1 Room Studio - Organizing Cables & Wiring To Minimize Line Noise

[MoBettaBlues]

I have a 1 room studio and I get some hum in my signal. I want to start with rearanging my cables, hard drive wall warts, etc to see if that's the problem.

Can anyone point out pictures or information on how to best go about this?

Right now I run my DAW from a Macbook Pro. I have 2 external drives that are used for backup. I have an additional PC that is used for other things. I also have a 2nd computer monitor connected to the Macbook Pro.

Lots of cables running around in front of my DAW and from the desk and monitors/sub in front. Need to clean all that up but just not sure how to go about it.

Most of my noise is in my guitar. I can notice difference when I turn with the guitar. No cable issues though within the guitar rig. I use a modeller so no tube issues.

I do have dimmers on my lights but I don't notice any difference when they're off.

I realized that I made a similar post last October. Sorry.... I should have resurected it before posting again.

Here's the link to that post with pictures of my problem areas. Still need more advice.

https://homerecording.com/bbs/gener...g-cables-power-xlr-usb-etc-need-advce-348644/

 

[mjbphotos]

Man, I thought my cabling was a little disorganized until I saw your pictures! BTW, I've got any number of cables runing around behind my desk (although more organized since moving everything around earlier this year), and have no issues with hum (with unbalanced speaker cables, too).

When trying to get rid of a hum, you need to figure out the cause. Seems like you have figured its the guitar? Is it an electric with single coil pickups, they have inherent hum. What are you plugging the guitar into (what interface - does it have an instrument input?) Try running your laptop on battery rather than the wallwart to see if that changes anything.

 

[Nebakanezer]

The general rule of thumb is run signal cables together and run power cables together. Cross signal and power cables at 90 degree intersections and never run them close together in parallel. If you plug your guitar into an amp in that room, while not running any of your recording gear, does it still hum?

 

[AkaraEtt]

Yes...ground-loop problems are difficult to pin-down, but often if you're systematic you can discover the source and eradicate it by replacing the offending part.

I'd start with the computer...try listening to the computer plugged into the power, with a good set of headphones, seeing if the hum is from that. (isolating the soundcard)
Try different monitor speakers
Try with the sub off
Try with no video monitors connected.
Try with laptop on battery
Try with everything plugged into a separate power point than X piece of hardware (eg laptop, monitor A, monitor B)
etc etc

 

[Chili]

I get a hum when I use a multiple wall outlets. So now I power everything from one outlet. No hum.

the funny thing is, when I built my studio, I ran everything back to one breaker box to eliminate ground loops, yet I still get a hum with this one particular outlet. <shrugs shoulders>

 

[mjbphotos]

I get a hum when I use a multiple wall outlets. So now I power everything from one outlet. No hum.

the funny thing is, when I built my studio, I ran everything back to one breaker box to eliminate ground loops, yet I still get a hum with this one particular outlet. <shrugs shoulders>

The physical outlet can sometimes be a problem. The typical 2-socket outlet sells for $1.29, and probably costs Home Depot $0.59. I'd replace the outlet and see if maybe there was just an internal ground connection problem.

 

[MoBettaBlues]

Good avice guys.

Curious how you manage to organize and route any power cables and audio cables coming off your desk so they aren't coming down all over the place while still applying the rules of separation and/or crossing at 90 degrees?

I was wondering if anyone had any pictures they could share that shows how you organize your set-up?

 

[wmalan]

Good avice guys.

Curious how you manage to organize and route any power cables and audio cables coming off your desk so they aren't coming down all over the place while still applying the rules of separation and/or crossing at 90 degrees?

I was wondering if anyone had any pictures they could share that shows how you organize your set-up?

Maybe run sets of cables and power cords through those corrugated cable organizer tubes. You could a least separate them in groups. Was thinking of doing the same.

 

[Chili]

I used to keep them separate, but after the last reorganization, they are bundled together. I see no problems. Albeit, my studio set up is very simple anymore; an interface, a guitar modeler, keyboard/synth, some speakers and the computer.