Subject:High frequency noise

Posted by: BBower

Date:8/3/2014 3:59:55 PM

I am currently running Acid Music Studio 10 (build 108), and I'm using an Alesis Multimix 4 USB as the audio interface. When I arm a track to record audio, I hear a high pitched hiss (about 7k to 8k) coming in at about -60 to -40 dB. I have tried everything to eliminate the noise, but no go; it remains and records. Interestingly, when I disarm the track, the noise remains and does not go away until the program is closed completely. Altering the on-screen sliders does nothing also. Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

Also, I went to the Alesis web site, and other users reported the same problem with no solutions offered.

Thanks.

B.

PS... I downloaded the ASIO4ALL driver, with no improvement. When I booted up the Acid and used the onboard sound chip of the computer, the result was also the same. This tells me two possibilities: either the software has a problem, or my sound settings need to be tweaked. If the latter is true, I would appreciate knowing what tweaking needs to be done. Thanks. B.

Subject:RE: High frequency noise

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:8/4/2014 8:15:13 PM

Probably power-supply noise from the laptop. My M-Audio Transit USB has a similar noise - but only when laptop is powered from it's mains PSU. Yours same ?

geoff

Subject:RE: High frequency noise

Reply by: BBower

Date:8/5/2014 8:51:57 AM

Nope. I'm running from a desktop. When I am running the software and recording with MIDI, there is no problem; silent as a grave. But the instant I want to record audio, either mic or line the noise returns. Oddly enough even after disarming the audio track the noise remains. If I minimize the program the noise goes away, or if I shut the program down altogether the noise goes away.

I had the same issue with a netbook running XP and Acid Music Studio 7. I thought maybe getting a desktop with windows 7 and upgrading to Acid 10 would make the difference. Nope. Same issue. Makes me wonder if I should find less frustrating hobby like defusing bombs. :|

B.

Subject:RE: High frequency noise

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:8/5/2014 3:43:38 PM

Maybe you should try something other than this Alesis interface then, as that interface would appear to have a potentially endemic noise on it's input side.

If you could beg/steal/borrow another USB interface that is known-good on another system, or try your interface on a completely different computer and recording application, that would isolate the problem.

Acid spontaneously cannot generate such noises itself, though I guess a dodgy device driver could. But more likely to be power-supply noise, either on PC or internal to the Alesis - maybe related to the USB current drawn.

geoff

Subject:RE: High frequency noise

Reply by: mike_in_ky

Date:8/8/2014 10:38:55 PM

I get the same thing happening when I'm trying to record simultaneous tracks using USB and analog inputs with my Behringer X1204 USB mixer. The Behringer support person told me that the noise occurs because I have "created an aggregate device" in my computer by trying to record from USB and analog inputs to my sound card at the same time. Not really sure what that means, perhaps you are doing the same.

Subject:RE: High frequency noise

Reply by: BBower

Date:8/9/2014 8:15:39 PM

Mike,

I'm not sure what that means either, but I disabled the onboard sound card in the computer in BIOS setup, and the problem persists. So if that were the problem, I would think disabling the sound card would fix the problem. Nope. I have to admit this whole thing is making me tired. Since crying won't do any good, I am going to try working with a friend who has a studio to see if he has a fix; if he doesn't, that may require buying other equipment or a different DAW.

Subject:RE: High frequency noise

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:8/9/2014 11:00:30 PM

A different DAW is going to make zero difference because that's not where the problem is coming from.

Try ensuring any SPDIF input on soundcard (or computer audio) is off, because that may be the 'aggregate device' the soundcard dude was talking about - a 48K SPDIF input interacting with a 44k1 (or whatever) analogue input or project setting. Again, nothing to do witht he DAW in question.

Subject:RE: High frequency noise

Reply by: BBower

Date:9/5/2014 2:35:22 PM

As it turns out, it is a problem with the interface, which is on its way back to the manufacturer for warranty repair. I have since worked with another interface with no noise problem at all. Thanks for all your comments; they have been much appreciated.

Subject:RE: High frequency noise

Reply by: mike_in_ky

Date:9/5/2014 2:52:48 PM

Glad to hear you had some success. What is the "another interface" that you to allude to in your post? Were you able to record USB and analog simultaneously?

Subject:RE: High frequency noise

Reply by: BBower

Date:9/6/2014 10:26:01 AM

The USB audio interface I am now using is a Zoom R8. Being a bit of a newbie, I'm not sure what you mean by recording USB and analog simultaneously, since the analog signals are going through the USB interface. I have not yet tried to do anything with MIDI, since I don't have a keyboard controller (yet), and I'm not about to do any step-time data entry; I hear that's pretty tedious.

Subject:RE: High frequency noise

Reply by: mike_in_ky

Date:9/7/2014 2:40:24 PM

My Behringer X1204USB mixer has built in USB, so I can record 2-channels simultaneously via the USB. The mixer also has separate analog outputs that send "muted" analog outputs to 2 jacks. So, I can record 4 simultaneous channels (2 USB and 2 analog). The mixer also has standard L-R main analog outputs. My computer has 2 sets of stereo microphone inputs, so instead I can record 4 analog channels simultaneously using the 2 sets of microphone inputs. However, when I try recording 2 USB AND 2 analog simultaneously, that's when I get the high pitched background noise. According to Behringer, I have set up a virtual device. Still don't know what that means. As alternative, I just record 4 analog channels simultaneously, but really would like to use USB and analog for more flexibility.