Hey! Since I made this video, I've more than doubled the number of tips and ideas for solving these issues - these and more can be found in my ever expanding book, available to the good people who make this channel possible on Patreon - www.patreon.com/loopop
One of the Best Ideas of Sound Absorbing is "SoundProof Curtains" That Stops Outside Noise by 80% (25 Db) Tested. Check Here: livesoundproof.com/best-soundproof-curtains/
hey, i have a terrible random "coil whine" in my speakers, can the isolator showed at 1:30 solve this ??? this high pitched whistling makes me crazy and could kill a dog's ears lol
I first watched this video about a year ago, which definitely helped me identify the source of some of my frustrations. I finally just replaced all the outlets in my studio, re-grounded all outlets on the circuit that feeds my studio, and installed GFCI outlets on the most upstream point. I've also run insulated conduit to act as both cable management and power/data/audio cable isolation. I've added ferrite cores to all my USB cables and run voltage tests on all my audio and power cabling. This has allowed me to completely remove ground loop isolators and post-recording phase reversal filtering from my process. Short of a master power conditioner and UPS hard wired into my space, I've cleaned my entire electrical path as much as possibleand it sounds fantastic.
Great tips! I got one more. If one of your rack equipment produces hum when connected, check if it's not touching other pieces of gear in the same rack and is properly isolated from a rack rails (properly painted for example). Just take it out of the rack while connected to see if the hum disappears. Most of the gear's earth is connected to the enclosures and if enclosures touch each other in some cases, ground loop may appear.
If all videos about tech are that quality I’ll watch them all day long like a football match without getting bored.. It’s valuable interesting well documented and very well filmed and done ... 1000000000 thumbs up! Thanks for that knowledgeable fun moment.
Great video! Been a fan of your videos but never knew you had this one. I solved a grounding problem today with an RCA audio switcher that has a turntable, a CD changer and a digital mixer all connected to it. I had ground issues with each, and narrowed it down to the switcher. Got myself a ground loop isolator on the cheap, and it's working as advertised. Good to know of other solutions too, so this video will be a keeper. Thanks again.
One of the Best Ideas of Sound Absorbing is "SoundProof Curtains" That Stops Outside Noise by 80% (25 Db) Tested. Check Here: livesoundproof.com/best-soundproof-curtains/
Thank you so much for showing the actual soundwaves. So often on videos like this you just watch somebody listening to a difference and giving a subjective opinion.
loopop once again being a lifesaver. this popped up thanks to the algorithm and my usb2 connection hum was driving me wild. Well, ferrite choke here I come.
@@loopop you're definitely right! it was a mix of using the same plug and the ferret strangler I mean the ferrite choke. I owe you so much. thank you for being awesome!
Thanks for the tip about the shared power. I have my audio setup plugged into a different power source since it's far away from my computer. I couldn't figure out what was causing the hum on my setup and it was slowly driving me crazy. I even bought some of those grounding devices and it didn't help. Who knew something as simple as plugging everything to the same power source can solve this issue!
Good tips. My ground noise usually is my sampling input cable not connected to a sampling source. Sometimes it's too much Sustain and i panic, turning everything down but then realise it's Sustain.
Timeline on video description doesn't work on mobile 0:20 Use one outlet 0:50 Balanced gear 1:30 Isolators 2:30 Ferrite chokes 3:10 Using filters 3:35 Advanced tools
So im back here on this video I watched like 1 hour ago. And I just want to say: THANK YOU SO MUCH! I had everything I needed already. I just set this up wrong. After I watched this video i started from scratch. And ta-da: Ground Noise is gone! Thank you so much!
BTW: I had 2 "misstakes". 1. I had it on 2 different outputbanks (Thats the first solution in the video). Helped a lot. But i still had a bit ground noise left. I figured it out, that this came from my Arturia MicroFreak. I found a solution where someone mentioned to use only the usb for the power. Not the DC-Connector that is included. And now i had complete silence when i had every gear powered up and connected. Silence :D. Thank you!
Thank you for this, it got me thinking in the right direction. I have a computer speaker that is USB powered, when it was plugged into my desktop computer's USB port it made an annoying sound. To fix that I plugged it into a USB to AC adapter for charging a cell phone (5V 3A). And now the speaker works as it should.
For me, making a part of the connection wireless may dispose of the hum without trading off too much delay. YMMV. :-) Example: going wireless from my guitar into my old Zoom 505 pedal was an impressive improvement.
