Hi,

I'm getting some odd interference or ground loop with my gear at the moment.

I'm getting a high pitch faint whining sound coming through my AE22 monitors and this can get louder when my computer is busy!

I know that the AE22's are not shielded but the weird thing is that this has started to happen since I moved my monitors further away from my computer monitors!?

Recently I got a sub to go with the AE22's so there is double the cable length now which may be the issue?

I've started to remove various wall-wart or line-
lump power supplies, especially any universal voltage types to see if this helps but haven't found a culprit yet!

Over the past week I've been making some backing tracks onto mini discs and today I noticed that this whining noise has come out on them? This hasn't happened before despite this noise being there?
As far as I can tell I've not changed anything so am REALLY confused as to why this may be happening!!???

HELP!!!

In my experience this problem is caused by a ground loop in the USB or Firewire connection between the interface and computer. Sometimes it can be solved by running the interface from a PSU rather than bus power, and with laptops if often goes away if you switch the computer to battery rather than mains operation. Sadly, sometimes the only fix is to change the interface, because although interface designers generally blame the internal grounding inside the computer, some have managed to adapt their designs to avoid the problem while others have not. As a rule this type of noise only affects the monitoring and doesn't come out on the recording so if not too loud you may be able to live with it.

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the reply. I'm using a Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP interface. I've tried powering the interface from the power supply but still have the same problem!

I'm going to try and isolate a few things to see if I can find the cause.

It is weird that I got this noise on the backing tracks I recorded on the minidisc recorder though?

What mobo are you using?

I had the 'whining' hell for over a week and tried every damn thing known to man: changed fw card, changed fw cables, changed and updated graphics drivers, checked every damn cable and so on. I contacted Martin as he is the myth of all things ground loop and we spent a few years trying to resolve it until he found a really useful article on changing certain settings in the bios. I had bought a new pc running the 3g bios and after a couple of settings were changed the noise completely disappeared.
I did find initially that the noise was even worse when running graphics and listening back in WMP. I updated drivers and it did abate it a bit. I changed fw cables and that helped too but the noise was still there. It was only after the bios changes that the noise disappeared.

Just saying it might be worth an eyeball m8.

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Samplecraze
Stretch That Note

Hi,

I'm using a Gigabyte GA EQ45mS2 mobo :-

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3279#ov

I've never delved into the computer bios so this is unknown territory for me!

Also, I am using the Graphics card drivers that came with Windows 7 for my N-Vidia 8400 card.

I've just tried taking all devices that use wall-wart power supplies out and tried moving my interface to a position away from my gear with and without it's power supply. I also tried unplugging my TFT displays but still get the same noise / interference!

When I just turn the interface and speakers on there is no noise. When I turn my computer on and the firewire driver connects to the interface that is when the noise kicks in!

Could this be an issue with the Saffire Pro 24 DSP , computer or both?

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www.richardpenrose.com

I could run you through the bios changes as it is a Gigabyte mobo but if you've never done it before I would be a bit hesitating about doing it.

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Samplecraze
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Quote dickiefunk:

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When I just turn the interface and speakers on there is no noise. When I turn my computer on and the firewire driver connects to the interface that is when the noise kicks in!

---

repeat that stage with Saffire PSU and without Saffire PSU...

is there ANY difference at all?



also, try changing the firewire cable for a brand new one....
they really are fussier and more delicate than people realise....

(see the D'OH moments thread for a post by persuazion for an example)


and make sure the Saffire PSU, all the AE speaker Mains, and the computer are plugged in to the same extension block.... ( this will require a 6 way rather than a 4 way trailing lead)


get someone's laptop and try the same things......

Quote Zukan:

---

I could run you through the bios changes as it is a Gigabyte mobo but if you've never done it before I would be a bit hesitating about doing it.

---

Thanks.

I'm a little hesitant in doing so because I don't want to risk messing up my computer.
If this doesn't sort the problem is it straight forward to return it to it's original settings?
How complicated is it to do this?

Has anyone else come across this problem with a Focusrite Saffire Pro interface? Could there be an interface issue?

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www.richardpenrose.com

Dickie,

I am also using a Saffire and a Gigabyte mobo.

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Samplecraze
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Quote idris y draig:

---

Quote dickiefunk:

---

When I just turn the interface and speakers on there is no noise. When I turn my computer on and the firewire driver connects to the interface that is when the noise kicks in!

