eliminating the hum from my studio

djfm · Post by **djfm** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 5:13 pm

i have a tapco soundcard going into a tapco mixer i have a turntable and an alesis ion connected to the mixer
when i want to sample from vinyl or record the ion or a vocal i have to turn the inputs up on the soundcard to get a good signal but when i do i get and hum i think it might be coming from the pc. As i tried listening through the headphones and i can still hear the hum so its not my amp even though i need a new one
can anyone offer any advice on this
thanks
hope its clear.

4.33 · Post by **4.33** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 5:19 pm

maybe your source is too low?
to ensure the best signal/noise ratio make sure that the source is outputting the loudest signal, then adjust the gain on your mixer so that the channel is not clipping the master section of your mixer. then adjust the master mixer volume so that you're not clipping your soundcard converters.

if that doesnt help then the problem is in your wires or in your mixer

djfm · Post by **djfm** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 5:56 pm

thanks for the reply
i have a hot siginal now but i still have some hum there. It cant be the cables i have just bought brand new ones it only appears when i arm the track in ableton

Anubis · Post by **Anubis** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 5:58 pm

www.ebtechaudio.com/humxdes.html

4.33 · Post by **4.33** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 5:59 pm

then that could be the ground....

3dot... · Post by **3dot...** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 6:43 pm

try turning off each device connected to the soundcard see which one is causing it...
(probly the 'ground' or needle on the turntable...)

or it could be you're pushing the preamp gain too high...

djfm · Post by **djfm** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 6:52 pm

i have a ground wire on the turntable with is connected to the amp.
i have just turned everything off thats is connected the my soundcard and i can still hear it
i think its my amp

belmiro · Post by **belmiro** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 9:28 pm

Might be the power supply of your pc or laptop..if you are using laptop try unplugging the psu to see if this is your problem.

I have this problem with my lappy.

KU · Post by KU » Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:05 am

Anubis wrote:www.ebtechaudio.com/humxdes.html

EBTech also makes the HUM Eliminator. I have an 8 channel unit that i need to get rid of.

djfm · Post by **djfm** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 8:11 am

im still suffering with a noise problem
i have recored the noise to let you hear

http://www.sendspace.com/file/3b6p02
http://www.sendspace.com/file/76e8fw

i would realy appreicate any help with this

i have also read that people have reported the same problem with the tapco usb sound card

Warminstrel · Post by **Warminstrel** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 8:53 am

Sounds exactly like an earth/ground loop problem.

Used to get the same with my laptop when connecting to a mates keyboard amp, this solved it:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?cri ... ce=15&SD=Y

Much safer than disconnecting the earth/ground wires.

djfm · Post by **djfm** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 9:47 am

yeah i bought one of those it made it worse
i think its either the the sound card or pc power supply
any help is much appricated as it driving me mad