Digital Noise

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GuitarLegend

GuitarLegend

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I have a Focusrite Saffire PRO 24 DSP connected to a pair of Yamaha HS80M active monitors. There is a faint but distinct high-pitch digital noise that is sometimes stopped by certain mouse activity or disk activity among others. It doesn't get into the recordings and is not a problem, just an annoyance. If I disconnect the speaker cables from the Saffire PRO 24 DSP, the noise stops completely so I guess it is coming from the Saffire, not the cables. I never noticed this on the DB Technologies L160 speakers I had before but each speaker was a dual 5" without a tweeter. It may have been there, I just couldn't hear it.

Any suggestions would be appreciated
 
Have you tried listening to it via headphones?

What happens if the device is disconnected from the computer? Apparently it can be driven from a stand-alone power supply. Does the noise stop in that case? If so, it's the computer doing it.
Fixing it in that instance is liable to be a problem - I've swapped out practically every component and still not been able to get rid of USB noise on my audio interface, except by disconnecting it from the computer entirely and using a fibreoptic link.

If it persists without being electrically connected to the computer, it's liable to be the device itself.

In terms of fixing it, it might be a matter of a blocking cap gone bad. I'll have to try recapping my Edirol interface someday.
 
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Yes, I have used balanced cables. I thought that was best.

When I disconnect the firewire plug, the noise stops but I thought that I could have predicted that. I am, however, using the firewire to power the Focusrite. Powering externally doesnt change anything

I can only hear it when it is dead quiet here (which is nice for a studio to be, at times) so its not a major thing. But we like stuff to be perfect...

I have been told about audio transformers (or chokes) in the audio line but I dont want to do anything that would mess with the audio in any way - although having said that, I have something messing with it anyway...

Thanks for your response
 
try different cables and check for a ground loop.

You may have to "lift the ground" on one piece.

Look for a ground lift switch on one piece of that equipment
 
Yep I thought of ground loops too but it doesnt sound like that. It comes and goes... can last for a long time until something just clicks and off it goes again... for example, its not doing it now as type... maybe I should keep Home Recording up permanently :D

I put a new 6-way anti-surge board in recently to try to get rid of the pops from the refrigerator... disconnecting the speakers from that and connecting to another powerboard (in the same line) seems to have killed the noise...
 
GuitarLegend said:
Yep I thought of ground loops too but it doesnt sound like that. It comes and goes... can last for a long time until something just clicks and off it goes again... for example, its not doing it now as type... maybe I should keep Home Recording up permanently :D

I put a new 6-way anti-surge board in recently to try to get rid of the pops from the refrigerator... disconnecting the speakers from that and connecting to another powerboard (in the same line) seems to have killed the noise...
Click to expand...

If changing the pwr strip solved it, the noise may have been coming from the neon lamp or some other source on the power strip. Interesting.
 
Whenever possible you equipment should be on a dedicated circuit that runs directly to the breaker box.

Also good to use a Panamax filtration device such as this or one of their other products. They clean up noise big time.

See: M4315-PRO | A/V Components | Products | Panamax.com

They use an isolation transformer, and that blocks tons of electrical noises.
 
Try this

I had a problem similar to yours, and it turned out to be the firewire cable itself. I guess it wasn't shielded properly. I used the one that came with the my interface and it fixed the problem.
 
Thanks pdamasco

I replaced my Focusrite Saffire PRO 24 DSP with a Saffire PRO 40 and I don't have any more noise. The 24 DSP was powered from the firewire cable, whereas the 40 is powered from mains (and seems louder btw). It might have something to do with it but I know that the digital noise was not in the 24 DSP originally. It developed later and I haven't worked out why. It was about the time when I changed my DB L160 speakers for Yamaha HS80M but I dont blame the speakers at all. Its just that the noise turned up about that time. The Saffire PRO 40 is awesome although I understand there is better gear out there if you want to pay an arm and a leg.,
 
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