Any ideas?

[J-Lane]

I have a noise that is in the background constantly and it's driving me NUTS!!! I have a very basic setup for recording audio into my computer. I have an M-Audio Fast Track USB (not the PRO). The Fast Track is hooked to my KRK RP5 monitors. It is a faint kind of growl noise and when I use any programs that use audio (Reason, ProTools, iTunes, etc...) it makes a high pitch whine in the background. It was there before I had the monitors or Fast Track so I basically eliminated them from the equation. I have gone as far as swapping power supplies from my other computer, removing everything that is plugged into the computer (video card, firewire card, wireless mouse, extra usb ports, DVD drive) and only running the computer with the audio interface, wired mouse and keyboard hooked up and the noise is still there. I tried plugging the computer into a different outlet using a different surge protector and the noise is still there. I also tried disconnecting the fan for the processor too just to make sure it wasn't that. I'm stumped. I'm losing my mind!!! I think it has to be the motherboard but is there a way to fix it? Any help would be very appreciated.

 

[rabiteguy]

I had a problem like this when I used my laptop to record. The noise ended up being the Firewire card I bought. I replaced it with a different brand and the noise went away. Sometimes it has to do with the quality of the parts used in the computer itself. Perhaps your motherboard's USB connections are not so great in quality. If that's the case, as it was with mine, you could simply purchase a PCI USB adapter card for your computer and it may make a difference.

I also noticed a similar noise when I plugged my USB Midi controller/digital keyboard in both the audio interface(for recording the keyboards onboard samples) and the USB jack (for midi controller functions). This caused a feedback loop that generated a lot of noise.

Another possibility would be if you had some sort of motorized appliance running on the same electrical circuit such as a mini fridge or a microwave. Even if its not in the same room it may cause interference in the power line.