High Pitched Noise

  • Thread starter Thread starter LiamH
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Thanks so much for this advice. What do you think would be a better interface than the Lexicon Alpha? Can't spend too much but could go up to £200.

The fiddle itself wouldn't be a problem, it's worth at least a few thousand pounds
 
LiamH said:
Thanks so much for this advice. What do you think would be a better interface than the Lexicon Alpha? Can't spend too much but could go up to £200.

The fiddle itself wouldn't be a problem, it's worth at least a few thousand pounds
Click to expand...

Sorry! I WAS being impertinent, implying, why use a low grade interface on an expensive instrument?

Looking at the spectrum I can only conclude you are hearing that slight peak at 5kHz? I don't have a bloody chance of hearing that! Then again the inabilty to post .wavs means I have to convert MP3 to .wav for the spectrum A and who knows what gets lost/corrupted?

A very good interface is the Steinberg UR22, better is the Native Instruments KA6 (3 more line inputs). Being a musician do not buy anything that does not have MIDI ports!
Apologies all round. I should have sent the smaller file!
Dave.
 

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LiamH said:
Thanks so much for this advice. What do you think would be a better interface than the Lexicon Alpha? Can't spend too much but could go up to £200.

The fiddle itself wouldn't be a problem, it's worth at least a few thousand pounds
Click to expand...

Any of the Scarlett series fit that bill 2i2 or 6i6 will both fall into that budget, depending on how many inputs you need, and they have decent preamps.
But let's wait for some of the audio/tech guys here to pipe in before bombing the budget. That pitch sounds like an electrical interference I've heard before, but my mind won't come up with it...
Try getting smartfan and seeing if any of your system fans run around 5k. If so, replace that fan first $15 vs $200.
 
YouTube is not renowned for its audio quality. They don't "edit" out anything.... its just not good quality
 
LiamH said:
Thanks so much for this advice. What do you think would be a better interface than the Lexicon Alpha? Can't spend too much but could go up to £200.

The fiddle itself wouldn't be a problem, it's worth at least a few thousand pounds
Click to expand...

Just one of many, the Komplete Audio 6 is not a bad piece of gear. RME pres, phantom power, 4 inputs. Built like a brick sh... I mean... like a tank... and performs well.

Komplete Aidio 6.webp
 
GuitarLegend said:
YouTube is not renowned for its audio quality. They don't "edit" out anything.... its just not good quality
Click to expand...

Yo! YT might be fine but MP3 definitely messes with yer spectral content! Then we do not know what the several conversions are doing?
I guess if I had the time, energy and inclination I could do some experiments! Be easier tho' if we could just attach 10 second "diagnostic" .wavs.

BTW, typo, the KA6 has TWO not 3 extra line inputs.

Dave.
 
Okay, that sound you hear is EMF from the computer that is being picked up by the interface. Try moving the interface to different locations to see if you can minimize or eliminate it. Also try a different USB cable, specifically one with big choke filters on it.
 
PTravel said:
Okay, that sound you hear is EMF from the computer that is being picked up by the interface. Try moving the interface to different locations to see if you can minimize or eliminate it. Also try a different USB cable, specifically one with big choke filters on it.
Click to expand...

Hmm, my ZED 10 is 1.2 mtrs from a desktop (therefore in a tin) computer and the mixer itself is a steel box. The connecting USB cable is 5mtrs long and STILL we get HF artifacts. I believe the problem to be an inherent design flaw in the whole 16bit, generic USB audio system.

Dave.
 
ecc83 said:
Hmm, my ZED 10 is 1.2 mtrs from a desktop (therefore in a tin) computer and the mixer itself is a steel box. The connecting USB cable is 5mtrs long and STILL we get HF artifacts. I believe the problem to be an inherent design flaw in the whole 16bit, generic USB audio system.

Dave.
Click to expand...
You may be right, however it sure sounds like an EMF incursion to me. 5 meters is very long for a USB cord. I'd still give it a try with a shorter, quality USB cord with filter chokes on it.
 
This is great, thanks so much guys. I'm glad it's the interface and nothing to do with the ribbon mic (which was more expensive!) This has been driving me crazy for ages so you've saved me from a lot of agony!! :D
 
I am only into mixers and tape decks but if the noise is there when the mic is not on or plugged in then it is generated electronically and it should get in all other analog sources as well. In the olden days when someone was using a mic and speakers at the same time there could result a feedback loop that can sound in a lot of different ways depending on the frequency characteristic of the system. I would use headphone to eliminate the speaker to mic feedback possibility or try recording without playing anything and see if the noise is self generated by the weakness in the system be it USB A-D or other settings.
In the analog world this problem was mostly caused by Human error. Now in the digital world people have to be a lot more proficient in knowing their virtual mixer settings.
 
Try this. Record nothing for about thirty seconds (just an open mic). Then record other sounds like singing, drumming on the table, etc. Then record the radio or tv at volume. Now listen to them all back and see if it is still there. If it is, the violin frequencies are not the problem. If it is only on your violin, mic placement should eliminate it. Try moving further away, for instance. If it is still there on all samples, then your equipment is the problem and there are some good answers here about AD/DA converter issues. Good Luck,
Rod Norman
Engineer
 
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