Humming sound when I use phono inputs on Mbox 2 Pro

  • Thread starter Thread starter James Tongham
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James Tongham

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I'm getting a continuous hum when trying to transfer a piece of music (Mancini's version of Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring, FTR) onto my computer via my new Mbox 2 Pro.

I am hoping someone might be able to advise me here, as I'm not so hot on technical matters. I think I've set it up corrrectly, but possibly someone who know about these things can spot where I might be going wrong??

Back of cassette player/CD player (early 90's ghetto-blaster type thang) has a mini-jack putput, and I need to go from this into the L/R phono inputs on back of Mbox. For this purpose I bought a stereo mini-jack to Left and Right phono cable from Studiospares.

In the Pro-tools mix window, I make the inputs Analog 3-4, as suggested in manual, then record enable, and I flick on the Phono switch on Mbox front. Music comes through strongly, but with an underlying hum, which I can't seem to get rid of no matter how I twiddle the levels.

Studiospares sent through another cable today, as they said it sounded like a faulty one had been sent. Alas, no luck, hum's still there!

I talked to someone about the possibility it's because I'm neglecting to use my grounding post on the back of my Mbox, but the someone I talked to said such hums normally happen when connecting DJ turntables. Is this right, or is the grounding post the key? If so, how, considering the cassette/CD player doesn't have a grounding post of its own, do I go about utilising it?

Any other ideas/suggestions would be very welcome!
 
your problem is you're connecting it to the phono input....a CD/cassette player does not plug into the phono inputs. Phono inputs are reserved for record players/turntables.

You need to plug into the line inputs on the Mbox2.

;)
 
bennychico11 said:
your problem is you're connecting it to the phono input....a CD/cassette player does not plug into the phono inputs. Phono inputs are reserved for record players/turntables.

You need to plug into the line inputs on the Mbox2.

;)
Click to expand...
Ditto ........ in addition to the hum you're getting, the phono inputs are goona apply RIAA equalization to the signal which will muck up the sound of a CD/cassette source.
 
Aha, and suddenly it all makes sense! Thanks very much for that.

So, next thing to do is try the same set-up with my non-preamped turntable, which is currently stored at my parents house.

You don't think I would have done any damage to the Mbox by trying to put the CD/cassette player into the phonos instead of the line?
 
Probably not ....... but that line input is WAY hotter than a typical phono signal so it could be possible I suppose.

Check it out thouroughly and if it seems to work ok I wouldn't worry about it further.
 
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