Thanks for pointing me to right direction. Had some really annoying cracks and beeps when recording my amp line-out. Bought a $0.20 separation transformer from Ali and sticked it into a plastic casing, making quite a beefy jack plug. No need for fancy boxes or magical cables.
great video layout and presentation with simple, clear, easy to digest and expertly laid out explanation of possible problems and fixes!!! your calm, clear voice and confident explanation is perfect for this venue of helping everyday people find answers to everyday problems and the confidence to fix them... great job!
This is great info. My scarlet has been giving me grief and I don't think it's the Scarlett. I have my PC plugged into a surge protector instead of straight into the wall. Also, I think I'll definitely try the ground isolator. I use RX8 for declicking, and use Audition CC to do a noise floor clean up, but I feel I should be clearing -72 db for all the room treatment before I clean up noise floor. ugh.
WHEW.... Im glad you clarified that #4 suggestion... I was so close to taking out my audio frustrations on those pesky ferrets! (jokes jokes, i own no ferrets 😅)
If your here for Car Audtio, make sure you used the same gauged wire for power lead and ground (ALWAYS) this is usually the simple fix, not sure if he said that, but yea.. its a must.
Indeed, NO. You should absolutely NOT disconnect the ground pin. For all those who do not know, that thing is there *to save lives* !! In case of a short inside a grounded device with the live wire touching the metal _casing_ , it is the ground connector that takes care of your fuse box and immediately causes a cut of power on the affected circuit. Whatever you do, DO NOT REMOVE THE GROUNDING PIN on your plugs!
Another thing which you didn't mention is to lift the ground (pin 1 on an XLR) on one end of a balanced cable. Don't do this on a mic cable though. Mic cables need all 3 connections.
Is there a difference between the 3.5mm ground loop isolator you used and a ground lift on a DI box? My Novation Circuit is outputting noise almost identical to your example, and a DI with lift wouldn't fix it.
A ground loop isolator is very different from ground lift. Ground loops are voltage inequalities between the two circuits that are in contact with one another. A ground loop isolator tries to fix that inequality using transformers.
The polarity inversion you observed is a flaw in the wiring of the particular ground isolator you tested. Let the manufacturer know and insist on a replacement, or buy elsewhere. That’s an inexcusable flaw that can result in out of phase sound between two related signals.
when I turn on phantom with my condenser mic connected, it makes a sharp white noise at 6-11khertz frequency area, even when the gain is completely zero, the noise still persists. and the nosie changes (doesn't stop) when I wiggle the usb connected to my pc io from the Audio interface. How do I fix this?
RCA to 3.5mm jack on the amp. buzzes as the jack enters, so i swapped out the cables. Had to solder one, despite having 100ft of Canon/TS cables just lying around not doing anything. Life is hell.
Use a good USB hub guys! Instead of connecting your interface directly to your PCs, route the USB connection through a proper USB hub! I used my monitor (LG) and it works beautifully. The issue manifest when your interface draws power directly from the PC. Note that it is recommended that you connect your hub to the same power bar (and outlet) as your monitors.
Thanks to this one. It worked perfectly when I separated the power source of the usb while charging and using my audio speaker thru 3.5mm at the same time. No more noise/static sounds. Just simple solution.
And what would you advise if your interface is a PCIe-based RayDat, and your convertors are already isolated from your machine as they connect via ADAT lightpipes, and are mains-powered?
I had a terrible ground loop within my pedal board and mixer in my home studio ! Just couldn't get rid of it so I had to use a gate but it was not a great idea ! Then I remember a friend had told me ages ago to cut the earth at one end of the audio cable so there was only the signal without the ground connected at one end of the cables ! The hum completely vanished ! Cheapest and easiest method by far ! PS I didnt cut the mains ground cable ! I did it on the audio cables input ! The output audio is still grounded ! DS
Hi. I have another kind of noise issue that you didn’t include in this video. It’s made solely when the Yamaha hs7 monitor is plugged in and turned on in any outlet or wall plug in my house. It happens even with unplugging everything and happens every plug I turn on the monitors. Also, it just started a few months ago. Was noiseless for a year in the same place. It sounds more like white noise than the examples you shown above. Also, out of the two, one monitor produce more noise than the other. I’m completely confused. Any thoughts?
@PJ82 Division Thank you for your response. yes all my gear is connected to the one socket, that was one of the first things i did. i will not be able to take my PC out of my bed room for testing on other sockets, as the thing ways a ton and its not worth the hassle. the HUM is driving me nuts i do have a pair of harman kardon soundsticks iii and when they are connected to my pc with its own dedicated sub there i no hum at all.
