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Posted by djdawn on Apr-28-2001 11:35:

hi y'all.
I have a strange problem w/my soundcard (soundblaster 64).
When I connect the line-out to my mixer I get a humming sound as from a turntable that's not connected to mass/earth. Strange thing is: the humming is there even when I mute that channel on the mixer. That doesn't happen with a humming turntable. If I mute the channel, it's supposed to be mute, but with the soundcard it isn't.
And when I go from the line out to tape or minidisc, there's no humming at all.
Any suggestions ? (I'm getting a new soundcard soon, but I still need help with the old one)
Thanks,
dawn

Posted by Paul Griffiths 1 on Apr-28-2001 12:15:

Hmmm, not sure but did you mute the Microphone output? That makes some crazy humming noises at times.

Posted by jax on Apr-29-2001 12:04:

maybe

quote:
Originally posted by djdawn
hi y'all.
I have a strange problem w/my soundcard (soundblaster 64).
When I connect the line-out to my mixer I get a humming sound as from a turntable that's not connected to mass/earth. Strange thing is: the humming is there even when I mute that channel on the mixer. That doesn't happen with a humming turntable. If I mute the channel, it's supposed to be mute, but with the soundcard it isn't.
And when I go from the line out to tape or minidisc, there's no humming at all.
Any suggestions ? (I'm getting a new soundcard soon, but I still need help with the old one)
Thanks,
dawn

Make sure your PC is also connected to mass/earth (powercable <-> wall outlet) and/or try moving your soundcard as far away as possible from your powersupply.

Posted by Joel Fielder on Apr-30-2001 12:12:

Sounds like the cable's knackered, but yeah, check your PC's grounded too.

Posted by djdawn on May-08-2001 14:24:

Just wanted to let everybody know that I got rid of the humming by inserting a "Ground Loop Isolator". Sounds perfect now. Costs $10, got it from www.conrad.de

Posted by NZWaverider on May-23-2001 13:54:

yeah I have the same problem with my laptop at work i record a trance program off the radio every thursday night, off my car stereo when i run a lead to an external power source (the building)its fine however when i hook up my DC-AC power inverter off of my deep cycle battery (which is on a split charge circut from the main battery running my amplifiers) and plug it into the mic input there is a slight hummmmm. i assume it is some sort of grounding loop problem but does anybody know what will fix it? can you fit a ground loop isolator to a laptop?
cheer cheer

Posted by djdawn on May-25-2001 09:18:

Yes you can fit the GLI to anything that has stereo RCA jacks. No external power is needed.

Posted by j_spot on May-25-2001 09:31:

I was going to suggest that you probly have a ground loop of a sort, and it might be easy, might not be to get rid of it. but you fixed it. Good cables r worth it.