VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

asnively · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 10:31 am Post subject: sudden hum

I'm having a problem, and I don't know where to even begin. I've been recording a long project in another studio for the last couple of months, so I'm way behind on recording for TERRA. But every time I come home and sit down to record, I get this weird hum. It's a buzzing sound. I've never had this problem before...and nothing's changed in my studio, besides me not being in it.

Where do I even begin to look for such a thing?
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flaspots · Contributore Level V Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Posts: 191

Do you have the hum in your monitors when you record, or only on playback?

asnively · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 10:40 am Post subject:

Only on playback...

BUT, I think I figured it out! I think the humming is coming from my monitors! I turned them off and just listened through the cans and POOF! It sounds awesome!

I have an extended warranty on these monitors... I'm heading to Guitarget. I'll be back after lunch.

Thanks! Sorry for the panic! (I really was panicking!)
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bobsouer · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 12:27 pm Post subject:

Amy,

I sure hope it was just your monitors. I had one of mine die on my with a terrible buzzing noise some months ago. Sadly it was out of warranty. (On the other hand, the price of replacements had come down a hundred dollars since I'd first bought them.)
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Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

You might have an AC line laying over your monitor cable. It will cause a hum.

Gp · Guest

Everytime I look at the title to this thread I can't help but think it's a movie title or a game show.....and now back to Sudden Hum! hmmm Maybe it's just me.

Charles Nove · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:41 pm Post subject:

Check for power cables running close to the monitor cables, or transformers for low-voltage desk lamps, or of course that dreaded figure from many a pirate tale, Dirty Jack, who has been known to cause strange noises in many a studio ...

Are your monitors powered, or passive? Does the buzz appear on both monitors or only one?
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asnively · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:12 am Post subject:

Tomorrow I start checking cables one by one, first thing in the morning.
Unless one of you guys wants to come do it while I make you sandwiches...
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Moe Egan · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 5:06 am Post subject:

I feel your pain Amy. I have been frustrated by a hum since I got my MBox....still working off my lap top. I've tried a couple of things, but haven't really had the time to do a full frontal attack on it.Tell you what, you come over here and help me hunt down my hum and I'll make you sandwiches! Rolls Eyes

Yea....I didn't think so.
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BenWils · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:18 am Post subject:

Amy,

If your monitors have input for Balanced Cables (XLR or the double stripped 1/4 ), use those if you are not already.... instead of the 1/4 unbalanced cables. It will help to eliminate a lot of junk that unbalanced 1/4 cables will let in because basically balanced cables send the signal twice....one in-phase and one out of phase....anything that is not part of the original signal gets cancelled out. That is a rough way of putting it.

It is worth noting again, there are such a thing as balanced 1/4 cables. When you look at the tip, you will see two strips just after the tip instead of just one. For an example of what the tip should look like, look at the tip of your headphones 1/4 plug. It has two stripes because the signal is being sent stereo.

Some people also call 1/4 balanced cables "ring, tip, sleeve" cables. Because those three separated areas of the plug tip act just like the three pins on an XLR mic cable.

Okay, there is your unsolicited Balanced versus Unbalanced lesson of the day.

Take it from Jean-François Gravelet....stay balanced.
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todd ellis · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:34 am Post subject:

also, a power cable running parallel to an audio cable can cause trouble.
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louzucaro · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:35 am Post subject:

I misread the thread title as "SUDDEN HAM" and got all excited.

Time for lunch...
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Lee Gordon · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:16 pm Post subject:

I was going to reply "perhaps your equipment is humming because it doesn't know the words," but I am better than that. Wink

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todd ellis · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 2:20 pm Post subject:

thank goodness.
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asnively · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 4:15 pm Post subject:

Thanks Lee and Lou! I needed those laughs!

I just missed an important audition from an agent, haven't gotten any TERRA recoding done, and have pulled out most of my very pretty hair.

I'm leaving for a little while. I hope I don't see any bridges.

The sandwich offer stands.

Moe-- I'm having trouble seeing your avatar from across the street. Could you make it a bit bigger?
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