[OT] Powerbook hard disk noise

telekom · Post by **telekom** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:18 pm

Hiya,
It's often mentioned on the apple forums that powerbook users get a static hiss coming from under the keyboard. If you have your energy saver settings at anything other than highest performance, the noise stops. Which is a big relief. But really highest performance is what you want for music apps like Live. Which is not a good combination: Music software, noise, and recording. Anybody got any ideas? Or alternative suggestions about why this is happening? It isn't the fans, that is a different noise. And no, I don't mean the hordes of screaming fans outside my window, I mean the ones in the powerbook itself.

zeropoint · Post by **zeropoint** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 10:43 pm

What soundcard are you using? I get the same high pitched noise using the Firewire 410 on the latest drivers.....but not when using the Echo Indigo DJ.....

telekom · Post by **telekom** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 12:25 am

Hi Mammalux
It happens whether the soundcard is plugged in or not. But to answer your Q it's a Tascam US122.

Zky · Post by **Zky** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 7:32 am

i don't have that problem here with osx 10.3.9 with motu 828mk1...

eisnein · Post by **eisnein** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 4:23 pm

i have noticed some noise on my powerbook as well recently and i got worried it was the harddrive or the computer over heating or something f that nature.

the Missus told me i was losing it. ha .

i am also using the 410.....maybe if i use the included power supply that noise will stop?

bondegi · Post by **bondegi** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 4:04 am

I have noticed this problem on my powerbook as well. (17" 1.67ghz, 1.5GB RAM). I first noticed the problem while running my soundcard at very small buffer sizes (Indigo DJ with a buffer of 32 samples) At that buffer size the sound was very pronounced. As I increased the buffer size, the sound got quieter and lower in pitch. At a buffersize of 512 samples the sound was hardly noticeable.
I dont know what's going on, but the sound it was making at 32 samples buffersize was a little distressing!

Has anyone else managed this problem in a similar way with a different sound card?

eisnein · Post by **eisnein** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 1:14 pm

what sound card do you have?

like i said i had that and i use the maudio 410. i typically hear the sound where the vents are by the bottom of the screen. havent heard it in sometime however which makes me happy.