Question about a terrible Hum
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Posted on Apr 27, 2008 11:59 pm
Menace
Member Since: Apr 27, 2008
So here's my setup, Behringer UB1202 tape outs through a dual RCA to 1/8" Y cable to the line in on my soundcard, then the speaker output on my soundcard through a splitter and from there to my monitors and headphones. My problem is that when my board is on I get a very loud hum through my monitors and headphones but it goes away when I fade down the main mix fader and/or turn off the board. Any thoughts?
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Apr 28, 2008 12:51 am what instruments are plugged into the 1202? i get hums when my keyboard is sitting there idle sometimes, if i've forgotten about it and the levels aren't right. if you have wires crossing a power cord, that might cause it, possibly, too. also check to see if you have certain little pushbuttons on your mixer. if you do, try unpushing them, or pushing them. my tape mix button sometimes causes odd things to happen.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Apr 28, 2008 08:04 am Check that one of the gain knobs aren't up all the way.
Disable all the channels you're not using. fer instance; don't route channel 4 to mains if it's not being used.
try different cables, going into the board (mic cables, or line cables)
try different cables coming out of the board (RCA -> 1/8 trs)
switch the input cable from one preamp to another (like instead of mixer ch1, try mixer ch2, ch3, etc).
Inputs can go bad on mixers, so one of your channels may crap out, and give hum forevermore. Skipping that channel would be the fix, unless you want to open it up, and replace things.
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Apr 28, 2008 09:03 am Not familiar with the mixer, but on thing you might want to try is using something other than tape outs. Main outs, sends, group outs, studio or control room outputs are generaly a lot quieter than tape outs. At least on my Behringer, the tape in/out is a pretty flaky little "must be there" add on that not much engineering went into.
MenaceMember
Since: Apr 27, 2008
Apr 28, 2008 07:55 pm ok thanks for the tips, I'm at work right now but I've got some things to try when I get home. If all else fails I might try getting some 1/4" to 1/8" adapters and just use my main outs
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 28, 2008 10:10 pm Also another thing to look at is if the 1/*" jack is actually a stereo jack not mono. That will cause a terrible hum as well.
MenaceMember
Since: Apr 27, 2008
May 13, 2008 09:08 pm OK so I picked up some 1/4" to RCA adapters and am using those to run my 1/4" main outs through a 2 RCA to 1 1/8" jack. THe hum is still there, but only when the mixer is on or turned up. It doesn't get recorded and is only in my monitors but when I cut the mixer off or down it goes away. Any suggestions now?
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
May 15, 2008 05:16 pm well, i'm wondering if you've ruled out any of the possibilities mentioned above.
Cross off all the previous ideas.
It could be a ground loop. Connect all devices to a single power strip, then plug the power strip into a decent power outlet.
Maybe the splitter is bad, that's connected to your soundcard outputs? replace the cables there, to eliminate those possiblities.
Odd that the mixer would control it, i'd guess the mixer's goofy, but it's worth a shot, since it's usually cheap to try.
