High Pitch buzzing sound in recordings..?

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HazzerX

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Hi everyone I'm new here and would like to start off with asking about something that has been bugging me for a few weeks now...

In every track I record (Keyboard, Vocals etc) I can hear a high pitch buzzing noise in the background that is starting to really bug me! I use a Sony Vaio Windows 7 laptop with a usb yamaha audiogram 6 audio interface through cubase 5 (It is not a problem with my speakers as I have tested them on famous songs and it sounds fine).

Even if I just record a quick five second track with nothing plugged into the inputs of my usb interface the buzzing noise can still be heard when listening back to it... I have tried taking out the laptop charger but this didn't make a difference!
I will try and upload a sample as soon as I can if needed.

Hopefully you guys will have some suggestions :-)

Many thanks,
Harry!
 
Hi mate
Unfortunately, most USB-powered interfaces have a high pitched 'electrical' buzz that gets printed into the audio recorded through them.
(At least, this has been my experience when receiving audio files from low end home project studios)
Some have more noticeable noise than others.
It's because the same cable that is used to provide power to the interface is also transferring audio to and from the computer.
You can use a series of very narrow notch parametric EQ dips at the dominant frequencies to reduce the unwanted noise in your tracks, or use Bias Soundsoap or Waves X-Noise (or similar) to minimise the broadband noise when the music drops below the threshold and makes the unwanted noise more noticeable.
But the best solution is to get a mains-powered interface so that the connector cable is only used for the transfer of audio.

Dags
 
If it's a lap top does the buzz go away if you unplug the power pack and run on batteries?

Alan.
 
In theory, USB bus power should be better in terms of noise since it eliminates one possible source of an earth loop. Unfortunately, my experience is similar to that of Dags with some computer/interface combinations causing the sort of noise described. My theory (untested) is that it's to do with cost cutting in the computer circuits providing the USB power--I've certainly seen my M Audio Mobile Pre work flawlessly with most computers but have problems with a few. Sony Vaio was one of the bad guys. FYI, my solution on the Vaio was to connect via a powered USB hub I happened to have lying around, rather than direct to the computer. I imagine it's luck of the draw on how the hub works too though!
 
Oh, as a PS to my earlier post, its not just laptops which suffer from this problem.
I have also had this noise problem using an MBox2 going into my Mac Pro. Thankfully I don't use it as my primary interface.

Bobbsy, this powered USB hub is a good idea. But I think I recall reading something in the MBox specs which required it to be plugged directly to a USB port and not to a hub. Maybe its just Digidesign not wanting to share its USB bandwidth with anyone else ;)
Obviously not the case with original M-Audio gear!

Dags
 
I believe its the Audio Interface that is causing the high pitch buzzing sound, then.Cheap/Old audio interfaces tend to have this high pitch buzzing noise, just like my old Toneport UX1, I believe getting a newer and better Audio Interface will solve your problem? Tell me if you find out what the problem was.

Cheers,
Darren.
 
The high pitched buzzing sound is sometimes caused by a ground loop that travels through the USB cable and induces electrical noise in the audio signal. That is why I asked if you could disconnect the power supply on a laptop as this will break the loop. Remember the recording set up will have, computer, keyboard (in your case) monitors, sometimes a small mixer, etc, etc all these things could be causing a loop with the computer. I have achieved zero noise even when using a cheap usb card just by using an isolation transformers in the signal chain, but first we need to know what is actually causing the noise.

alan
 
A USB isolator might do the trick, it has with ground loops hums ive had with usb synths

$45 i think it cost??
 
HazzerX - sorry, but you are getting some bad information from a few people here.

USB interfaces don't ALL create a noise in the signal chain. However, cheaper older ones can do this. You already mentioned that you tried this with your laptop without the power supply, so obviously that is not the cause.

I have a Mackie ProFX/USB board that will create a noise through the USB circuit - if the USB volume knob is cranked up too far. I had read a lot of complaints about this noise problem, but quickly found that if I keep that knob turned down lower 11 o'clock, there is no noticeable noise.

I now use my TASCAM US-800 which has its own power supply (its not USB-powered) and there is no noise from it's USB connection at all.
USB powered hubs are typically not used with audio interfaces. If your device is USB-powered, your computer's USB system may not have enough power to drive it AND other USB devices at the same time.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone! I may settle on getting a better interface thats powered by power supply instead..?

Any suggestions for any with at least 2 mic xlr pre-amps (At least one with phantom power) that is hopefully no more than £/$100?

Many Thanks for the replies everyone!
Harry.
 
... Or would using this with my current usb audio interface be a good idea?

Grrr Wont let me post link to amazon so heres what the title says:

7 PORT MAINS USB V2.0 BUS POWERED HUB ADAPTER PC LAPTOP

Thanks!
 
Hiya Harry.
If you need a USB hub for connecting other appliances (digital camera, iLok, printer, etc) then by all means get it, but don't rely on it fixing your audio problem. As has been mentioned in earlier posts, not all USB audio interfaces will successfully transfer audio via a hub.

There may be some exceptionally well designed interfaces which do not suffer from this noise problem, but from recordings I have worked with where the audio was recorded with a USB-powered interface there was always some amount of high pitched noise added to the audio files as a result of the digital audio information being passed down the same cable that is also used to power the device.

In the long run, you may be better off getting yourself a more expensive mains-powered interface which will allow you to enjoy recording for years to come instead of being constantly frustrated by your current device.
Don't expect to pay less than $100 for a decently designed interface, by the way. In the digital audio world, I have discovered that nothing is truer than the old saying "you get what you pay for".

Oh, and you can minimise the chance of mains power earth-hum in your signal by connecting the interface's power cable to the same wall outlet or multi-board as your computer so that they are sharing a common earth.

Hope you can find something suitable!

Dags
 
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Okay thanks man, Any suggestions for the least expensive mains powered audio interface (anyone) ? :-)
 
As mentioned, you get what you pay for. Keep your eye on ebay and the local ads for a used AI.

I've never heard anyone complain about noise from a Focusrite Scarlett even though it is USB-powered.

The Tascam US600 has a power supply, and my experience with the US800 has been good.
 
Thanks for the reply mjbphotos, I actually looked at the Tascam US-600 and like the look it... Might save up a bit extra go with it! :) Thanks for the help..!

Harry.
 
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