Noise created by Laptop Power Lead...Any Help?

[Xanadu]

Thing is in my example if you remove the power lead the noise goes away. So I got to fancy the sound card is ok, if perhaps badly earthed ?

Ah, we have the same problem in our band. I think we're just using battery power when it's connected up. I bet a proper soundcard would solve your worries. Onboard sound really is dire.

 

[TitanSound]

Yeah when I take the mains plug out and run it off the battery it stops the mains hum. I am trying to remember what the engineer at our last gig recommended but am struggling

 

[Xanadu]

Take out the battery?

 

[snadge]

All Dell laptops make this noise when plugged into the mains and using external sound cards as well as a lot of other makes, look on the Dell forums.

I know I said chop the earth and fair enough it is definitely not recommended but it does work, it is only the PSU transformer that is earthed, not the laptop.

Removing the battery does not cure it.

Or buy a Mac, they don't make this noise.

 

[TitanSound]

Take out the battery?

No I think it was some sort of isolator. Kind of like a surge protector but designed with the view to taking away the mains hum instead of...ermmm..surge protecting

 

[audiotech]

In this instance, I'm taking the sound from the headphone out of the laptop to an input of an analogue mixer, then out to an hi-fi amp.

I've also tried it with a Yamaha O1X digital mixer, using the fire-wire port and get the same problem.

I would tend to agree that the psu is the culprit here, but with a sealed unit and plug, with round fucking connections, there's not much I can do with it.

I'll experiment further and get back.

 

[Xanadu]

No I think it was some sort of isolator. Kind of like a surge protector but designed with the view to taking away the mains hum instead of...ermmm..surge protecting

An isolation transformer?

 

[audiotech]

Or buy a Mac, they don't make this noise.

 

[TitanSound]

An isolation transformer?

I think you may have struck gold there sah!

 

[audiotech]

An isolation transformer?

A mains conditioning filter.

Back to Maplins it is.

 

[Xanadu]

It feels like we got the solution as a team as well

 

[TitanSound]

*group hi five!*

 

[snadge]

Maybe you roll your eyes but it's true.

I run all my music making software on a macbook pro running windows for this very reason.

 

[pk]

In this instance, I'm taking the sound from the headphone out of the laptop to an input of an analogue mixer, then out to an hi-fi amp.

I've also tried it with a Yamaha O1X digital mixer, using the fire-wire port and get the same problem.

I would tend to agree that the psu is the culprit here, but with a sealed unit and plug, with round fucking connections, there's not much I can do with it.

I'll experiment further and get back.

You could cut the plug off, the mains end, and stick a new one on with a dedicated earth emerging from it.

Make sure everything is properly insulated though, get decent earth cable.

 

[fatterfaction]

This should do the trick

If your only working with a stereo output from the soundcard.
Just place one of these little boxes between the out of your soundcard and the in on your monitors....

http://www.dv247.com/invt/51928/

or

http://www.dv247.com/invt/32576/

 

[snadge]

A mains conditioning filter.

Back to Maplins it is.

I tried this, didn't work, now it's a dust collector.

 

[gentlegreen]

It's high frequency crud produced by the switching regulator in the power supply so you would need to filter the DC side of it :-

(this sort of thing - probably rather lower values though as it's crud in the kilohertz range rather than the usual 50 / 100 HZ area ..

 

[pk]

Maybe you roll your eyes but it's true.

I run all my music making software on a macbook pro running windows for this very reason.

Aye, I can concur with this.
Without splashing out on seperate hardware, trying to run pro audio apps on a Dell is riding the highway to hell.

 

[audiotech]

Maybe you roll your eyes but it's true.

I run all my music making software on a macbook pro running windows for this very reason.

Yes, but I have a pc running all my music making software, so your "get a mac" advice is not at all helpful here is it?

 

[audiotech]

If your only working with a stereo output from the soundcard.
Just place one of these little boxes between the out of your soundcard and the in on your monitors....

http://www.dv247.com/invt/51928/

or

http://www.dv247.com/invt/32576/

Those look as though they're the solution to the problem. Thanks.

 

[audiotech]

I tried this, didn't work, now it's a dust collector.

Thanks for the advice on this at least.

 

[pk]

Yes, but I have a pc running all my music making software, so your "get a mac" advice is not at all helpful here is it?

A Dell?

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

I use a Dell laptop for record and playback use on the live shows I do.

Tis fine, ignore the Mac fanbois

 

[pk]

I use a Dell laptop for record and playback use on the live shows I do.

With the standard inbuilt soundcard??

 

[Xanadu]

What's the mac onboard sound like?

 

[audiotech]

A Dell?

Toshiba.

I should add that I have a dedicated music PC from Digital Village with a Linx Two soundcard installed.

The Toshiba laptap is for portability.

 

[pk]

What's the mac onboard sound like?

Not noisy!

 

[pk]

Toshiba.

I should add that I have a dedicated music PC from Digital Village with a Linx Two soundcard installed.

 

[Dravinian]

Not noisy!

Mine isn't noisy, except when I plug it in at the rehearsal rooms.

It isn't noisy at home.

I think it has a lot to do with teh electrics, the equipment surrounding it, mixing desk, bass amp, guitar amp, etc then it is the Laptop itself.

I am hoping it is an earth problem that I have.

 

[TitanSound]

Toshiba.

I should add that I have a dedicated music PC from Digital Village with a Linx Two soundcard installed.

The Toshiba laptap is for portability.

Which Model, we use the Tecra M5