Another one of those 'help needed' threads - high pitch noise

[Bitter Dawn]

Did some searching in a few different sections but, I've not been able to fix the problem on my own.

Just picked up my new mixer/interface today, Yamaha MW10c, use to own a MW12 (older one with inputs on the back instead of the top) so I thought I would be fairly prepared to start recording some preliminary work...it turns out, not so much.

Although I'm sure most of you are vaguely familiar with these mixers, built in USB interface, Phantom power, XLR, TRS (balanced and non balanced ports), they're pretty easy to use. The mic I'm currently using is unfortunately an old Realistick/Shure 33-1070c omni directional, from Radio Shack.
The problem I am experiencing is, when I record guitar, vocal or nothing at all, I get a lot of loud white noise, paired with a rather high frequency consistent ringing, which sounds like it's in the foreground of any thing I am recording. I've never had this issue before that I can recall. Btw, I am using Reaper with XP SP3.

Things I've tried to rectify the problem at hand with include:
- using a different USB cable
- using a different outlet in a different room with a different power bar
- XLR to XLR, XLR to TRS (unbalanced)
- different input ports on the mixer (stereo, mono)
- Phantom power on and off
- Various audio settings in the device section of Reaper

I receive the same annoying results every time. The only other possible thing I can think of is, perhaps my SB Audigy card is causing complications some how. [Edit] Did the obvious and updated my drivers to Yamaha USB audio codec drivers, device selection is now ASIO as it should be but, problem still remains.

I am fairly certain it's not the mic itself as, I've done some ultra poor quality recordings before using the unbalanced TRS cable with a 1/4">1/8" converter plugged directly into my SB card, even then I never experienced the consistent high pitch ring, just a bit of expected light noise.

Here's a sample/test mp3 of what I'm experiencing (may have to download and play in winamp to work though) Sound test.mp3

 

[ido1957]

If you are using a laptop try using battery power not the power cord.
Are you getting this sound out of the mains too or in the headphones or just in the recording software? If so it's in the board somewhere. If not it's probably the soundcard.

 

[Bitter Dawn]

If it's not my sound card interfering some how then, it must be the board. I'm using a tower, custom build PC. Even with the drivers updated to Yamaha's, and the device input & output being set to ASIO/Yamaha USB it's still having the same issue. I currently don't have any monitors to monitor the sound while I'm recording and, the only phones I have right now are 1/8". I'm positive it's just recording oddly as, even dead air still retains the awful high frequency.

I imagine the cause and solution to this issue is probably some thing small.

 

[stealth_prod]

Well first id like to say that I dont have any experience with that model mixer so I cant say anything to specifics but here are a couple things to try to eliminate some possibilities:

1: When you arm the track are you getting a constant noise signal even without doing anything into the mic? (viewable on your input meter)

2: Try turning the gain down on the mic track on the mixer and leave the master gain up. Basically record while the gain is up and then either mute it or turn it down on the mixer while still recording. That might tell you if it is a bad channel on the mixer.

Have you tried a different channel on the mixer?

That is a dynamic mic correct? so phantom power should stay off.

I dont think it is a power issue because in my experience it would pulse or variate. (Correct me if im wrong please)

Try #2 and let me know the results. You may have a bad channel on your mixer. Or you may just have some extremely noisy outputs on that mixer.

[edit] where do you have the trim set?

 

[witzendoz]

It is possibly a digital earth loop via the USB between the computer and the desk, it is very common and I have written about it on the forum many times. The way to check is "as said by ido1957" is if using a lap top does the noise go away when using it on battery with the power cables disconnected?

If it is indeed an earth loop, the only way of fixing it is to use 1 of these on the audio out from the sound card, if you are also monitoring into the mixer from the sound card you will need one there as well.

I use them in my studio and out live for fixing earth loops.

Cheers
Alan.

 

[Bitter Dawn]

Thank-you guys for all your suggestions and aid.

witzendoz, I had stumbled upon the earth loop notion on one of the other threads I checked whilst I was troubleshooting before I decided to finally post, so that was a consideration.

stealth: Turns out your suggestion to check the channels and figure out if any of them were bad, was very close to the issue. Turns out that I'm just a dumb ass lol. The so called "problem" was just a point of my own ignorance, which was the fact that I didn't have the channel signal turned up..at all. Having the signal at 0 was what was causing it to record with a tonne of noise and that prolonged ringing and, thus it only capture very minimal amounts of audio through the mic.

Rather embarrassing but, what can ya do eh? It's a very poor excuse but, I'm more familiar with the sort of mixer(s) that has long throw faders, not these small knobs. There's actually a considerable difference in set-up and in function between the MW12 and the MW10c. I actually found a photo of them side by side... MW12vsMW10

Once more, thanks guys and I apologize for my incompetence. Not doing this for two years has taken a toll lol.