Over time I accumulated multiple and various power supplies (6 PowerOne Analog 4 to 8 amp, 9 Tiptop Bricks feeding Zeus distributors and 2 DIY) which accumulated multiple and various electrical noise and odd intermittent behavior. After noticing surprising voltage differences between ground on the MOTM cabs vs Eurorack cabs I read up on it and solved my issues by running a very thick copper ground to all said power supplies grounds. This was many years ago, but it made a huge difference. Another issue that's snuck up on me are modules that are starved for power. Modules will still function but if there's not enough surplus amps to draw on it can leave you wondering wtf. I have ammeters installed .. there cheap and provide a quick reassuring check.
This is a great video, mate. Would TRS cables work with guitar amplifiers and pedals? (I get ground loop noises because the amps are plugged into different outlets, due to practicality).
I've tried some ground loop isolators and noticed a loss in the lows and highs. Low frequency sounds like bass and drums tended to get muddy and less punchy. When I see that a single good audio transformer from lehle or neutric costs 40+, I don't thing a 10 buck stereo one can have nearly the same quality.
I have a small but distracting crackle in my HS7s coming through a Scarlett 2i2. A couple of these suggestions seem like good possible solutions. Cheers.
I had a crackle (repeating pattern, short "buzz" every second or half) in my Scarlett 2i2 too and it turned out to be the USB cable coming from a USB hub. Once I plugged the Scarlett directly into my Mac, the noise was gone! I might try some ferrit cores around some USB cables now.
I get a low frequency humming sound from my headphones when I touch my motorized desk while it's plugged in. However if I simultaneously touch the metal part of a synthesizer or the computer case, it goes away. My solution has been to use a big, thick mouse pad on the desk so I avoid touching it directly. Not sure if I'm having a ground loop issue or some other problem, the noise doesn't sound like in this video, it's much lower in frequency. The audio interface and desk use 2-pronged plugs that are not grounded, while the computer and many other pieces of gear on the desk use proper grounded plugs so I suppose "ground" isn't universal across devices...
In my case: active speakers connected to PC via DAC (toslink) and hiss. First way solved it - speakers were connected to other power boards - plugin into same solved my problem. Simple. Thanks
Ive been having an issue when plugging my phone into my PA setup. Everytime I do there is a loud distinct pop an I am affraid of damging my speakers. Would a ground loop isolator help resolve this issue? Thanks!
Hi, I have hum problem in my portable broadcast system when I get external XLR (Canon) cable from different team. Using cable equalizer circuit such as VDA (video distribution amplifier) can solve my problem?
Great Advice. I've used some of these already, ended up using power conditioners which fixed the problem greatly. What are your thoughts about such devices?
TRS in this case is used as mono signal, it have 3 contacts, ground, "hot" signal and "cold" signal. This is balanced audio. You have tons of info on google and differences between balance and unbalance signals.
I streamed a concert last weekend, and I had this horrible robot noise start up as soon as I started speaking and playing. I turned my mixer off and on again, and it was better immediately. Do you think I need the ferret bead? I don't know if the cable I'm using to connect my mixer to my laptop is good, the mixer didn't come with one, so I just took the one from my interface. Usually it's fine, but of course during the concert it wasn't. Bad luck...wondering if there's anything I can do to prevent it, other than monitor my sound while I'm playing....which would be a little confusing to me I think, as I have to focus on playing. Anyway, thank you for your video, which is informative, gentle for people who don't know a lot, and appropriately humorous. I subscribed so maybe I'll learn enough that I'll try this streaming thing again some day.
There is also a really good noise reduction plugin in Reaper. It's called ReaFIR, and it's really easy to use and does the job pretty well. Reaper is not a free software, but it's quite affordably priced, and you can also try it, with all its features, free for 60 days. Anyway, this was really interesting! Thanks!
I guess i'm havind a ground loop, I use 2 pc's connected each other with p2 cables, and when the cables are connected, I hear similar noise that you have showed here. The noise become a little louder the more energy the machine need to operate, like when i'm playing a game or something. I've buyed 2 isolators for me, waiting for the arrival for testing, I hope it fix :)
All my devices are on the same outlet. Get lots of hum sending audio to and from 2 pc's and through a mixer. If i connect all chassis of items i am using will this eliminate the ground loop?
the background noise in 1:50 is exactly what I am getting in my speaker when it is plugged into my dj controller without any music playing. What's the best solution for this? thanks!!
