what is this noise?

[rorry]

hi all
I'm having issues with a weird noise I'm hearing while monitoring the input source.
Ive changed different things in the loop.
it is not:
the mike, lead, audio interface, compressor, or my computer.
The obvious thing is i just changed where i setup my gear in the room.
So I'm guessing this is some kind of electrical interference.
here is a clip.
its not the high pitch whir, thats the laptop but the two pops.
at first they where more rythmic then they seem to almost go.
hope somebody can help.
cheers

[MetalDave]

I have heard clicks usually a little more high pitched than what we are hearing. It was caused from the latency being adusted too fast. try changing the latency take it down a notch and see if it still happens.. Thats all I can figure. Maybe your computer is set to do something? Maybe it is trying to dial up or some other software is trying to do something you aren't hooked up to anymore? After you figure out what it is could you post it here so we will know how to combat it if we ever have this problem?

[rorry]

yeh ta dave i tried changing the latency even tried changing the sample rate.
all to no avail. Man im shitted to tears. I spent 3 days putting up blankets and egg cartons on the walls to combat reverb all to setup and get this noise.
ahhhhhhh!!!

[Electriclight]

Originally Posted by rorry

hi all
The obvious thing is i just changed where i setup my gear in the room.
So I'm guessing this is some kind of electrical interference.

So tell us about the room. What's on the other side of your walls? Is your gear all grounded? Florescent lights? Television? Wood chipper? Think Man!

When I first started recording, I once spent 30 minutes troubleshooting all my mics and cables for a sound almost like this...

Finally noticed the second hand of my wall clock was keeping time to the noise...ckick...click...click

[brandondrury]

it is not:
the mike, lead, audio interface, compressor, or my computer.

How do you know that? If it's none of those things, what could it be?

Are you saying you cranked the latency up super high?

Home Recording Computers: Clicks, Pops, and Latency

What exactly did you record here?

What's your CPU meter read when you record just a single track?

Brandon

[rorry]

ok i checked everything.

cables, mikes, everything.
It cant be a latency issue as i can usaually have 10-20 tracks with plugsins at 1.3 ms and the cpu meter barley makes it half way. (trackion3, c2duo@2gig,2gig ram,sata2)

on a single track ready to go it doesn't even register and i even checked the xp resource meter and it says 1%

see i never had this before i moved my gear thats why i figure interference.

oh yeah Brandon i was recording just the room through a valve condenser mike with the compressor on bypass
the high pitch whir is the laptop which seems make that noise when i change
from 44k to 48k or higher its the fan i think and its more noticeable now the room is more quiet.

i did notice last night that by turning on an oil heater the lights dimmed slightly!!!!
so i tried it all again with this off.
in fact im running less than i used to.
i used to have a
laptop*
interface *
compressor*
heater
big stereo
mike power supply*
lamp*(not fluro)
guitar amp
all running of the same double power point, now im just running the stars

im going to try a power supply filter type thing I'll have to research it first before i know what to try. maybe that might be the go.

i was hoping somebody would recognize the sound.
tell you what is somebody figure it out i promise to try and not post another song for at least a month!!

thanks all
cheers

[Electriclight]

I wouldn't invest any money in a power suply filter anything for this noise. Power issues would be constant - not just a pop every so often. BTW Where are you that you need a heater?

I noticed that you have not ruled out your mic's power supply - do you have a dynamic mike you coulod hook up as an experiment?

[MetalDave]

I remember now hearing this before, I am sorry to say it was from a condenser mic that was going bad. Have you been using it without a pop filter? If so put it in a case full of desicant packs for a few days and try a dynamic mic or other condenser and see what happens. It was a sort of short from moisture. Have you had moisture around your Mic lately? I have a friend who would run a humidifier in his studio because he had his $2000.00 D35 Martin in that room... It ruined His audio Technica Condeser mic. They really don't like moisture. His son writes Rap tunes and he sang directly into his MXL 900 It worked great for about 12 songs then it just quit working. We went back and listened to the last couple of songs it worked on and it sounded like he was doing a beat box where it didn't belong. Much like the noise we are hearing only louder. Try a different mic. Also has it been raining where you live? Does the building you record in have a sump pump or a well? An electric motor hooked up like a well pump or sump pump with a constant power going to it will sort of try to start every second or so. being ready for when it is need depending on the type being used. You may want to try shutting it off just long enough to see if that makes it go away. If it does try an Uninterupted power suppy "UPS" for your computer and mixer. You can get them at Walmart for about $49.98. It will take out the brown and any surges also. Good luck!

[brandondrury]

It cant be a latency issue as i can usaually have 10-20 tracks with plugsins at 1.3 ms and the cpu meter barley makes it half way.

This is a VERY fast latency setting. If I set my Presonus Firestudio to be that fast, I would get clicks, pops, and static regardless of where my CPU is at. In other words, the CPU does not have to be maxed to get clicks and pops. I think not experimenting with this is a major flaw in your troubleshooting.

Even if the rig worked perfectly before, things change. I have no explanation for it, but I've had my rig, for no apparent reason, just stop working properly 4 or 5 times in the past 7 years.

oh yeah Brandon i was recording just the room through a valve condenser mike with the compressor on bypass

I'd immediately try a different microphone. Tube mics are less reliable and it could be your tubes going bad.

i was hoping somebody would recognize the sound.

Unfortunately, that sound is fairly generic.

Brandon

[rorry]

well i wish i had an answer that everybody would like. unfortunately i dont.
I gave up on the whole issue and left it for a couple of days. when i came back the noise was gone and has stayed gone for 4 days now. However I do believe is was a power issue.
The power system in this house is old. I remember the lights dimming when the guy next door used a power tool.
so thanks all for the ideas and help.
If i do find a definite answer i will be sure to post.
oh and some clear ups before i go
Electriclight im in Melbourne and its cold as here.
Brandon I did troubleshoot the latency options. i tried every setting high and low.(how do you record on a higher setting?) even the delay of 3 or more millisec is annoying.

My trick is to record all my tracks at 1.3ms but freeze the ones i dont need
then mix at a higher latency with all my plugins and vi's ect. Seems to work.

cheers all