Random Chance for Constant White Noise?

[grumplylump]

My issue is a strange one I haven't been able to find anywhere else. I can't figure out what the root cause is.

If I open Ableton there seems to be a random chance for any and all sound that comes out of my computer from any source, Ableton or not, to come with a very loud white noise for as long as the sound is playing. I restart my computer and it goes away. I don't need to have any project playing audio for this issue to happen, nor do I need any plugin running for it to happen. This issue can happen even after I close the Ableton window. It never happens unless I've opened Ableton at some point and I am completely at my wits end. Please help !

[fishmonkey]

one possibility is that some third party audio plugins play bursts of white noise when they are running in demo mode...