Hi Loopop I don’t know if you will be able to resolve this issue for me but I will give you a full break down of the ground loop I am facing. This is the equipment I own Audioengine A5+ speakers SVS SB1000 pro (subwoofer) 3.5 jack cable and RCA cable (bought from KabelDireckt) When the Audioengine A5+ speakers are attached to my PC with a 3.5 jack there is no hum. When I join my speakers to the SVS subwoofer via RCA, I get a loud humming sound. When these two pieces of equipment are paired up and when I attach the 3.5 jack to my mobile phone there is zero hum. Can you please instruct me will this device nullify the HUM because it is driving me crazy and I have paid a lot of money for my setup. In simple terms 1) Speaker with no subwoofer when attached to PC = Zero HUM 2) Speaker with subwoofer when attached to PC = HUM 3) Speaker with subwoofer when attached to Mobile phone = Zero HUM i have used the AV:Link RCA Groundloop and Ferrits on all cable but nothing I would like to thank you for taking the time in reading my message
Sorry it's hard to troubleshoot these things remotely. Other than the solutions in this video I've added quite a few more in my book on Patreon - if the solutions there don't work for you hit me up for a refund on Patreon, no worries.
A ground loop isolator is simply a transformer. It should not reverse phase (within the rated frequency range) unless cables were soldered backward (confused polarity).
As a guitarist with single coil pickups... electromagnetic frequency interference is my bane... and of course high frequency EMF/EMI is going to be terrible for health.
@@jakejakeboom I didn't mention anything about ionising radiation. If you think that non-ionising radiation if incapable of harm to biological organisms and processes then think again; www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935118300355#t0015
@@jakejakeboom Also if you had even the slightest awareness of the topic, you'd know that of course my guitar and amp aren't producing the EMF's, they are picking it up and amplifying it because of the nature of an amplifier (increases a signals strength) and causing major noise/interference.
@@AJDOLDCHANNELARCHIVE that "paper" is complete bunk. ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/1091314126731/Comments%20on%20%E2%80%9CWi-Fi%20is%20an%20important%20threat%20to%20human%20health%E2%80%9D.pdf
Thank you! I just bought a prophet 10 and all the usb cables I’ve tried gives an annoying digital hum that is prominent in my recordings only when usb is plugged in. I’m going to try a Ferrite choke. Would you suggest a cable with them built in or the beads? Wish they sent with this kind of cable or at least mentioned it in the manual.
Hey! Since I made this video, I've more than doubled the number of tips and ideas for solving these issues - these and more can be found in my ever expanding book, available to the good people who make this channel possible on Patreon - www.patreon.com/loopop
One of the Best Ideas of Sound Absorbing is "SoundProof Curtains" That Stops Outside Noise by 80% (25 Db) Tested. Check Here: livesoundproof.com/best-soundproof-curtains/
hey, i have a terrible random "coil whine" in my speakers, can the isolator showed at 1:30 solve this ??? this high pitched whistling makes me crazy and could kill a dog's ears lol
I first watched this video about a year ago, which definitely helped me identify the source of some of my frustrations.
I finally just replaced all the outlets in my studio, re-grounded all outlets on the circuit that feeds my studio, and installed GFCI outlets on the most upstream point. I've also run insulated conduit to act as both cable management and power/data/audio cable isolation. I've added ferrite cores to all my USB cables and run voltage tests on all my audio and power cabling. This has allowed me to completely remove ground loop isolators and post-recording phase reversal filtering from my process.
Short of a master power conditioner and UPS hard wired into my space, I've cleaned my entire electrical path as much as possibleand it sounds fantastic.
Great tips! I got one more.
If one of your rack equipment produces hum when connected, check if it's not touching other pieces of gear in the same rack and is properly isolated from a rack rails (properly painted for example). Just take it out of the rack while connected to see if the hum disappears. Most of the gear's earth is connected to the enclosures and if enclosures touch each other in some cases, ground loop may appear.
If all videos about tech are that quality I’ll watch them all day long like a football match without getting bored..
It’s valuable interesting well documented and very well filmed and done ... 1000000000 thumbs up!
Thanks for that knowledgeable fun moment.
Thanks!
😂😂😂
It took me precisely one video to realise that this guy is absolute no-bullshit legit!
You are an absolute legend! One and a half minutes in and our sound issues are now solved! Thank you for your very comprehensive video :)
Great video! Been a fan of your videos but never knew you had this one. I solved a grounding problem today with an RCA audio switcher that has a turntable, a CD changer and a digital mixer all connected to it. I had ground issues with each, and narrowed it down to the switcher. Got myself a ground loop isolator on the cheap, and it's working as advertised. Good to know of other solutions too, so this video will be a keeper. Thanks again.
So i choked all of my ferrets and i’m still having ground loop issues. Help.
Look at these brands for legal solutions:
Kaytee Fiesta and ZuPreem
Did you use the beads while choking?
