delta 1010 hum

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Walter Tore

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HI All: I have been using a delta 1010 for about 3 years with no problems. The other day, a loud mid freq hum started. It happens on both my monitors and headphone monitor mixer (both use slots 1&2 on the output 1/4" jacks. I notice if I giggle the power in jack it changes some. I have tried other outlets with the same results. I am thinking there is some kind of grounding problem going on or something wrong with the soundcard or cable connecting it to the computer? the hum does not register on the delta panel, yet it very loud. I am not well versed in electrical repair/diagnosis, so any feedback will be appreciated. Thanks. Walter
 
Bummer I had exactly the same thing happen. The hum was very loud when i started up the computer and gradually died down to a very faint crackle after about 40 minutes or so (sometimes). Found out that the capacitors had fried out - this is a common enough problem with th Delta 1010 unfortunately. I found that out after weeks of trawling the net looking for a fix. If you are any good you can fix it with a soldering iron and replacement capacitors... I ended up replacing it with an Echo Layla 3G which I have to say is a lot better than the Delta. For one it has a headphones socket with volume knob (yay!), plus 2 x universal ins (great fpor xlr mics direct to the units preamp which is pretty samn good for the money) and 8 regular 1/4" on the back panel, midi too of course. none of that cocking around with the mixer that used to drive me insane on th Delta too, just plug and play/record. The sound to my ears is better and that is when I A/B'd some gutar stuff recorded direct through the same signal chains bar the the Delta/Layla.
It might be something else but it sounds lie what I had and what I found a lot of others experienced too...
 
Superhuman said:
Bummer I had exactly the same thing happen. The hum was very loud when i started up the computer and gradually died down to a very faint crackle after about 40 minutes or so (sometimes). Found out that the capacitors had fried out - this is a common enough problem with th Delta 1010 unfortunately. I found that out after weeks of trawling the net looking for a fix. If you are any good you can fix it with a soldering iron and replacement capacitors... I ended up replacing it with an Echo Layla 3G which I have to say is a lot better than the Delta. For one it has a headphones socket with volume knob (yay!), plus 2 x universal ins (great fpor xlr mics direct to the units preamp which is pretty samn good for the money) and 8 regular 1/4" on the back panel, midi too of course. none of that cocking around with the mixer that used to drive me insane on th Delta too, just plug and play/record. The sound to my ears is better and that is when I A/B'd some gutar stuff recorded direct through the same signal chains bar the the Delta/Layla.
It might be something else but it sounds lie what I had and what I found a lot of others experienced too...
Click to expand...

thanks! Yes the hum dies down after being on awhile. Now that I think back, there has always been a faint hum. I attributed it to a bad ground. I have a friend that is good with electronics. I will see if he can take a look at the capacitors. I looked up the echo layla. It looks nice, but I don't need the mic preamps it comes with. I am not real educated with all this stuff, so maybe I am reading the description wrong?? THanks! Walter
 
Walter Tore said:
thanks! Yes the hum dies down after being on awhile. Now that I think back, there has always been a faint hum. I attributed it to a bad ground. I have a friend that is good with electronics. I will see if he can take a look at the capacitors.
Click to expand...

Recapping is fairly straightforward, assuming that's the problem. That said, if you notice a difference when you wiggle the power cord, it might be a broken ground wire on the back side of the power connector and/or a faulty power cord. Try a different power cord. If that doesn't help, crack the sucker open and see if there are any wires loose before you go to the trouble of recapping.

If the caps are the problem, though, it should be pretty obvious. Look for a bunch of distended metal cans with greasy black slime oozing out of them. :D
 
dgatwood said:
Recapping is fairly straightforward, assuming that's the problem. That said, if you notice a difference when you wiggle the power cord, it might be a broken ground wire on the back side of the power connector and/or a faulty power cord. Try a different power cord. If that doesn't help, crack the sucker open and see if there are any wires loose before you go to the trouble of recapping.

If the caps are the problem, though, it should be pretty obvious. Look for a bunch of distended metal cans with greasy black slime oozing out of them. :D
Click to expand...


That's what mine has!
 
Tip: use a solder wick. Place it against the solder while you heat the wire with a soldering pencil (NOT a gun---you don't want to overheat the board). The solder should flow right off the board onto the wick. Adjust the position of the wick as needed.
 
dgatwood said:
Tip: use a solder wick. Place it against the solder while you heat the wire with a soldering pencil (NOT a gun---you don't want to overheat the board). The solder should flow right off the board onto the wick. Adjust the position of the wick as needed.
Click to expand...
Dip the wick in some flux/rosin before applying to the board and you'll be astonished at the results... be sure to clean up any rosin left afterwards, it's highly corrosive.
 
hmmmm, I wonder uf I should try this. I have a 1010 collecting dust that a local school could really use.
 
thanks for all the replies! that how to fix tutorial is great, but over my head. I started a new thread in the computer forum here asking for help in picking a new soundcard setup. I am a recording junkie and my repairman is out of town for 2 weeks. I can't wait that long. Walter
 
Some other easy fix monitor hum problems: Using a mac laptop with the power cord hooked up will cause a hum, while running on batteries it goes away. The other thing I would try is to plug your monitors into a long extension cord and go around the house from outlet to outlet and see if you can find one where it goes away. If it's a grounding hum, you may luck out and find an outlet that eliminates it.
 
guitar zero said:
Some other easy fix monitor hum problems: Using a mac laptop with the power cord hooked up will cause a hum, while running on batteries it goes away. The other thing I would try is to plug your monitors into a long extension cord and go around the house from outlet to outlet and see if you can find one where it goes away. If it's a grounding hum, you may luck out and find an outlet that eliminates it.
Click to expand...

Thanks for these ideas. Here is where I am at. the problem is this loud hum just started out of the blue - so I thought. But I now realize it has been there for a few years, only barely noticable when no music is on the speakers. We moved to a new state and the hum was the same in our new house, with new monitors. I had my studio here built and had it all grounded. I can plug in a guitar amp and get no hum from the plugs. I also did the long extension cord trial and it hums as bad from any outlet. I use a PC. Walter
 
I bought a new delta 1010 and there is no more hum. Dead quiet. There is a noticable sound difference as well. I think when I bought mine used it was already having problems. Being my first computer soundcard, I just figured it was the way it was. thanks everyone for the help with this problem! Walter
 
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