VERY odd noise problem...
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Posted on Mar 24, 2005 09:19 pm
Satellite Jack
Member Since: Nov 29, 2004
Okay, I posted a problem with the humm i've been getting from my amp, and everyone seemed to agree that it was an electrical problem with the guitar. So I took it to the store, and just for kicks I hooked it up (using the same cable that i use at home) to one of THEIR amps and the noise was gone. So now i figure the problem must be with the amp. Well now i'm at home, and just for kicks, I plug the guitar directly into my Soundblaster card (just ordered an audiophile) and the noise is there. Please tell me that the soundblaster has noise issues... because if i shouldn't get a lot of humming, i'm VERY confused. The first test told me that the amp is the problem, and the second told me the guitar is the problem... and ideas?
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Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Mar 24, 2005 11:18 pm I would guess the SB has nose problems yes. But one thing you need to llok at as well is the room your in. IS there a ground loop going on? Are you sitting in front of the PC moniter, as this will cause horrific buzzing, expecially with dual coil pickups, humbucker.
And flourescent lights can do it. As well as any other bit of electronic kit in the room in close proximity to the guitar.
ILLbizzelILLbino - one of WA's finestMember
Since: Feb 10, 2004
Mar 24, 2005 11:21 pm I'd guess it's the sound card. Soundblasters are made more for gaming. The audiophile should help. If it doesn't, then I'd guess there's other noise inside your computer ( such as fans, hard drives, CD ROMs, power supply, etc.).
Mar 24, 2005 11:24 pm oy... what about TWO monitors? and a TV with my sister playing her playstation with 6 flourescents. I think i have located the problem... all 10 of them. Sigh...
Mar 24, 2005 11:26 pm The card works fine with my keyboard though, which i forgot to put in my original message. Perhaps keyboards don't make noise?
shepherdsampatron saint of quality footwearMember
Since: May 30, 2002
Mar 24, 2005 11:31 pm Obviously, I can't guarantee that this is what's going on in your case but...
I have been much more relaxed since I got an LCD monitor, not a single peep out of my guitar anymore.
It was so bad at one point I came close to launching my strat out the window and into the neighbours yard.
Now, nothing. Peaceful happy thoughts. Calm, serene and back to making music.
It wasn't cheap but it was very much worth every cent.
If that is not realistic for you, you might want to just turn the monitor off while recording or find some kind of divider you can put in between you and your monitor.
ILLbizzelILLbino - one of WA's finestMember
Since: Feb 10, 2004
Mar 24, 2005 11:33 pm Try turning off your monitors, tv, playstation and flourescents and record.....If your keyboard doesn't pick it up, then I think ur guitar is picking it up. Maybe ur guitar or amp is too close to the computer and monitors?
shepherdsampatron saint of quality footwearMember
Since: May 30, 2002
Mar 24, 2005 11:37 pm Does it make noise when your computer isn't on?
I should have asked that before I posted what I did...
If so, I believe it is the pickups in your guitar hearing your monitor.
I'm no scientist but if I understand it correctly a cathode ray tube monitor is like a gun that fires photons. The pickups in your guitar pick up this radiation and it causes a nasty buzzing hum.
Fluorescent lights can be brutal too.
Mar 24, 2005 11:53 pm ah... turning everything off did nothing. What i DID find out was the my amp has a built in noise gate, and when i turn that on everything is fine. The noise is even low enough for my 20 gain soundcard to keep it out. I'm proboly avoiding the problem, but for now it'll do. Still gonna try to figure this out though!
Here is my current state of affairs...
It cant be the card because the keyboard works in it
It can't be the amp because my keyboard works in that also
It can't be the guitar because it worked fine in the amp at the store i brought it to a few hours ago
It's not the room because turning everything off did nothing...
AHHH!
shepherdsampatron saint of quality footwearMember
Since: May 30, 2002
Mar 25, 2005 12:02 am Sorry, I wish I had something else to suggest.
I'm sure somebody else here will pop by eventually with a solution.
ILLbizzelILLbino - one of WA's finestMember
Since: Feb 10, 2004
Mar 25, 2005 10:16 am And you've tried moving your amp and guitar FAR away from ur computer and record (possibly in another bedroom)?
Mar 25, 2005 10:18 am it could also be any kind of COMBO from the things you mentioned
Mar 25, 2005 10:37 am should you be plugging a guitar straight into a soundblaster?
what kind of inputs does it have? is the impedence the same? using a hi-z input?
without having your soundcard and preamp yet what is bringinhg your signal up to line level?
Mar 25, 2005 10:40 am [quote]Here is my current state of affairs...
It cant be the card because the keyboard works in it
It can't be the amp because my keyboard works in that also
It can't be the guitar because it worked fine in the amp at the store i brought it to a few hours ago
It's not the room because turning everything off did nothing...[/quote]
Bad cable in the chain?
Mar 25, 2005 10:58 am Have you tried powering your amp a RFI filtering power strip, or better yet a power conditioner?
Also, someone once told me about something called a ferrite coil. He said you can get it cheaply at radio shack and all you would need to do is run the power cable through the loop and it would filter out any RF interference(if that's your case)
zekthedeadcowEat Spam before it eats YOU!!!Member
Since: May 11, 2002
Mar 25, 2005 11:06 am ... how old is theplace you're living in? is it an apartment or a house? It could be that the entire room isn't properly grounded... which though illegal happens fairly often in older places.
Mar 25, 2005 12:57 pm Hmmm... I'll give that coil a try. It's starting to look like the house is the problem, so hopefully this fixes it. If not, I'll just suck it up and get some noise reduction software.