One of the Best Ideas of Sound Absorbing is "SoundProof Curtains" That Stops Outside Noise by 80% (25 Db) Tested. Check Here: livesoundproof.com/best-soundproof-curtains/
No no no -- your ferrets are supposed to do the choking.
better than ground hog issues
Thank you so much for showing the actual soundwaves. So often on videos like this you just watch somebody listening to a difference and giving a subjective opinion.
As always, the best tutorials on the web !
That notch filter trick really did some magic for me.
How do you use that plugin? Which settings?
loopop once again being a lifesaver. this popped up thanks to the algorithm and my usb2 connection hum was driving me wild. Well, ferrite choke here I come.
thanks and note ferrite choke solve data noise not hum! use the other solution I mentioned for audible noise
@@loopop you're definitely right! it was a mix of using the same plug and the ferret strangler I mean the ferrite choke. I owe you so much. thank you for being awesome!
Thanks for the tip about the shared power. I have my audio setup plugged into a different power source since it's far away from my computer. I couldn't figure out what was causing the hum on my setup and it was slowly driving me crazy. I even bought some of those grounding devices and it didn't help. Who knew something as simple as plugging everything to the same power source can solve this issue!
Good tips. My ground noise usually is my sampling input cable not connected to a sampling source. Sometimes it's too much Sustain and i panic, turning everything down but then realise it's Sustain.
Timeline on video description doesn't work on mobile
0:20 Use one outlet
0:50 Balanced gear
1:30 Isolators
2:30 Ferrite chokes
3:10 Using filters
3:35 Advanced tools
ground loop iso worked "magically" just as you said my friend. thanks a ton!
Loved the info and random wordplay humor. Thank you.
Holy shit! I finally got rid of most of the damn hum! In my case, it helped to plug my monitor into the same power strip as my speakers.
Thank you. This helped to fix a ground loop I was hearing at uni.
your hands are purple
Ron Jeremy throttled the potter, Twins
Da light....
Informative like always!
Am gonna try the ground loop isolator.
and then..?
thank you!! a ground loop isolator solved it for me!
So im back here on this video I watched like 1 hour ago. And I just want to say: THANK YOU SO MUCH! I had everything I needed already. I just set this up wrong. After I watched this video i started from scratch. And ta-da: Ground Noise is gone! Thank you so much!
BTW: I had 2 "misstakes". 1. I had it on 2 different outputbanks (Thats the first solution in the video). Helped a lot. But i still had a bit ground noise left. I figured it out, that this came from my Arturia MicroFreak. I found a solution where someone mentioned to use only the usb for the power. Not the DC-Connector that is included. And now i had complete silence when i had every gear powered up and connected. Silence :D. Thank you!
Yay, +1 for vcv-rack fundamental scope. great content too!
Thank you for this, it got me thinking in the right direction. I have a computer speaker that is USB powered, when it was plugged into my desktop computer's USB port it made an annoying sound. To fix that I plugged it into a USB to AC adapter for charging a cell phone (5V 3A). And now the speaker works as it should.
Thanks for the tip man. Just curious, how were you able to connect the speaker to your computer if the USB connection is lost via the adapter?
@@LukeSly91 USB *powered*.
Thanks you a lot professor Loopop!
For me, making a part of the connection wireless may dispose of the hum without trading off too much delay. YMMV. :-)
Example: going wireless from my guitar into my old Zoom 505 pedal was an impressive improvement.
I found the humming coming from my JBL Eon612 was due to the nuclear blast as shown on 0:16. Thanks for the tip.
Thanks for pointing me to right direction. Had some really annoying cracks and beeps when recording my amp line-out. Bought a $0.20 separation transformer from Ali and sticked it into a plastic casing, making quite a beefy jack plug. No need for fancy boxes or magical cables.
Very interesting indeed...
I love what he stated, "Still cheaper than a Time Machine" :-)
Thanks for the informative video. Isolators sound good to my case.
Excellent advise no matter the size of your system
Thanks. So clear explanation and helpful. I like the way you talk and describe
thanks!! plugging in my krk rokit5 and rokit sub woofer into the same power bar as my pc fixed the ground hissing noise...
The tutorial I was looking for Thanks! YES.
Very informative video. Thank you 👍👍👍
great video layout and presentation with simple, clear, easy to digest and expertly laid out explanation of possible problems and fixes!!!
your calm, clear voice and confident explanation is perfect for this venue of helping everyday people find answers to everyday problems and the confidence to fix them... great job!
YOU said it perrrfectly
I love your fantastic videos my man.
Helpful video, props for using VCV Rack.
This is great info. My scarlet has been giving me grief and I don't think it's the Scarlett. I have my PC plugged into a surge protector instead of straight into the wall. Also, I think I'll definitely try the ground isolator. I use RX8 for declicking, and use Audition CC to do a noise floor clean up, but I feel I should be clearing -72 db for all the room treatment before I clean up noise floor. ugh.
