a surge-suppressor power strip? If yes, how old is that power strip? Try replacing it. The MOVs in power strips get leaky with age and "hits," and that can cause all sorts of noise.
--- End quote ---
I have tried with many different power strips, and the surge suppressor strip is just a month old.
--- Quote from: NOON Design on November 26, 2019, 07:55:12 am ---Professional balanced audio connections are designed to handle this kind of situation though. The 2 signal leads are referenced to each other rather than to ground, which is just a shield. You can safely lift the ground from one side of the cable. It will probably be quietest if you lift it at the sound card end so the shield is coming from the speakers back, but only trying it will tell. Cut or desolder the shield in the XLR or TRS connector and see if it makes a difference.
--- End quote ---
Kind of embarassing since i am asking for help on an electronics forum, but i am not confident with my skills enough to go inside components (Ref. the post below by magic) :-X
--- Quote from: magic on November 26, 2019, 08:50:50 am ---This is a fine solution, but one caveat applies: if either end loses its earth connection through mains for whatever reason, things may go poof. It certainly is a danger with low voltage CMOS circuits and I'm not sure how resilient audio gear is.
--- End quote ---
--- Quote from: EEVblog on November 26, 2019, 09:34:14 am ---Can you get the frequency of the buzzing noise?
--- End quote ---
There seems to be many layered on each other, but the most prominent one when i run games is around 1830-1850Hz.
I will upload an audio clip. The first part of the audio is when i am ingame, and the last 5-6 seconds is just the "standard" noise with some mouse movement.
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