Hi folks - first post, please bear with me if it's a noob question but I'm tearing my hair out.
I've played for many many years, firstly back in the long haired days of valves and Fenders. I've only recently got into home composing and recording though. First step was an M-audio USB Fasttrack device which recorded perfectly but wouldn't allow me to save any of my recordings (freebie version of Pro-Tools). As this device was getting oldish even when bought I upgraded to an M-Audio Profire 610 Firewire Audio Interface with Ableton Live software. It was so good I upgraded to the full version of Ableton 9 Live however this is where the problems began.
I'm running it through firewire into my Intel Mac in the study of my house. As soon as a mic is connected there is a massive hum over everything which drowns out the recording. I'm using a Behringer B-5 studio mic on an XLR cable. I tried other mics and the sound did diminish slightly but is still overpowering. Now: if I pick up and squeeze the Profire, the buzz drops away. I also use a Mackie Onyx Satellite unit and it hums just as loudly.
So: having read a lot of Internet posts and discussions I suspected a ground loop / earthing problem and bought an ART DTI box, however when it's inserted into the line there is nothing at all - no sound whatsoever being picked up by the software. I've tried different leads, jacks as well as XLR, and nothing works.
Without the DTI box the hum is terrible. With it, there is no sound at all. As most of my instruments are now acoustic I need to record through a mic, not a pickup, but it's*proving impossible.
I'm debating running a cable from the metal body of the Profire to an electrical earth - any thoughts on whether or not this will help?
It's been five weeks now of constant buzz and I've tried different sockets, adaptors, running on firewire power only, and more than a few different cables.
All help or advice appreciated!
I've played for many many years, firstly back in the long haired days of valves and Fenders. I've only recently got into home composing and recording though. First step was an M-audio USB Fasttrack device which recorded perfectly but wouldn't allow me to save any of my recordings (freebie version of Pro-Tools). As this device was getting oldish even when bought I upgraded to an M-Audio Profire 610 Firewire Audio Interface with Ableton Live software. It was so good I upgraded to the full version of Ableton 9 Live however this is where the problems began.
I'm running it through firewire into my Intel Mac in the study of my house. As soon as a mic is connected there is a massive hum over everything which drowns out the recording. I'm using a Behringer B-5 studio mic on an XLR cable. I tried other mics and the sound did diminish slightly but is still overpowering. Now: if I pick up and squeeze the Profire, the buzz drops away. I also use a Mackie Onyx Satellite unit and it hums just as loudly.
So: having read a lot of Internet posts and discussions I suspected a ground loop / earthing problem and bought an ART DTI box, however when it's inserted into the line there is nothing at all - no sound whatsoever being picked up by the software. I've tried different leads, jacks as well as XLR, and nothing works.
Without the DTI box the hum is terrible. With it, there is no sound at all. As most of my instruments are now acoustic I need to record through a mic, not a pickup, but it's*proving impossible.
I'm debating running a cable from the metal body of the Profire to an electrical earth - any thoughts on whether or not this will help?
It's been five weeks now of constant buzz and I've tried different sockets, adaptors, running on firewire power only, and more than a few different cables.
All help or advice appreciated!
