AUDIOBOX USB Hummmmmm

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kip Carter
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Kip Carter

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After fussing with my setup a couple of weeks on and off I finally got my rig configured well enough to capture some guitar and vocal successfully. Granted I have some coordination issue with the timing of guitar, voice, effects peddle, etc but i'm very please right now with the results.

What is a bit annoying (I haven't noticed it effecting the actual recording yet) is a bit of a hum that is obvious in my monitors. Now I have been able to mitigate this a little by turning down the inputs on the AudioBox USB. However this also diminishes the amplitude of the source inputs and consequently the recording.

Here is my setup..
recording setup.webp

So the questions I have are...
  1. Since I had the hum in computer speakers attached to the AudioBox USB is this a typical issue with the device?
  2. Is there any way to get rid of or filter out the hum other than reducing the input levels?

Regards,
Kip...
 
Sounds (and looks!) like a classic "laptop+AI+monitor" earth (aka ground) loop problem.

One sure fire diagnostic: Unplug the charger from the laptop. Does it hum on battery power?
Let us know.

Dave.
 
As you say the hum is rediced when you turn down th egain on the Audiobox, I would think the problem is from the output of TC Helicon - maybe hte impedances don't match up to the interface. Try plugging your mic and guitar directly into the Audiobox and see if the hum is still there.
 
Mike...
mjbphotos said:
As you say the hum is rediced when you turn down th egain on the Audiobox, I would think the problem is from the output of TC Helicon
Click to expand...

Note hum was present before the Harmony-G XT was added to the configuration.

Dave... will test and get back with you on the power supply.

...Kip...
 
Just dropped power (AC cord on external ps not the plug in the back of the laptop) and it made no difference to the hum.

Regards, Kip...
 
Okay I have done the following with the following results:
* Unplugged the power supply back of the laptop - hum still present
* unplugged all unnecessary USB connection - hum still present
* disconnected the Audiobox USB's USB cable - hum Stops

I'm noticing more hum on the right port than the left (2 vs 1 the instrument input). Port 1 (voice) does hum if turned up but not as bad as 2 does. Seems like I ran across something regarding the UBS cable itself that connects the AudioBox USB to the computer being an issue at times but can't find those websites that I found it at earlier.
Regards,
Kip...
 
Kip Carter said:
Okay I have done the following with the following results:
* Unplugged the power supply back of the laptop - hum still present
* unplugged all unnecessary USB connection - hum still present
* disconnected the Audiobox USB's USB cable - hum Stops

I'm noticing more hum on the right port than the left (2 vs 1 the instrument input). Port 1 (voice) does hum if turned up but not as bad as 2 does. Seems like I ran across something regarding the UBS cable itself that connects the AudioBox USB to the computer being an issue at times but can't find those websites that I found it at earlier.
Regards,
Kip...
Click to expand...

What sort of hum level do you get with no mic and no guitar plugged into the Audiobox?
Should be none or very little even at max gain.

Dave.
 
Hey Dave,
I unpluged and the hum is still there. Even turned off the Harmony-g xt still there. It seems to be definitely related to the AudioBox USB or its USB cable. both of which I can eliminate the hum by unhooking but then I would not get much recording accomplished either. I"m half tempted to switch the setup over to my desktop computer and try that but I really wanted it on the laptop for portability.
 
Do you get the hum on headphones, i.e. with the PA disconnected?

And can you describe this "hum" or better yet attach a 10sec .wav clip?

Dave.
 
I have a PA system connected to my recording gear as well. Across the room on a different circuit. Hum nightmare. A simple Behri HD400 solved the problem.
 
Dave, little ironic but they don't allow us to up load sound files only video and pics. I have a 15 second or so recording of it in wav and MP3 but can't put it up here.

On the headphone bit. As i fully expected same hum there as well. Now what I did notice when I went to reach for the plug to undo it is that the amplitude increased as my hand got close to the jack so it would seem like some form of RF energy generating the hum. I hooked up the PA and did the 'reach test' again and the same results for the PA as well. If you have a suggestion on how to upload one of the sound files I have them saved on my machine now.

Regards,
Kip...
 
jimmys69 said:
A simple Behri HD400 solved the problem.
Click to expand...

Jimmy,
I may end up having to invest in one. I sure would like to get more volume out of my rig on the tracks than I'm getting now. Will probably head that direction if we (me and y'all) can't find a simpler solution. tx.

Regards,
Kip...
 
Jimmy,
I was just taking a closer look at the HD400 and can't tell from anything I've seen so far so since you have one I will ask you. The documentation I find on it said either two mono feeds in and out or one stereo in and out. Now, the question I have is does it have the ability to hand one 1/8th stereo in and out or do will I have to split it into two mono lines to process through it?
Regards,
Kip...
 
Kip Carter said:
Dave, little ironic but they don't allow us to up load sound files only video and pics. I have a 15 second or so recording of it in wav and MP3 but can't put it up here.

On the headphone bit. As i fully expected same hum there as well. Now what I did notice when I went to reach for the plug to undo it is that the amplitude increased as my hand got close to the jack so it would seem like some form of RF energy generating the hum. I hooked up the PA and did the 'reach test' again and the same results for the PA as well. If you have a suggestion on how to upload one of the sound files I have them saved on my machine now.

Regards,
Kip...
Click to expand...

You only need two more posts to be able to upload an audio file. :)
 
Kip Carter said:
Jimmy,
I was just taking a closer look at the HD400 and can't tell from anything I've seen so far so since you have one I will ask you. The documentation I find on it said either two mono feeds in and out or one stereo in and out. Now, the question I have is does it have the ability to hand one 1/8th stereo in and out or do will I have to split it into two mono lines to process through it?
Regards,
Kip...
Click to expand...

It is really just two mono balanced (TRS) inputs and two mono balanced (TRS) outputs. It claims to convert the output to balanced though I wouldn't know as I run balanced inputs to it.

Anyway, yes you would need adapters from 1/8" stereo male cable. 1 1/8" stereo (female) to 2 - 1/4" TS (male) for each end if that is what your connections are.
 
KK... will have to figure for that then... dog gone cables and adapters cost almost as much as the gear some times.

Appreciate the feedback!
Regards,
Kip...
 
THIS isn't very expensive. :)

And one more post and you can attach that audio file. :)
 
Hum file

Dave,
Here is the hum recording you asked for.

Regards,
Kip...
 

Attachments

Kip Carter said:
Dave,
Here is the hum recording you asked for.

Regards,
Kip...
Click to expand...

That is not what would be called a hum. That sounds like something starting to fry! :eek:

I am no expert but that seems to be some type of crazy interference or electrical in nature.

Dave will be better at a decent response to this...
 
jimmys69 said:
That is not what would be called a hum. That sounds like something starting to fry! :eek:

I am no expert but that seems to be some type of crazy interference or electrical in nature.

Dave will be better at a decent response to this...
Click to expand...

LOL well it's not really as bad as it might sound. You need to know how I did that recording. That is recorded on my Samsung Galaxy s3 about six inches away from the speaker on the PA. I had to get that close to get a good clean recording so it isn't nearly that loud when you're standing at the mic.... still annoying but not nearly so loud.

Regards,
Kip...
 
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