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My home studio has developed a electronic whine from the computer hard drive onto the tracks. I'm using an HP computer with Windows 7 through either a M-Audio or Presonus Audiobox USB interface. I go from the interface to a Boss BR1600 where I do the mix. I use two KRK RP5 monitors.
I've tried to think of anything I've changed but can come up with nothing. I use a USB cable to power the interfaces from the computer. I have the 2014 version of BnB and RealBand.
I have recorded and produced several CD projects without any noise issues but something has happened!
I would appreciate any help as I have some jobs waiting.
KnightSounds
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If you are getting the hd whine regardless if you use the M-Audio or Audiobox, the common connection between the two interfaces is the USB cable. It may be bad. Try another USB cable first.
Are you playing the BIAB tracks as a stereo mix out of the interface outputs into stereo inputs of the Boss1600?
BIAB 2026:RB 2026, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
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I do get the noise when using either interface. I will have to buy another cable, is there a particular brand or type cable that you use?
I use BnB when in putting a song together, once the progression, style, timing, ending, etc., Is done I open in Real Band to finish the song. I sometimes put guitar, piano and such through the interface onto the Real Band tracks but more times than not I stereo the mix from Real Band into the BR1600. I then add vocals, guitar, piano on the 1600 then do the mastering on it.
Is this the "normal" method that is generally used or is there better ways to accomplish a mix?
What kind of interface do you use? I need to upgrade my interface while I'm involved with this noise issue.
Thanks for the quick reply.
KnightSounds
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Take a look at this article. You may have what is called a USB Ground Loop. https://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec08/articles/qa1208_2.htmI purchased a Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 interlace last week which replaced my old Line 6 UX2 and I immediately noticed a high pitch whine and a low pitched motor boating noise at high gain. The only way I was able to get rid of the ground loop noise was to run my lines through an old Behringer mixer with an external power supply, one with a transformer in the power chord. When I ran it through my normal Behringer UB1832FX mixer, which has an internal power supply, the USB Ground Loop noise was bad. What was interesting was that for years I ran my old Line 6 UX2 into the same mixer with absolutely no noise at all. To throw more mud in the mix, a friend of my also had a Scarlett 2i4 interface so I swapped that out, still using the UB1832FX, and there was no USB Ground Loop noise at all. I can guess that some equipment combinations can cause noise while others do not.
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Are you sure it's coming from the hard drive?
Other devices around you might be causing the whine. Check for wireless & bluetooth devices first... mice, headphones, etc.... other electronic gear, routers, modems, switches, other computers, there are a number of potential noise sources.
Shut them off one at a time when you can clearly hear the whine until it goes away. Some species of wireless mice were notorious for doing that.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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I purchased a Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 interlace last week which replaced my old Line 6 UX2 and I immediately noticed a high pitch whine and a low pitched motor boating noise at high gain. Check to make sure everything is using 24 bit. May not be your problem, but when I purchased a Scarlet 8i6, I had Sony Acid Pro set to record at 16 bit - the noise was unbearable. Set to 24, that went away.
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I had the noise show up when everything was connected electrically. No software was loaded at the time. The second Windows initiated the sound drivers, the noise was present. It is a pure electrical problem.
Last edited by jcland; 09/13/15 03:16 AM.
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Be aware that cabling can "bleed' back to the input. Better quality cables may help.
Is the interference a hum like your mains frequency? That would indicate PSU filtering.
There are so many sources of noise.
Try unplugging things one at a time until you isolate the problem.
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I'm probably "fixing to show my ignorance" but the whine is coming from the computer hard drive through the Fast Track Pro. I believe it is a grounding issue between the computer and the Fast Track. I can disconnect every thing and the minute the USB cable contacts the Fast Track you get the whine along with the slight "growl" when the mouse is moved. I'm pretty sure it's the USB ground loop issue. I'm not aware of an any way to ground the Fast Track so here's my question (at last).
The Fast Track Pro has a external power supply for use as a stand alone unit. Is there any way to turn off the USB power from the computer through the USB to the Fast Track and use the grounded power cord to power the Fast Track Pro?
Would I fry everything if I used the power supply cord and the USB together?
KnightSounds
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Knightsounds,
If your computer is a desktop and more than a few years old then you might want to consider replacing the computer power supply. It's not difficult to do (typically four screws and swap cable connections on a mainstream computer like a Dell or HP). It's also possible to find someone to swap the power supplies if you don't want to.
Computer power supplies is a common cause of ground loop issues.
Another possibility is a screw may have come loose inside your case.
In either case you may want to look at your computer instead of cabling.
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Have you tried the Fast Track with another computer?
Regards,
Bob
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I appreciate all the comments from the forum members!
It appears that I have been able to solve the USB ground loop noise issue. I was going out off my Fast Track Pro to the Boss 1600 with unbalanced cables with 1/4 inch jacks. I ordered two patch cables from Amazon with balanced TRS 1/4 inch jacks on one end and balanced male XLR jacks on the other end. I'm now running from the balanced outputs on the Fast Track to the balanced XLR inputs on the 1600 and there is absolutely no noise!
This might be a good thing for other forum members to keep in mind when faced with USB ground loop noise. The two cables from Amazon were less than twenty dollars, received in two days and completely solved the noise issue!
Thanks again, I was able to identify the USB ground loop issue with input from forum members. Special thanks to jcland for the link!
KnightSounds
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Nice detective work. Nice to read you have it resolved.
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