mjbphotos
Moderator
I'm a little confused on your comments about using 'digital preamps' and 'digital amps'. Plug the electric guitar directly into the interface and see what is sounds like.
Chili
Site Moderator
I think it's a noisy USB port. Find another computer.
M
moresound
Loud Sun Studios
Molle ... What country do you live in. Not that it's gonna make a difference.
ashcat_lt
Well-known member
Do you have Multimeter?
Do the meters in your DAW not have some numerical scale or readout?
Do the meters in your DAW not have some numerical scale or readout?
M
Molle
New member
Okay so I have set up an appointment with one of my friends who was willing to lend me his guitar in a couple of days, I will then check if it is a wiring issue. I will probably also lend an instrument cable from him to check that that's not the problem either. My amp doesn't have any ground connection so I wouldn't test that unless everything else has been ruled out. Also I'm obviously not a technical wiz and I'm not sure I'd know what I was doing if I tried changing one of my power supply's.
In regards to the suggestion that my usb port might not have a sufficient power supply for the AI, I've now connected the AI to a usb splitter with an external power supply (without ground connection however), and it actually seems to eliminate some of the noise too. This means that when I turn off all the power outlets, except for the powering my usb splitter, the noise becomes bearable. One thing I've noticed though: When i adjust the 'tone' buttons on my guitar and turn them all the way down, the noise completely disappears.
I'll be sure be sure to be more careful Dave, I just happened to notice it since i naturally put my hands on computer as I am using it to control my DAW
By the digital amps I just mean effects from DAW that alters the sound, I was just lacking a better word, my guitar is already plugged directly into my AI.
I live in Denmark.
I'm not sure what a multimeter is, but now I've taken two screen pictures of the measurement I'm referring to. The first is a picture of the meter when I'm not playing or touching the guitar, the next is when I've just strum it.
In regards to the suggestion that my usb port might not have a sufficient power supply for the AI, I've now connected the AI to a usb splitter with an external power supply (without ground connection however), and it actually seems to eliminate some of the noise too. This means that when I turn off all the power outlets, except for the powering my usb splitter, the noise becomes bearable. One thing I've noticed though: When i adjust the 'tone' buttons on my guitar and turn them all the way down, the noise completely disappears.
I'll be sure be sure to be more careful Dave, I just happened to notice it since i naturally put my hands on computer as I am using it to control my DAW
By the digital amps I just mean effects from DAW that alters the sound, I was just lacking a better word, my guitar is already plugged directly into my AI.
I live in Denmark.
I'm not sure what a multimeter is, but now I've taken two screen pictures of the measurement I'm referring to. The first is a picture of the meter when I'm not playing or touching the guitar, the next is when I've just strum it.
mjbphotos
Moderator
Steenamaroo
...
What happened when you moved the guitar around the room?
What amp? I thought the guitar was plugged straight into the interface?
Steenamaroo
...
M
Molle
New member
The guitar I'm using doesn't have single coil pick-ups to my knowledge, It's a Gibson SG Special, so that shouldn't be the problem. I'm not familiar with noisegates, and after a quick google search it seems a bit too advanced for me to handle digitally. Maybe a noisegate pedal would be a good solution to my problem? I know there's probably a way for me to eliminate this noise without spending the money on another pedal, but if this actually works it's never the less tempting.
In regards to question whether the plugs have ground connections. The thing is my amp, which I am not currently running the sound through, doesn't have a ground 'pin' and therefore it probably wouldn't help eliminate the noise.
In regards to question whether the plugs have ground connections. The thing is my amp, which I am not currently running the sound through, doesn't have a ground 'pin' and therefore it probably wouldn't help eliminate the noise.
C
CSP
Member
I have just read what i think is the instruction manuel for your interfave (pre-amp) and I have a couple of questions.
1. On the bottom of your unit anre there two slider switches that are marked --- R gnd lift and L Gnd Lift. If so what mode are they in, then try sliding to the other side. These switches are designed to eliminate hum loops.
2. Can I suggest that initially (to try to determine where the problem is) remove any effects pedals and go straight from the USB output on the interface to the computer.
3. Try turning the Direct Monitor level control to its fully off position (I think it is a many turn knob, also push the knob once to ensure that the "Stereo" indicator LED it switched on (this sends the two input channels to their respective stereo outputs (if plugged into the left input socket the audio will only be heard on the left output --- USB or analogue).
4. The output control on the guitar and on the interface should both be about the 75% mark.
5. listen to what the guitat and noise sound like through the unit's headphone socket, if clear (ie no noise or distortion) I would suggest that the guitar and lead are both OK, if there is a problem then it is either the lead or guitar. If both are OK then radiated noise as others have suggested is most unlikely --- unless you have some increadibly powerfull magnetic interferience present -- then I would not be in the room !!!!!
