Balanced Signal

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specs

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Hello, I have a problem with a humm in my signal chain. I don't even try to record yet because of this humm. I ran a 1/8 - two rca out of my headphone jack on my mobo soundcard, I have a 20 ft shielded rca cable running to my pyramid mixer and then rca out to amp. When I try to play sound from my comp to my stereo I get this hum, because of it I will not record to comp. Is there anyway to fix this?

Thanks
Specs
 
Turn down the trim

Hey--
Towards the top of your mixer, you should see a knob labeled "Trim." This is basically like pre-gain. Your best bet in getting rid of the hum is turning down the trim. Also, pyramid is pretty crappy so you might want to even consider something like a Behringer mixer (which isnt terrific, but better than pyramid). Hope this helps. E-mail me for anything else you need help with. operation_neddy@yahoo.com
 
Could be a ground loop problem too. If the above suggestion doesn't work, check all of your cables, make sure your system is plugged into the same circuit, and check that you don't have any heavy appliances on your circuit.

If none of the above work, try lifting the ground on your CPU. My computer has a notorious ground hum. I couldn't mix-down anything to computer until I lifted the ground. My first three mixes at NWR all have that buzz in the background.
 
Thanks Guys,

The pyramid is crap except I am finacially stuck right now and have to use what I can. The trim didn't work and I,m not sure where the comp ground is but I'll open it up later and see. I have the comp plugged into a wall plug in my room about 20ft from the stereo whcich is also plugged inot a seperate plug. I figured because it's in the same room it has to be on the same circuit, so much for that idea.

Thanks
Specs
 
You lift the ground by using a three prong adapter and not grounding the lug on the adapter.

There is no need to open the processor.
 
Thank you in advance for the help, I lifted the ground and still get the hum. My stereo is near the television, could that be a problem? I've tried plugging various components out but cannot find the problem. It seems the rca's from the comp or the comp are the prob, I'm just not sure. I cannot continue with this noise, Please Help:(

Specs
 
OK. Go to the hardware store and get a ground adapter for everything you have plugged in and start lifting grounds one by one untill you find the offending piece.

It may be more than one so you need to leave the adapter on each piece of equipment as you go to the next. Once you have found the noisemaker, you can start removing ground adapters from your other pieces until you find another one that may be humming too.
 
Lifting grounds is a dangerous practice -- the better way is to use an audio hum eliminator (such as Ebtech's Hum Eliminator) which isolates the audio signal from any physical connection that any AC might be finding a path thru......
 
I agree, but he should at least try this route first to see if it is the equipment and not something else on the line causing it.

If it is the equipment then make the safe investment in the hum eliminator.

As BB said this is dangerous if your equipment is in a metal chassis and you have a hot wire loose inside the case and it comes into contact with the chassis.

Ever touched a mic with your lips while holding your electric's guitar strings? Same principle.
 
Running an RCA cable 20ft is not very ideal either. Use better quality cables and keep everything as short as possible.
 
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