High Pitched Noise

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LiamH

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Hi everyone,

I'm new to Home Recording Forum and recording generally so please forgive me if I write anything stupid! I've been trying to record myself playing the violin so that I could create a small channel on YouTube. Problem is, whenever I record, I get this infuriating high-pitched noise.

I bought a NADY RSM-2 Studio Microphone and linked the XLR cable into the Alpha Lexicon Recording Studio via its XLR input. I link all this up to my Windows 8 computer via USB and have also been using a Logitech Webcam. I've been using Debut Video Capture Software to record myself.

The actual sound of the violin is great but there's always a high-pitched noise in the background. I've noticed that when I increase the volume, this whistle also gets louder as well. I've tried everything that I can think of:
-I've turned the audio off everything on my Windows 8 computer to make sure nothing is affecting the sound, including the Logitech webcam
-I've adjusted the levels of each nob on the Lexicon Alpha
-I've added all the relevant downloads for Lexicon Alpha
-I've tried changing the recording software, but Debut Video Capture seems pretty good to me
-I've reset the audio for the microphone on numerous occasions
-I've tried recording both with my laptop plugged in and running on the battery

If anyone has any ideas I would be eternally grateful. Thanks so much in advance!
 
When you turn down the input gain on the Alpha, or turn down the main ouput contorl (if it has one) does the noise get softer? It osunds like the same issue that cheaper USB mixers have with their A-to-D/USB converters.
 
LiamH said:
The actual sound of the violin is great but there's always a high-pitched noise in the background. I've noticed that when I increase the volume, this whistle also gets louder as well.
Click to expand...

How loud are your monitors? Maybe the wife's trying to get your attention?

Welcome to HR. ;)
 
Some people would say the violin IS an infuriating high-pitched noise... I wouldn't say that, of course, but other people, less generous of soul than I, probably would.:D

You're not playing and recording your fiddle with your speakers, monitors etc. on, perchance?
 
Thanks so much for the replies and the welcomes!

The only thing that seems to affect the sound on the Alpha controls is the microphone input volume. When I increase it the high-pitched sound increases. It's only when it's very low that I can't hear anything (though that means I can barely hear the actual recording.) I've also tried switching between Mono and Stereo, which didn't make a difference.

My monitors are the ones already installed on the computer so I don't think they're very loud.

Do you think it's a problem with the Alpha?
 
I wouldn't argue with that, it can sound like a cat dying if you're not good at it. Hopefully I'm not that bad!

I've tried turning off the speakers when recording but I didn't think to turn the computer monitor off if that's what you mean. I'll give it a go and see what happens
 
I believe Mike's was the only sincere reply. If I don't miss my guess, the rest were just welcome humor.
I doubt your mic is the problem. The rsm-2 is a fair mic, and mics rarely cause high pitch noise in your recording.
It's possible the analog to digital converter Mike referenced in your $60 interface may well be the problem.
Is the pitch a whine, a whistle, or somewhere above whistle?
 
I was going to suggest posting an example. The Lexicon Alpha is not up there with best of AIs although it does have a good pedigree. But a sample of what you are getting would go a long way toward finding a solution
 
BroKen_H said:
I believe Mike's was the only sincere reply. If I don't miss my guess, the rest were just welcome humor.
I doubt your mic is the problem. The rsm-2 is a fair mic, and mics rarely cause high pitch noise in your recording.
It's possible the analog to digital converter Mike referenced in your $60 interface may well be the problem.
Is the pitch a whine, a whistle, or somewhere above whistle?
Click to expand...
I agree with this. I simply don't expect a cheapie ADC to perform particularly well. High-pitched whistling could be any number of things, including poor filtering, hysteresis error, or even EMF from the computer. There's a reason why some ADCs are $60 and some are $600.

Here's something you might try: Make sure that the USB cable you're using to connect to your PC has a filter choke on it (the big cylinder things that better cables have around one or both ends). Plug the cable into one of the USB connectors on the back of the PC, not the front panel -- the internal cables for the front USB ports are longer, poorly shielded and more prone to picking up EMF.

See if you still get that high-pitched whine. If it's still there, try moving the Alpha to different physical positions around the computer. It looks like it has a plastic case and, if it's poorly shielded, it may be picking up EMF (electrical noise) from the PC.

And, of course, make sure it's not your wife telling you knock it off. :)
 
I have no experience of Windows 8 (and want none!) but it might treat USB audio devices the same way that W7 does, i.e. as a microphone!

Go into the Sounds and Devices setup menus and find the "Device" then look at Levels and if they are slammed to 100% back them off to 5% or less.

I note that the mic is a ribbon? That means you need a much better pre amp circuit than most AIs supply. I don't want to knock the lexicon, never had one, but I doubt it is in the Focusrite or Native Instruments class for low noise and gain. Can you borrow a capacitor (aka condenser) mic perhaps?

Dave.
 
ecc83 said:
I have no experience of Windows 8 (and want none!) but it might treat USB audio devices the same way that W7 does, i.e. as a microphone!

Go into the Sounds and Devices setup menus and find the "Device" then look at Levels and if they are slammed to 100% back them off to 5% or less.

I note that the mic is a ribbon? That means you need a much better pre amp circuit than most AIs supply. I don't want to knock the lexicon, never had one, but I doubt it is in the Focusrite or Native Instruments class for low noise and gain. Can you borrow a capacitor (aka condenser) mic perhaps?

Dave.
Click to expand...


A condenser mic wouldn't work on the Alpha, it has no phantom power supply
 
Try a regular dynamic mic first. If you get the same high pitch whining when turning up the gain, you know its the preamp in the Alpha.
You mention computer speakers - do you have these plugged into your Alpha? You should be using it as both your input and output sound device. Speakers shoudl be turned off when recording wiht a mic - use headphones for monitoring), or you may get feedback (what others alluded to).
 
The other thing that I haven't picked up in this thread... are you running power cables close to mic or speaker cables?
 
I have remembered that it is a common problem with, shall we say less than excellent USB audio devices, that you get audible artifacts in the recorded and especially monitored signal. (this is very common on budget USB mixers)

Even my otherwise brilliant Allen and Heath ZED10 produces (or, the crappo, generic USB audio drivers produce!) some tone at around 5kHz. On their advice I cranked the level down as I advised above and the artifacts are now below any reasonable analogue noise floor produce by pre amp noise or, mostly in practice, room noise but if I run an analyser they are STILL there!

In contrast both my NI KA6 and my F'rite 8i6 (USB 2.0 own ASIO drivers) produce a rec/replay noise floor of better than -100dBFS and RightMark Anny shows NO spikes!

So, as is SO often the case, the advice is probably "Get a better interface"!

Err? Don't want to be impertinent, but how much did the fiddle cost?
Dave.
 
Great idea, can't believe I didn't think to put a recording in. The one I've got below is in mp3 converted from mp4.

View attachment Untitled 84.mp3

Wierdly enough, when I was trying to find a way to link to this recording, I initially put it up as an avi file on YouTube and I couldn't hear any of these issues with the sound. Does that mean YouTube edits out the whining sound?
 
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