6. An OLD trick (I am showing my age here !!!!!) plug the guitar lead (I am presuming that you are using a mono guitar lead -- ie only a tip and long earth section and not one that looks like a stereo headphone plug -- if you are using a stereo lead DON'T get a MONO lead) into the guitar and before pluging it into yout interface give it a good sloopy lick then plug it in. For some reason this has always helped with hum problems.
Let me know the results after trying all of the above, especially the two swtiches on the bottom of the unit if your unit has these --- they could be located elsewhere on the unit if I have looked at the wrong unit.
David
1. On the bottom of your unit anre there two slider switches that are marked --- R gnd lift and L Gnd Lift. If so what mode are they in, then try sliding to the other side. These switches are designed to eliminate hum loops.
2. Can I suggest that initially (to try to determine where the problem is) remove any effects pedals and go straight from the USB output on the interface to the computer.
3. Try turning the Direct Monitor level control to its fully off position (I think it is a many turn knob, also push the knob once to ensure that the "Stereo" indicator LED it switched on (this sends the two input channels to their respective stereo outputs (if plugged into the left input socket the audio will only be heard on the left output --- USB or analogue).
4. The output control on the guitar and on the interface should both be about the 75% mark.
5. listen to what the guitat and noise sound like through the unit's headphone socket, if clear (ie no noise or distortion) I would suggest that the guitar and lead are both OK, if there is a problem then it is either the lead or guitar. If both are OK then radiated noise as others have suggested is most unlikely --- unless you have some increadibly powerfull magnetic interferience present -- then I would not be in the room !!!!!
6. An OLD trick (I am showing my age here !!!!!) plug the guitar lead (I am presuming that you are using a mono guitar lead -- ie only a tip and long earth section and not one that looks like a stereo headphone plug -- if you are using a stereo lead DON'T get a MONO lead) into the guitar and before pluging it into yout interface give it a good sloopy lick then plug it in. For some reason this has always helped with hum problems.
Let me know the results after trying all of the above, especially the two swtiches on the bottom of the unit if your unit has these --- they could be located elsewhere on the unit if I have looked at the wrong unit.
David
M
Molle
New member
Thank you so much David, the switches worked! I had no idea they were there, and I'm terribly sorry if anyone feels like I've wasted their time. If I at any point in my life should gain proper knowledge on this area I'll be sure to check back and help some newbies like you guys have helped me 
C
CSP
Member
A pleasure.
It is good news that you finally solved the problem and from my end, having been in the live and recorded audio business and being an audio engineer (ie technical not musical) who has designed and built everything from amps, mixers, multi-track recorders, etc for almost 50 years, I really doubted the induced RF senario, unless there was something radically wrong with your equipment and even then the level of RF being generated would have had to be quite high and probably quite dangerous --- unless you were running your guitar lead directly beside high voltage mains supply cables, lighting DMX cables or something similar.
By the way (and for your info) an unbalanced guitar lead (or for that matter any other unbalanced high impedance cable) should never really be any more than about 2mtrs (6ft) in length or you could/will start loosing high frequencies -- due to the impedance of the cable. This is why professional microphones (-50db) or line level (+4db) equipment use balanced cable and can run for long distances without frequency problems or hum being picked up because of external sources. But that's the subject of more in-depth electronics lessons.
Re your last comment (If I at any point in my life should gain proper knowledge on this area) don't worry, even after 50 years I am still learning on a daily basis.
Welcome to the industry --- assuming that there will be one in 5 years time. But don't start me on that topic !!!!!!!!!!!!
David
It is good news that you finally solved the problem and from my end, having been in the live and recorded audio business and being an audio engineer (ie technical not musical) who has designed and built everything from amps, mixers, multi-track recorders, etc for almost 50 years, I really doubted the induced RF senario, unless there was something radically wrong with your equipment and even then the level of RF being generated would have had to be quite high and probably quite dangerous --- unless you were running your guitar lead directly beside high voltage mains supply cables, lighting DMX cables or something similar.
By the way (and for your info) an unbalanced guitar lead (or for that matter any other unbalanced high impedance cable) should never really be any more than about 2mtrs (6ft) in length or you could/will start loosing high frequencies -- due to the impedance of the cable. This is why professional microphones (-50db) or line level (+4db) equipment use balanced cable and can run for long distances without frequency problems or hum being picked up because of external sources. But that's the subject of more in-depth electronics lessons.
Re your last comment (If I at any point in my life should gain proper knowledge on this area) don't worry, even after 50 years I am still learning on a daily basis.
Welcome to the industry --- assuming that there will be one in 5 years time. But don't start me on that topic !!!!!!!!!!!!
David
Chili
Site Moderator
Thank you so much David, the switches worked! I had no idea they were there, and I'm terribly sorry if anyone feels like I've wasted their time. If I at any point in my life should gain proper knowledge on this area I'll be sure to check back and help some newbies like you guys have helped me
Good job, CSP. And this thread might help future users with the same problem. Kharma, Dharma, and all that.
M
Molle
New member
Sneaky place indeed ^^