Echo Mia, Sonar noise issues

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MrStitch

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Well... I thaught I had just about all the glitches figured out... then everything went to hell =)

K, So i'm running an Echo Mia 24/96 audio card. When I hit the "Arm" button, my noise level is indicated in the meter below.

With the cables NOT plugged into the mixer, I get -79db of noise level.

With the cables connected, I get about -75db of noise level.

With the cables connected, power turned "On" on the mixer, I get about -66db of noise level.

Audio running at 24/96. Plenty of system power.

Also, this is when my guitar amps are OFF, and nothing else running 'cept my puter.

Does everyone else have these same noise levels? Is this as good as it gets?

I've thaught about getting a quieter fan for my computer. Has anyone else replaced a fan, and got quieter noise levels?
 
The extra noise you are seeing when you plug your cables and mixer in show that you have a bad cable or connector in there somewhere.

If you're using MME drivers, -80db isn't bad and certainly not hearable. Even in the mid -60s you may not notice anything in your speakers. Do some test recordings and see if it works for you.

If you use an S/PDIF connected device (I have a Johnson J-Station hooked up to my Mia via S/PDIF) you can get down to -104db.

The computer fan has nothing to do with it; this is electronic noise, not picked-up audio.
 
I don't have that much noise, and I have a 16/44 card...

But if you think something is wrong, check out RightMark Audio Analyzer. Download, install, and follow the instructions. :)
 
k... heres some other issues with it =)

I've done some test recordings.
My input signal is weak, very weak.
You can hear, but just barely. If I raise the levels on the mixer, that just adds even more noise. If I try to run the normalization, then all the noise gets raised with it.... and let me tell you, a 20 year old tape deck sitting at the city dump for a 5 years being rained on, sounds 4,000% better than that crap =).

Using WMA drivers in XP, I've raised all the levels I can, and still don't get any better.

I've done some test recordings before, using the line-out on my amp, and the sound cleaner. But, you know... line-out sucks for overall sound quality =)

I downloaded that program... didn't do anything for me.
Any suggestions?
 
It could be your cables. Are they shielded? Are they expensive? ;)
 
You also didn't say what type of mixer you have or how old it is.

First and cheapest thing to do is to get some new cables.

(and I'm also assuming you have the latest and greatest drivers from Echo????? The ones in the box are usually far out of date....)
 
yeah.. got the newest drivers today... helped a little, not a whole ton, but a little.

Cables are fairly new.
Mixer: Behringer Eurorack 2004a
 
MrStitch said:
Cables are fairly new.
Mixer: Behringer Eurorack 2004a
Click to expand...
That doesen't matter, new cables can be noisy. ;)

And it's not exactly the most quiet mixer you've got either....
 
well... I guess I don't know exactly what kind of cable I got. Just some rubber (shielded?) cables from the music store. Suppose I should try ALL the various cables I have, and see if different cables make a difference?
The cables in question DO get steped on quite often.. in fact all the time. =) So, I guess it would make a little sense.

What about your cables lying around on top of other cables, or power cords? Anyone seen a differnce by having random cables all over the place? Maybe it'll be a good time to rewire my studio.

I was also thinking of possibly getting a tube pre-amp. Do ya think this would be dangerous, or just add more noise to the mix?

Oh, and I'm only doing one track at a time. Mic to the mixer, mixer to the computer.

Keep sending Ideas guys...this a helpful thread! =)
 
Holy smokes! Maybe there IS something to this cabling thing. That damn monster cable is EXPENSIVE!

Today, I run my tests, and re-wire my studio. If i get any better results with any other cables just lying around... I'll post right away!
 
This is rather odd.

Right now, I don't have any cables plugged into the Echo Mia.

Sonar says theres a noise level reaching -80db.

With no cables.. Shouldn't there be nothing at all?
 
MrStitch said:
Sonar says theres a noise level reaching -80db.
Click to expand...
Okay... first of all I wouldn't trust figures read of Sonars meters. Try the RMAA-test i posted earlier. This really is a good program to find out how good your soundcard is...

And come on! -80 dB is quiet! Compare that to a signal recorded between -6 dB and -12 dB and you hear no noise at all! It's possible that the A/D-converters that are onboard makes a little noise (that's why really pro cards have their converters on a breakout-box)... But do test the card with the RightMark Audio Analyzer, and you will know shortly enough if your card is too noisy.

The MIA-test from their page says the card has a noise level at -106.8 dBA (in 24/96 mode). You say your results are different using the RMAA-test?
 
well... If noise isn't the issue, then how do I boost my input signal without noise?
 
MrStitch said:
well... If noise isn't the issue, then how do I boost my input signal without noise?
Click to expand...
Get a mixer or a mic.amplifier... ;)
 
So I could get a mic pre-amp, and run it into my computer? Woudn't that be a bad thing? =)
 
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