Mouse interference

[JohnyC]

I'm using the Logitech Cordless MX Duo, which is a wireless mouse and wireless keyboard combo.
Does anyones electric guitars and basses pick up weird noises when you bring it close a wireless mouse??
It doesn't pick up when i'm over a meter away from it, but
sometimes I need to be close to the mouse when recording..
Is it like this with all wireless mouses or just this specific model?

jon

[guitarist]

Yes, but only when the mouse is moving, and only on my single coil guitar. Normally it isnt a problem though, since I dont move the mouse while actually recording.

[boingoman]

I didn't have an answer at first- I just had to see what this was about.

Guitars and basses are pretty susceptible to radio frequency interference. Is the mouse rf or infrared? If it is any kind of transmitter it definitely could be messing with your guitar. Not much you can do except get a wired mouse. Try it anyway, it may not even be the mouse. Or move the mouse far away and sit in the same spot and see if the noise goes away.

[boingoman]

Originally Posted by guitarist

Yes, but only when the mouse is moving, and only on my single coil guitar. Normally it isnt a problem though, since I dont move the mouse while actually recording.

Bingo- the mouse only transmits info when it is moving. Humbuckers reject rf noise way better than single coils.

[guitarist]

Also are you using a CRT monitor by any chance?

[playit]

Maybe you can use your wireless mouse for a cool effect live. I've heard of people using TV remotes to make spacey sounds.

[JohnyC]

nah i'm using lcd monitors. I know it's the mouse for sure cuz when I move closer to the mouse the noise is stronger. And yeah it makes even more noise when I'm using the mouse..I'll just have to sit further away I guess..
I was just curious if any other wireless mouses operated differently, and don't interfere with guitars and such.. thanks folks

also i wouldn't use this as any kind of effect, its really high pitched and annoying :|unless maybe i wanted to use the effect to annoy someone.. hmmm

[Imaduck]

Yeah, some older televisions and appliances also give off harmful interference. I was recording one day with my television on and I was picking up some really bad signals. It took me about 15 minutes to realize that my TV was doing it. Also, I've noticed that the touchpad on my laptop that I record with adds a little strange noise when I use it with recording. I'm not quite sure what that's all about.