Recording Noise Mystery...
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Posted on Oct 07, 2008 06:38 am
SamuelB
Member Since: Oct 07, 2008
Hello,
I'm trying to record from Jack to Jack from my Roland KR107 digital piano. I experience a noisy pulsating whine which I have tried my best to diagnose by process of elimination.
I have a Firewire Presonus Firebox and a USB Lexicon Alpha as recording interfaces. Both pick up noise from the Roland (which has been verified OK by a Roland Engineer). However, the signal is ok (is a little gain noisy) when using a simple Tascam DP01-FX, which is inadequate for my needs.
Can anyone help think of how I should go about this. I don't think it's the cabling, because both the firewire and USB cables would have to be bad. But it sort of points towards the PC, which is a new (apparently compatible motherboard) 32-bit Vista box, which has been tweaked for best use for recording.
But I also experienced this issue with my previous XP box and also on my XP laptop. I've heard of 'grounding issues'. Could this be something?
I'm not using balanced jacks from the Roland to the interfaces - could this be it? But it wouldn't explain why the Tascam works ok with the unbalanced lines.
Any help or suggestions would be altogether very much appreciated.
Best wishes,
Sam.
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Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Oct 07, 2008 09:42 pm I'll assume you are using the line ouput L/R jacks on the Roland and not the headphone jack.
It does however sound as though it may be a grounding issue if you are certain the cables are good and everything.
I could not see whether the output jacks on the Roland are balanced or not. But if so that might make a difference. Can't really say though for sure. But balanced cables are made for that sort of thing if the output device has balanced out as well.
One other thing to maybe look at is the output level of the keyboard. Are you having to turn the input gain up on either of the interfaces? IF so that could be adding to the noise as well.
Oct 26, 2008 03:50 pm Hi there,
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly.
I'll try the balanced jacks thing.
Bit of a minefield, but I'll see.
Once again, thanks and I'll reply with how I get on.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Oct 26, 2008 07:37 pm Don't forget to check the levels set up as well. That can have an impact as well.
Nov 04, 2008 04:58 pm This might be a bit over the top but if your looking to do some serious recording in the future, want to protect your gear and eliminate alot of noise I would advise in investing in a power conditioner. Furman have the M-10XE and it is quiet cheap. Ive got one and have never looked back, probably the best thing ive invested in for my home studio....Then again this could be a simple issue with the cables and inputs your using...but still.