---

repeat that stage with Saffire PSU and without Saffire PSU...

is there ANY difference at all?



also, try changing the firewire cable for a brand new one....
they really are fussier and more delicate than people realise....

(see the D'OH moments thread for a post by persuazion for an example)


and make sure the Saffire PSU, all the AE speaker Mains, and the computer are plugged in to the same extension block.... ( this will require a 6 way rather than a 4 way trailing lead)


get someone's laptop and try the same things......

---

Just tried this and still have the same problem but maybe a fraction quieter but am unsure about this.

Could anyone recommend a high quality firewire cable?

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www.richardpenrose.com

Quote Zukan:

---

Dickie,

I am also using a Saffire and a Gigabyte mobo.

---

This is good to know

So I guess apart from trying a new firewire lead it looks like it could be something to do with the mobo's bios?

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www.richardpenrose.com

Could be. Def was for me.

Might be worth doing the bios thingy and then if that doesn't work go back to original settings and try again.

Idris's suggestion of using the powered bus against the Saffire psu is a good start. I did the same thing with no effect but now with the bios changes I can use the psu again with no conflicts.

But Dickie, it's not just the bios. It could be any number of things and graphics drivers, cables and the actual fw card are the first port of calls.

Worst case scenario give me a bell and I will try to run you through the bios business.

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Samplecraze
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Quote Zukan:

---

Could be. Def was for me.

Might be worth doing the bios thingy and then if that doesn't work go back to original settings and try again.

Max's suggestion of using the powered bus against the Saffire psu is a good start. I did the same thing with no effect but now with the bios changes I can use the psu again with no conflicts.

But Dickie, it's not just the bios. It could be any number of things and graphics drivers, cables and the actual fw card are the first port of calls.

Worst case scenario give me a bell and I will try to run you through the bios business.

---

Ok thanks! I'll try a new firewire cable first and update my graphics drivers.

What would be a decent high quality firewire cable?

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www.richardpenrose.com

Hi Zukan. Just one more question if I may.

Was there any side affects or reduction in performance when you made the bios changes?

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www.richardpenrose.com

i get my "mission critical" firewire cables from Lindy


their higher quality premium ones are reliable and pass every test i can think of.... and even at 10 metres (twice as long as firewire is supposed to be capable of) are bullet proof in terms of reliability and compatibility.



http://www.lindy.co.uk/usb-firewire/firewire-cables/6-pin-to-6-pin/


choose the length you need..... don't get longer just because you can.

i'd note that Zukan's Saffire Pro is the older Pro26 , not the same generation of hardware as the Pro24


that said when i tested the pro24 i found no problems like this....


(and i still use the pro40 and pro56, indeed, i'm monitoring thru the Pro40 right this minute, and now i think about it, i've still got another Pro26 floating around somewhere or other.... )

Quote dickiefunk:

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Hi Zukan. Just one more question if I may.

Was there any side affects or reduction in performance when you made the bios changes?

---

No, none at all.

Another thing you can do prior to bios changes etc is to go to Focusrite's website and they have a video tutorial about changing certain preferences in device manager. That can help too. However, as Idris has pointed out, mine is the older 26 i/o and my problem fixing was centred around the older firmware.

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Samplecraze
Stretch That Note

Eddie..... it's Idris.

Sorry



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Samplecraze
Stretch That Note

Yep, I like infinite cassoulet resource (ICR).

Btw, your dragon thingy isn't working m8.

Or do I need to rephrase that?

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Samplecraze
Stretch That Note

Hi df!

Have a read of this PC Notes column of mine from a year ago, since it includes details on how to cure nasty noises with some Gigabyte motherboards by changing a BIOS setting.

www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec09/articles/pcnotes_1209.htm#3

Hope it helps!


Martin

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YewTreeMagic

Quote Martin Walker:

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Hi df!

Have a read of this PC Notes column of mine from a year ago, since it includes details on how to cure nasty noises with some Gigabyte motherboards by changing a BIOS setting.

<a href="/sos/dec09/articles/pcnotes_1209.htm#3" target="_blank">www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec09/articles/pcnotes_1209.htm#3</a>

Hope it helps!


Martin

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Hi Martin,

I just looked at this and noticed that the ‘C1E CPU Enhanced Halt state’ is already disabled!?

