Unbalanced Outs?!

Hi i have a question to all of u who record their mpc from its outs into cubase or anything else via soundcard. Do u have the same problems with that noise at 90 db, it sounds like i can hear my pc working. It is horrible...what du u do to handle this problem? is their a solution? My soundcard has unbalanced ins like the mpc has unbalanced outs. Would it be a solution if i had balanced ins at my soundcard? I am gettin crazy with this noise while i work with headphones. Someone please help me.

Keller

If u are hearing 'computery' type noise from your inputs or outputs, its probably cause you have a cheap soundcard. My stock laptop soundcard gave terrible noise like the type u mention.

One further thing though is sometimes you can get noise thru issues of ground loops or something like that... google that, but i will only say that once i got a decent soundcard for the laptop, i still had to incorporate a ground-lift to my power supply to make a certain buzzing noise go away.

I have a very expensive and good soundcard, its a rme hdsp 9632. But maybe the groundlift is a good solution...i have diconnected the usb cable from the mpc this helped a lot reducing the noise but its still in the backround but much more quiet.

Also keep in mind that Flourescent lights will introduce noise through electronics, unless you use a certian type of flourescent bulb that fits into a standard light socket as opposed to a tubular fixture.

Kellerkind wrote:I have a very expensive and good soundcard, its a rme hdsp 9632. But maybe the groundlift is a good solution...i have diconnected the usb cable from the mpc this helped a lot reducing the noise but its still in the backround but much more quiet.

Which Inputs do you use?


Do you use the stock cinch cables that came with the card?

Or do you have the breakout-cable with the XLR connectors?

If not, I would suggest you to get it and than to get a good DI-Box.

with the DI you can bring your unbalanced outs to balanced level & than go into your card through the XLR inputs.

you should get a very clean signal that way.


I've heard that sometimes it could also be a "bad or poor" motherboard.
so that if the PCI-bus isn't shielded very good - than it can cause that nasty noises.

I had those problems by myself - have also the HDSP9632 card - and I always had this nasty noises like hearing my mouse moving and the HD working.

I upgraded my PC recently - new motherboard and recording the stuff the way I described - very clean signal.

get some monster cables and see if that helps

@j.m

I have the XLR Breakoutcable and use it for my monitors to get a clean signal, the inputs are used by my mic preamp. The mpc uses the AEB 8I which is connected by adat to the soundcard. The AEB 8I has 4 stereopair Inputs which are unbalanced.
But I didn´t mention the motherboard yet...maybe thats trully the problem. Which motherboard do you have now? I have one from shuttle.


What are monster cables?

high quality audio cables. cheap cables can pick up a lot of unwanted electronic noise. I would also suggest using a power conditioner.

Kellerkind wrote:@j.m

I have the XLR Breakoutcable and use it for my monitors to get a clean signal, the inputs are used by my mic preamp. The mpc uses the AEB 8I which is connected by adat to the soundcard. The AEB 8I has 4 stereopair Inputs which are unbalanced.
But I didn´t mention the motherboard yet...maybe thats trully the problem. Which motherboard do you have now? I have one from shuttle.


What are monster cables?

I have my monitors also hooked up to the xlr outs - and my xlr ins are patched into a patchbay - so that I can use it with whatever I want to.

I also have the AEB 8I and 8O - but I barely use 'em.

you really should give it a try - make your mpc signal "balanced" with a DI and then go into the xlr's.

but don't use no cheapo box - like a bear-ringer.
maybe you know somebody who can borrow you one for a tryout.

And you should get yourself a patchbay - if you have a couple of outboard, it makes the life so much easier - and you can do quick changeups on your routings.

I don't think that monster cables will help.


My first motherboard was a Fujitsu-Siemens - now I have an Intel-Board.

hmm the patchbay sounds like a very good idea! I will give it a try. The DI-Box solution is a quiet expensive one...for that i have to think about it...
Thanks for all ur suggestions!

Greetz
Keller

Kellerkind wrote:hmm the patchbay sounds like a very good idea! I will give it a try. The DI-Box solution is a quiet expensive one...for that i have to think about it...
Thanks for all ur suggestions!

Greetz
Keller

I know this suggestion is not gentleman-like, but maybe you could order a DI from Thomann's.

If you don't like it or don't need it - you can send it back within 14 days without a justification.

Just a thought.

Or look around on ebay - you don't have to buy the ones that cost 500 € per channel - but you should definitely avoid behringer.

And I think an active one is better than a passive one.

cheers

i have an emu 0404, and i get 0 noise. i use unbalanced jacks.

perhaps change your output volume on your mpc to -12 in the other window

You even can send it back within 30 days at thomann . I have 2 passive DI Boxes from LA Audio...very good ones. And with them there is no noise anymore. The only problem with these DIs is that they reduce the gain of my
mpc to a minimum. Even on 0db output in the mpc preferences it is not loud enough. Is it cuz they are passive?

You can change your input loudness within the RME Hardware-Treiber Software.

I have mine on +4

why are you using DI box's with an MPC? you shouldnt need one.