This was incredibly helpful. Thank you!
WHEW.... Im glad you clarified that #4 suggestion... I was so close to taking out my audio frustrations on those pesky ferrets!
(jokes jokes, i own no ferrets 😅)
If your here for Car Audtio, make sure you used the same gauged wire for power lead and ground (ALWAYS) this is usually the simple fix, not sure if he said that, but yea.. its a must.
Indeed, NO. You should absolutely NOT disconnect the ground pin. For all those who do not know, that thing is there *to save lives* !! In case of a short inside a grounded device with the live wire touching the metal _casing_ , it is the ground connector that takes care of your fuse box and immediately causes a cut of power on the affected circuit.
Whatever you do, DO NOT REMOVE THE GROUNDING PIN on your plugs!
Thanks for your informative video. If you’ve got loads of gear (but are still an amateur) should you daisy chain extension leads into one socket then?
"a little hiss is ok" - Devonwho
thank you for this vid, this is great presentation and easy to follow
Loopop, you are a very cool guy. Love your videos and technical explanations man. Thank you.
VERY INFORMATIVE VIDEO. THANK YOU!
Another thing which you didn't mention is to lift the ground (pin 1 on an XLR) on one end of a balanced cable. Don't do this on a mic cable though. Mic cables need all 3 connections.
Is there a difference between the 3.5mm ground loop isolator you used and a ground lift on a DI box? My Novation Circuit is outputting noise almost identical to your example, and a DI with lift wouldn't fix it.
A ground loop isolator is very different from ground lift. Ground loops are voltage inequalities between the two circuits that are in contact with one another. A ground loop isolator tries to fix that inequality using transformers.
great vid!
Anyone notice his tables woodgrain looks like the output from an oscillator?
The polarity inversion you observed is a flaw in the wiring of the particular ground isolator you tested. Let the manufacturer know and insist on a replacement, or buy elsewhere. That’s an inexcusable flaw that can result in out of phase sound between two related signals.
very insightful, thanks!
when I turn on phantom with my condenser mic connected, it makes a sharp white noise at 6-11khertz frequency area, even when the gain is completely zero, the noise still persists. and the nosie changes (doesn't stop) when I wiggle the usb connected to my pc io from the Audio interface.
How do I fix this?
Sir, you are a lifesaver!
Thank you for your video.
RCA to 3.5mm jack on the amp. buzzes as the jack enters, so i swapped out the cables. Had to solder one, despite having 100ft of Canon/TS cables just lying around not doing anything. Life is hell.
thank you good hints!
Use a good USB hub guys! Instead of connecting your interface directly to your PCs, route the USB connection through a proper USB hub! I used my monitor (LG) and it works beautifully. The issue manifest when your interface draws power directly from the PC. Note that it is recommended that you connect your hub to the same power bar (and outlet) as your monitors.
Thanks to this one. It worked perfectly when I separated the power source of the usb while charging and using my audio speaker thru 3.5mm at the same time. No more noise/static sounds. Just simple solution.
And what would you advise if your interface is a PCIe-based RayDat, and your convertors are already isolated from your machine as they connect via ADAT lightpipes, and are mains-powered?
I had a terrible ground loop within my pedal board and mixer in my home studio !
Just couldn't get rid of it so I had to use a gate but it was not a great idea !
Then I remember a friend had told me ages ago to cut the earth at one end of the audio cable so there was only the signal without the ground connected at one end of the cables !
The hum completely vanished !
Cheapest and easiest method by far !
PS
I didnt cut the mains ground cable !
I did it on the audio cables input !
The output audio is still grounded !
DS
Thank you Sir for this very informative video. The ground isolator saved the day for me.
Life saver! Thanks so much!
In the case of the ground loop isolator, where in the signal chain is this placed?
As close as possible to what's generating the noise
Hi. I have another kind of noise issue that you didn’t include in this video. It’s made solely when the Yamaha hs7 monitor is plugged in and turned on in any outlet or wall plug in my house. It happens even with unplugging everything and happens every plug I turn on the monitors. Also, it just started a few months ago. Was noiseless for a year in the same place. It sounds more like white noise than the examples you shown above. Also, out of the two, one monitor produce more noise than the other. I’m completely confused. Any thoughts?
Stephen Orion I have this same problem with a pair of hs8 monitors but it’s only with one specific outlet in the house...it’s quiet everywhere else...
cool edit pro has an amazing noise reduction that profiles and removes hiss and hum.