I'm getting this noise coming out when I record to my mini disc player aswell!?

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www.richardpenrose.com

Hi Zukan,

Was this disable the ‘C1E CPU Enhanced Halt state’ change that you made in the bios?

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www.richardpenrose.com

I made a few changes: C1, C3, C4, C5, C6 and C7.

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Samplecraze
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Quote Zukan:

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I made a few changes: C1, C3, C4, C5, C6 and C7.

---

Ah right! Could you let me know what changes you made exactly?

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www.richardpenrose.com

I'll have to restart my pc and get in the bios but I think I disabled C3,6 and 7 as a start and then checked again to see if it worked.

I can't restart the pc now as I have an ongoing upload taking place.

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Samplecraze
Stretch That Note

I've just done the optimization suggestions from the Focusrite website and still have this odd high pitch whining noise!

I noticed that when wiggling the jack plugs on the Saffire's outputs this can cause the noise to increase?

Zukan,

Will you have a chance to let me know what the changes you made in the bios were?

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www.richardpenrose.com

Am about to give a class Dickie.

If tomorrow is good we can Skype and go through it?

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Samplecraze
Stretch That Note

Ok Zukan.

I'm pretty much narrowing it down to either the computer or interface now!

I've just realized that my mobo is using the drivers that came with Windows 7 so I'm going to download all the latest drivers and bios for my motherboard to see if that makes any difference?

What are your thoughts on this?

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www.richardpenrose.com

Should I install all the drivers + bios for my motherboard or should I only install a few?

Also, should I install the latest bios FD? :-

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3034#bios

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www.richardpenrose.com

Not sure Dickie as I didn't update my bios. Mind you my pc was pretty new to start with.

Before you start flashing the bios check to make sure everything will work fine with the updates.

In terms of drivers etc. I would use generic drivers and update those. Graphics might be an issue as I had trouble with my new screen.

I am not the man to ask these question Dickie. Martin' the myth for this so I think I will move this to the pc forum so others can help you re the bios updates.

I am always ready to guide you through the bios changes re the FW issue so feel free to PM me your skype details and I will call you later.

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Samplecraze
Stretch That Note

Quote Zukan:

---

Before you start flashing the bios check to make sure everything will work fine with the updates.

In terms of drivers etc. I would use generic drivers and update those. Graphics might be an issue as I had trouble with my new screen.

---

Hi Zukan,

What do you mean by flashing the bios and generic drivers?

Quote Zukan:

---

I am not the man to ask these question Dickie. Martin' the myth for this so I think I will move this to the pc forum so others can help you re the bios updates.

I am always ready to guide you through the bios changes re the FW issue so feel free to PM me your skype details and I will call you later.

---

I'll try the drivers update etc first if anyone can help me with what I should and shouldn't be updating?
If this doesn't work then I'll be in touch to go through the bios changes.

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www.richardpenrose.com

Hi Martin,

What would you suggest I do next?

Should I install the latest drivers and bios for my mobo instead of using the ones that came with Windows 7?
If yes, should I install everything or update particular drivers?

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www.richardpenrose.com

Hi DF!

Just follow the detailed advice I gave back in March 2007 in ‘Installing A Windows OS From Scratch’, which covers BIOS and driver updates among everything else:

www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar07/articles/pcmusician_0307.htm


Martin

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YewTreeMagic

Hi Martin,

Thanks for the reply and info.

I had an email from Gigabyte recommending that I update the bios on my motherboard so will have a good read of your article and report back soon!

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www.richardpenrose.com

Right well I've just updated the bios and the chipset drivers to the latest version and am still getting this problem!!

HELP!!

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www.richardpenrose.com

I've been doing a little more research and there seems to be a few people reporting this problem with Seasonic PSU's and Gigabyte motherboards!?

There were also reports of problems with Corsair PSU's made by Seasonic!

I currently have a Corsair HX450 power supply and am thinking it may be worth trying a different power supply?

Thing is I would like a quieter PSU than my current one and the ones I was originally planning on upgrading to at some point were the Seasonic X400 or X460.
If there seems to be some issues with Gigabyte mobo's and Seasonic PSU's this has put me off!

Not sure what else to go for?

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www.richardpenrose.com

Buy this one

http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/HD400.aspx

and put it between your soundcard and monitors.

best