Hi everybody, hopefully this is the forum to post this question. Basically, I've been at my wits end trying to figure this out, because it doesn't make any sense. Just wondering if anybody has had a similar experience.
I recently built a computer for music, and I installed the scarlett 8i6 and there's no problems installing.
I have a Motif XS7. For a test, I tried coming out of the stereo outs of the motif into inputs 1 & 2 of the scarlett. I start getting these rhythmic crackle popping sounds. Low level but loudish, and steady, not a 60 cycle hum or anything like. The computer and Scarlett are on their own outlet on a Furman ground lift.
I connect a microphone to input 1, no noise, just clean signal.
I connect a guitar to input 1 and and then input 2, no noise, just clean signal
I connect a cassette tape recorder to inputs 1 & 2, no noise, just clean signal
I connect the 1 & 2 outputs from the Scarlett to a mixer. Same noise.
Now here is where it gets really weird. I have three other machines. they have never had any noise issues, and I still have my old music machine. I tried recording the motif to the old machine, while the new machine is off, it records perfect, no noise.
I turn on the new machine, and every other machine makes the same noise, and if I try to record, they record the same sound. That's even if the Scarlett is off.
I installed the Scarlett on a laptop. I tried recording the Motif on inputs 1 & 2. It recorded flawless, no noise. So, the problem is not the Scarlett.
So, now I have a new machine with an I7 chip, 32 gigs of ram and a top of the line gigabyte motherboard, that I truly don't know what it's doing to generate this noise, and pass it to other machines as well.
I know this is long winded, but I just figured if somebody has an idea of what I can turn off in the new machine, I'd appreciate it. I already turned off the audio in the bios for the motherboard sound card. I built this and it's not like I can send this back at this time. It wasn't cheap either.
So, if anybody has an idea, let me know. Thanks for listening and reading. I added an example file.
I tried your file and there was no noise. I normalized it and there is a faint crackle but it would be hidden in a mix. switch off the pc that is causing the problem and play your own mp3 on one of the others. do you get the noise?
even if the Scarlett is switched off is it still connected to the problem pc with a lead?
how close are the other pcs to the problem one? could a faulty lead be broadcasting rf? that's a guess but the only thing i can think of. are there any other peripherals connected to the new pc? try new leads and try switching off other peripherals like the monitor (is it a new one?)
I do not hear the noise either. I had this same issue and it was caused by a USB cable. I heard the noise but nobody else did because it was happening here on playback, not in the recording. It could also be a bad USB jack .. but more likely the cable.
Are you using the factory supplied USB cable on the Focusrite?
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Is it a humming noise maybe? Some sort of ground loop? Have you tried to turn one of the power plugs 180°? (if this can be done with your socket and plug, we can do that in Germany) Otherwise you may be able to have a "ground lift" of sorts.
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This is how I described the sound caused by an inferior USB cable. When I used the shorter one from the factory it went away .. so I bought a high quality longer one which worked great. It was hard to track down because it wasn't 'always' there. So connecting different things to different inputs was deceiving.
I did the same thing in the beta testing area; I posted a sample and no one else heard the noise, which helped me track it down. I thought it was the new beta version causing it, which was kind of embarrassing .. Apparently the focusrite units can be a bit finicky about the cable. Just my experience which is eerily similar to the OP's.
Last edited by rharv; 01/16/2104:46 AM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
Hi everybody, thank you for your feedback. I am using the cable that came with the scarlett. I will get one that is usb c to usb c and see if that helps the problem.
I have tried moving the pc 10 feet away from everything, it still creates noise.
I have listened to the example on other machines, the noise is there especially on the sustained bass note at the end. I will try to listen at a friend's house. I have recordings of just the noise.
The monitor is old and has never given any rf problems.
Again, thanks for your feedback, I will try your suggestions.
Although I lean toward the USB cable being the culprit.
Do you have any AC cords of these various machines running (parallel) closely next to each other? If so, I would route them perpendicular to each other.
It could also be related to buffer settings in the ASIO driver - try opening up the ASIO driver's control panel and increasing the buffer size little by little until it stops glitching.
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