i'm temporarily using a set of altec lansing desktop/pc speakers for mixing right now. the subwoofer has two sets of inputs, so the pc uses the 3.5mm minijack or whatever, and the auxiliary input is the two RCA plugs, which i use for the mixer, as you might imagine. unfortunately, the second i turn on the mixer, the speakers and subwoofer start humming.

i tried putting the speakers on one surge protector and the mixer on another one, (both on same wall socket), but that had no effect. then i tried using two completely different wall sockets, and still the speakers would hum once the mixer is turned on. what can i do to get around this? thanks for any help!

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Last edited by Crystalline on Sep-09-2004 at 07:37

do you use cd decks or turntables? if its turntables, does it still hum when both decks are on..? my mixer used to hum until i switched them both on, then it was fine. this problem has since disappeared altogether since i added my cd deck to my setup which is wierd.

check your phono wires, both from the decks to the mixer, and mixer to amp. try switching them if possible. also check your grounding wires to make sure they are all in order and nice and tight. try and avoid 2 ground wires going to 1 grounding point, although in some cases the mixer will only have 1 anyway. grounding is the most likely cause of any hum, if you do a search in this forum for "ground loop" you should find some useful info. although if you are using cd decks this shouldnt be an issue..

check your carts, take them out and make sure theres no shite in the tonearm socket, or on the pins of the headshell.

also have you tried your mixer in the other input which you use for your computer? minijack>phono wires are easy to come by so it might be worth a try to make sure its not the input on the speakers thats knackered.

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this happended to me, the humming only seemed to come fom the grounding wire at the back of the mixer not being connected properly.

I had a similar problem with my mixer. Try getting an adapter that takes the 3 prong plug (+,-, ground) and turns it into a 2 prong plug minus the ground. its only a couple dollars and worked like a charm!

quote:

Originally posted by McKee this happended to me, the humming only seemed to come fom the grounding wire at the back of the mixer not being connected properly.

yup same thing for me.

I have my setup & my computer connected to my speakers. But every time I use either the other must be disconnected to prevent the common hum. 90% of all hum problems come from the electric system (power source).

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i use turntables, not cd decks...but i'm almost certain the turntables have nothing to do with it...the humming through the speakers happens the instant i turn the mixer on. if the turntables were ALREADY on before i touch the mixer, or if i turn them on AFTER the mixer is already on, or even if i disconnect them entirely, it seems to make no difference to the evil hum .

i do actually have a connector that converts RCA to minijack, so i tried plugging the mixer into the speaker input i normally use for my computer, and that also didnt do it, so at least i know its not the speaker's input, anyways. i also have RCA caps on all the unused inputs and outputs on the back of the mixer as well...

the problem may have something to do with the step-up/step-down transformer i'm using...i ordered the mixer from the uk because it was $100 cheaper, so i had to get a transformer to convert the wall's 110v to the 240v that the mixer uses. i'm certainly not an electrician, but since i'm using something like that to convert different voltages, i would personally be a little wary of bypassing the ground entirely by using a 3-prong to 2-prong adapter. could bypassing the ground cause harm to your equipment? or is it only there for safetey reasons, and the lack of it wouldn't cause any problems?

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Last edited by Crystalline on Sep-10-2004 at 22:22

my logitech z560 dont

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quote:

could bypassing the ground cause harm to your equipment? or is it only there for safetey reasons

Guess you answered yourself
Yeah its there for safety reasons, so, it could harm your equipment. However a Good surge protector could prevent the harm. But I recc. do not bypass that 3rd leg.
Have you talked with other owners of that mixer?
Its pretty obvious, but you're shure its an electric power hum right? Remb. its a 60Hz hum.

Oh, and if it is the transformer, its gotta be a very shitty one

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I have the same problem also..the hum is very loud when I turn on my mixer. Could it be the mixer itself? I have a pioneer djm300.

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quote:

Originally posted by don_q Guess you answered yourself But I recc. do not bypass that 3rd leg.

I always try to get my wife not to bypass that 3rd leg.

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What kind of mixer is it? I have a behringer djx700 and i have the same problem. what a piece of shit mixer fuck

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