@PJ82 Division
Thank you for your response. yes all my gear is connected to the one socket, that was one of the first things i did. i will not be able to take my PC out of my bed room for testing on other sockets, as the thing ways a ton and its not worth the hassle. the HUM is driving me nuts i do have a pair of harman kardon soundsticks iii and when they are connected to my pc with its own dedicated sub there i no hum at all.
The best solution for me is to use midi connections with my synths instead of usb.
Try these out - it may solve the problem
it may be worth your time to try the ground loop isolator - USB MIDI is faster and has better timing
is that so? Can you point us to resources about midi connections vs USB midi? thanks@@loopop
Google...? ;) none off the top of my head. maybe one day I’ll make a video about it
Over time I accumulated multiple and various power supplies (6 PowerOne Analog 4 to 8 amp, 9 Tiptop Bricks feeding Zeus distributors and 2 DIY) which accumulated multiple and various electrical noise and odd intermittent behavior. After noticing surprising voltage differences between ground on the MOTM cabs vs Eurorack cabs I read up on it and solved my issues by running a very thick copper ground to all said power supplies grounds. This was many years ago, but it made a huge difference. Another issue that's snuck up on me are modules that are starved for power. Modules will still function but if there's not enough surplus amps to draw on it can leave you wondering wtf. I have ammeters installed .. there cheap and provide a quick reassuring check.
Can using a bus powered audio interface solve/reduce the ground loop problem?
What about hum on live presentations? In the guitar setup what could we Do?
This is a great video, mate. Would TRS cables work with guitar amplifiers and pedals? (I get ground loop noises because the amps are plugged into different outlets, due to practicality).
I've tried some ground loop isolators and noticed a loss in the lows and highs. Low frequency sounds like bass and drums tended to get muddy and less punchy. When I see that a single good audio transformer from lehle or neutric costs 40+, I don't thing a 10 buck stereo one can have nearly the same quality.
I have a small but distracting crackle in my HS7s coming through a Scarlett 2i2. A couple of these suggestions seem like good possible solutions. Cheers.
I had a crackle (repeating pattern, short "buzz" every second or half) in my Scarlett 2i2 too and it turned out to be the USB cable coming from a USB hub. Once I plugged the Scarlett directly into my Mac, the noise was gone! I might try some ferrit cores around some USB cables now.
Man, I didn't even realize using one wall outlet for everything helps with ground loop issues. I'm gonna try that this weekend.
Thank you very much, sir. Your video helped solved my problem. You are awesome. Let Smurfette I know "hi" Lol!
Great video, I am considering the Ebtech Hum Eliminator, any thoughts?
discodivo I’ve never tried it. If you do, please comment back with you’re results
I get a low frequency humming sound from my headphones when I touch my motorized desk while it's plugged in. However if I simultaneously touch the metal part of a synthesizer or the computer case, it goes away.
My solution has been to use a big, thick mouse pad on the desk so I avoid touching it directly. Not sure if I'm having a ground loop issue or some other problem, the noise doesn't sound like in this video, it's much lower in frequency. The audio interface and desk use 2-pronged plugs that are not grounded, while the computer and many other pieces of gear on the desk use proper grounded plugs so I suppose "ground" isn't universal across devices...
In my case: active speakers connected to PC via DAC (toslink) and hiss. First way solved it - speakers were connected to other power boards - plugin into same solved my problem. Simple. Thanks
Other options are di box with ground lift for your instrument inputs and usb isolator idefender
Indeed!
Ive been having an issue when plugging my phone into my PA setup. Everytime I do there is a loud distinct pop an I am affraid of damging my speakers. Would a ground loop isolator help resolve this issue? Thanks!
no
Question about loop isolator - where in the chain does it go? Thx!!!!
Hi, I have hum problem in my portable broadcast system when I get external XLR (Canon) cable from different team. Using cable equalizer circuit such as VDA (video distribution amplifier) can solve my problem?
Great Advice. I've used some of these already, ended up using power conditioners which fixed the problem greatly. What are your thoughts about such devices?
Thanks and great! I don’t think power conditioners help with ground loops but ground loops aren’t the only kind of noise out there...
1:07. TRS is not a stereo connector, you mean they are different?
No difference physically/electrically, but TRS can be a stereo connector, usually for connecting headphones
TRS in this case is used as mono signal, it have 3 contacts, ground, "hot" signal and "cold" signal. This is balanced audio. You have tons of info on google and differences between balance and unbalance signals.
