-30db Noise with Audigy 2 & Kx drivers

[Hoodoo]

I just started trying to record some old 4-track cassette songs from my Marantz 6-channel cassette mixer into my Audigy 2 (line in). I have an RCA cable (pair) from my line out of my mixer to an RCA-1/8" adapter plug, which subsequently plugs into my Audigy 2 line-in.

I'm getting about -30db of noise, which seems too high. I'm using the kx project drivers, and have everything muted except the line-in found on the AC97 tab.

Anyone else out there with this much noise on their Audigy 2? (yes, I will be upgrading to an Audiophile 2496 or E-mu 1212M at somepoint, but want to see if I can get a decent, clean signal into my PC).

Thanks...

 

[brzilian]

Sounds like you're picking up major interference along the way. I had a SB MP3+ USB interface to play with a while back and even that had a -54dB noise floor. Re check your wiring and make sure its not close to power cords or something.

 

[Hoodoo]

Hard to avoid power cords when you're plugging into a PC. I have an APS battery backup underneath my desk, near the PC (1 - 1 1/2' away). Could it really be this or the power cords, or might it be a crappy RCA-1/8" converter plug ($6 radio shack special)? Even when the RCA cable is unplugged from the converter plug (but the plug is still in the 1/8" jack) there is noise...

Any other ideas?

 

[muskgrave]

If I were you I would get a short (3' or so) cable that goes directly from dual RCA to mini. You can pick one up at radio shack for a few beans. Radio shack does sell some junky stuff in their audio dept but i wouldn't say anything against their cables. It's still OFC . Before I had a means of inputting 1/4" straight into my computer I used a 4-track tape recorder as a mixer/microphon input and used a cable like that one mentioned above. The above post should be taken to heart as well. electrical interference is a REAL problem.

dlv

 

[Hoodoo]

I'm currently using a 6-foot RCA cable, which gets plugged into the RCA-mini adapter, which is then plugged into the 1/8" jack on the Audigy. Even with the adapter plugged in with the RCA cable removed (unplugged from it), there is noise so I assume it must be the adapter plug?!?

Guess I'll have to try the RCA->mini cable.

I also read on some other posts (on Google) that a "ground isolator" might do the trick.

Any experience with this?

See link: http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&product_id=270-054

 

[muskgrave]

without looking at the link i believe it's a ground loop interference cancellation device. I would definitely use the 1 short cable first. The cancellation device will filter out the hum but probably filter out everything else in that frequency range as well .
You will never completely be rid of all line noise with analog but you should have as few connectors/adapters as possible. Let us know how that goes!

http://www.radioshack.com/product.a..._name=CTLG_007_002_003_009&product_id=42-2550


dlv

 

[Hoodoo]

Well I ended up "splurging" over lunch today and got the $16 ground loop isolation cable. I'll report my findings here later...

I did go back and check my connections. It turns out that only when I had my RCA cable plugged into my mixer did I get the noise. The signal was, in fact, pretty clean when the adapter & cable WERE plugged into the soundcard.

So, it's down to the mixer line-out...

 

[muskgrave]

oh man...

i could have sworn I was talking in this thread...
..why ask the question if your mind is already made up? You aren't getting noise because you dont have any signal going into the sound card..unless perhaps if the rca's were laying on your hand or being introduced to some other electrical field...

Consider the following example:
...my septic tank was forming a filthy sespool in my backyard at the end of the drain line so I cut the line coming from the tank and capped the tank off...now i don't have the sespool so it must be fixed!..

dlv