[Moseph]

Originally Posted by Kuolema

I don't think it's interference because the noise is there even when the guitar isn't plugged in and as soon as I unplug the power cord it goes away.

Ah, I see. Another question, then: is the power to the audio interface provided by the USB connection or does the interface have its own AC adapter that plugs into the wall? My understanding is that USB-powered interfaces tend to have more of a problem with noise since the current supplied by USB is less consistent than you get from an AC adapter. I could see how having a bad connection from wall to computer -- especially on laptops, which aren't always great at powering USB devices in the first place -- could perhaps make any USB power issues even worse.

EDIT: If the interface is USB-powered, you could maybe try getting a powered USB hub that has its own AC adapter and running the interface from that so that the interface isn't getting its power supply through the computer's power cord.

[Kuolema]

Originally Posted by Moseph

Ah, I see. Another question, then: is the power to the audio interface provided by the USB connection or does the interface have its own AC adapter that plugs into the wall? My understanding is that USB-powered interfaces tend to have more of a problem with noise since the current supplied by USB is less consistent than you get from an AC adapter. I could see how having a bad connection from wall to computer -- especially on laptops, which aren't always great at powering USB devices in the first place -- could perhaps make any USB power issues even worse.

EDIT: If the interface is USB-powered, you could maybe try getting a powered USB hub that has its own AC adapter and running the interface from that so that the interface isn't getting its power supply through the computer's power cord.

Yeah, it's usb powered.
As for your hub suggestion, I didn't even know something like that exists...could you show me exactly what you mean?

[SonicThHedgog]

Originally Posted by Kuolema

So I figured out that the hum I get whenever I try and record electric guitars comes from my laptop's power cord. Having learned this, I would just record from my battery, but it's so bad that it can only last a few minutes.
Just wondering if this plagues anyone else and if there's anything you do to get rid of/minimize it. I know there are things you can buy to eliminate it, but they're expensive...

I mean you could try a ground lift... nahh.

Sometimes plugging everything to the same surge protected multi power outlet works for me when I get hum

maybe your gain is high or your recording near a tv

[Kuolema]

Originally Posted by SonicThHedgog

Sometimes plugging everything to the same surge protected multi power outlet works for me when I get hum

Hmm...I might have to try that.

[Metal Man]

Hey I know I could rent that Ebtech HumX from a local shop where they sell and rent stuff like speakers for small events. It was like 10$ for a few days and he would credit me the 10 bucks on the full purchase, you might as well look for such a shop. They fucking sold it 80$ tho.. I kept my hum .

[Kuolema]

Originally Posted by Metal Man

Hey I know I could rent that Ebtech HumX from a local shop where they sell and rent stuff like speakers for small events. It was like 10$ for a few days and he would credit me the 10 bucks on the full purchase, you might as well look for such a shop. They fucking sold it 80$ tho.. I kept my hum .

I've looked around, but none of the rental places here seem to rent accessories like that. If I can though, I would like to try it out first if I decide to buy it; I don't want to bring it home and find out that it doesn't fix the problem.

[Moseph]

Originally Posted by Kuolema

Yeah, it's usb powered.
As for your hub suggestion, I didn't even know something like that exists...could you show me exactly what you mean?

Something like this.

[Andy P]

I've had a similar problem before. It wasn't a grounding issue though. Your laptop power supply is probably a switched mode power supply which means it kicks out a lot of magnetic noise. That means whenever your power supply is on the noise is inducted onto any unbalanced.

Before going to see if the problem is a grounding problem I would suggest trying a balanced cable first. Sine you're recording guitars I assume that you're just using a standard jack cable. You can get balanced jacks which don't cost much more than regular jack leads.

Hope this helps!

[Kuolema]

Originally Posted by Moseph

Something like this.

That does sound like it might work. Uggh, so many options XD.

Originally Posted by Andy P

I've had a similar problem before. It wasn't a grounding issue though. Your laptop power supply is probably a switched mode power supply which means it kicks out a lot of magnetic noise. That means whenever your power supply is on the noise is inducted onto any unbalanced.

Before going to see if the problem is a grounding problem I would suggest trying a balanced cable first. Sine you're recording guitars I assume that you're just using a standard jack cable. You can get balanced jacks which don't cost much more than regular jack leads.

Hope this helps!

Okay, interesting...when you refer to balanced cables, you're talking about the guitar cable and not the laptop power cord yes?

[Andy P]

Originally Posted by Kuolema

Okay, interesting...when you refer to balanced cables, you're talking about the guitar cable and not the laptop power cord yes?

Yeah the guitar cable. The noise might be being inducted onto other parts of the guitar though, like through the pickups so might not 100% solve the issue. Depending on what the guitar is it might not work with a balanced jack lead.

What guitar is it you're recording?