Yes they are different. A balanced trs can be used as stereo unbalanced, but not vice versa. Would be unshielded and noisey
what can i do when im using USB? i do not have ANY active outputs on my interface
I streamed a concert last weekend, and I had this horrible robot noise start up as soon as I started speaking and playing. I turned my mixer off and on again, and it was better immediately. Do you think I need the ferret bead? I don't know if the cable I'm using to connect my mixer to my laptop is good, the mixer didn't come with one, so I just took the one from my interface. Usually it's fine, but of course during the concert it wasn't. Bad luck...wondering if there's anything I can do to prevent it, other than monitor my sound while I'm playing....which would be a little confusing to me I think, as I have to focus on playing. Anyway, thank you for your video, which is informative, gentle for people who don't know a lot, and appropriately humorous. I subscribed so maybe I'll learn enough that I'll try this streaming thing again some day.
There is also a really good noise reduction plugin in Reaper. It's called ReaFIR, and it's really easy to use and does the job pretty well. Reaper is not a free software, but it's quite affordably priced, and you can also try it, with all its features, free for 60 days. Anyway, this was really interesting! Thanks!
If you are on Windows, you can download the Reaper plugins as VST2 and use them in other DAWs for free.
www.reaper.fm/reaplugs/
Just tried that, very efficient thx a lot!
Hi, are the ground loop isolators bi-direction in general? Some are labeled in/out, others are not. You didn't mention this in the video above.
I guess i'm havind a ground loop, I use 2 pc's connected each other with p2 cables, and when the cables are connected, I hear similar noise that you have showed here.
The noise become a little louder the more energy the machine need to operate, like when i'm playing a game or something.
I've buyed 2 isolators for me, waiting for the arrival for testing, I hope it fix :)
how did it go
All my devices are on the same outlet. Get lots of hum sending audio to and from 2 pc's and through a mixer. If i connect all chassis of items i am using will this eliminate the ground loop?
the background noise in 1:50 is exactly what I am getting in my speaker when it is plugged into my dj controller without any music playing. What's the best solution for this? thanks!!
what if use 2 filters to invert back?
that would work. it's easy to invert a signal in software too though
Hi Loopop
I don’t know if you will be able to resolve this issue for me but I will give you a full break down of the ground loop I am facing. This is the equipment I own
Audioengine A5+ speakers
SVS SB1000 pro (subwoofer)
3.5 jack cable and RCA cable (bought from KabelDireckt)
When the Audioengine A5+ speakers are attached to my PC with a 3.5 jack there is no hum. When I join my speakers to the SVS subwoofer via RCA, I get a loud humming sound.
When these two pieces of equipment are paired up and when I attach the 3.5 jack to my mobile phone there is zero hum. Can you please instruct me will this device nullify the HUM because it is driving me crazy and I have paid a lot of money for my setup.
In simple terms
1) Speaker with no subwoofer when attached to PC = Zero HUM
2) Speaker with subwoofer when attached to PC = HUM
3) Speaker with subwoofer when attached to Mobile phone = Zero HUM
i have used the AV:Link RCA Groundloop and Ferrits on all cable but nothing
I would like to thank you for taking the time in reading my message
Sorry it's hard to troubleshoot these things remotely. Other than the solutions in this video I've added quite a few more in my book on Patreon - if the solutions there don't work for you hit me up for a refund on Patreon, no worries.
hi bro, i have many amps connected together. is there any machine i can use to produce higher KVA apart from generator ????
What's that plug type at 0:22? One of them is North America but what's the other one?
Israel - we had to go and make our own unique "standard"
A ground loop isolator is simply a transformer. It should not reverse phase (within the rated frequency range) unless cables were soldered backward (confused polarity).
As a guitarist with single coil pickups... electromagnetic frequency interference is my bane... and of course high frequency EMF/EMI is going to be terrible for health.
Your guitar and amp aren't producing anything close to ionizing radiation.
@@jakejakeboom I didn't mention anything about ionising radiation. If you think that non-ionising radiation if incapable of harm to biological organisms and processes then think again;
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935118300355#t0015
@@jakejakeboom Also if you had even the slightest awareness of the topic, you'd know that of course my guitar and amp aren't producing the EMF's, they are picking it up and amplifying it because of the nature of an amplifier (increases a signals strength) and causing major noise/interference.
@@AJDOLDCHANNELARCHIVE that "paper" is complete bunk. ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/1091314126731/Comments%20on%20%E2%80%9CWi-Fi%20is%20an%20important%20threat%20to%20human%20health%E2%80%9D.pdf
@@unknownuser8838 There are thousands more studies available going back to the 1970's.
Thank you! I just bought a prophet 10 and all the usb cables I’ve tried gives an annoying digital hum that is prominent in my recordings only when usb is plugged in. I’m going to try a Ferrite choke. Would you suggest a cable with them built in or the beads? Wish they sent with this kind of cable or at least mentioned it in the manual.