Buzz from my computer.

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MADNESS

Well-Known DJ
Dec 20, 2006
2,293
49
65
Florence, AZ
www.primetimedj.net
I am having a very frustrating issue and can't figure it out. I a running a new gateway computer as my main. Well for about 6 or 7 months. I have a buzz that comes out of the speakers. I have changed all cables to make sure it was not a bad one.

I then started with a nothing plugged in to the mixer and went cable by cables, then began adding devices. First EV mic. No Issues. Then Computer using a Behringer UCA202. There is is. thought my sound card was bad. Been using it for 5 years. Ordered a new one still get the same buzz. I added a humx to it as well and still there. Any ideas?
 
Is the buzz in both speakers? What mixer are you using? Are you using the same channel on the mixer for the computer all the time? Is everything grounded? Powered or Passive?

My first guess would be a bad channel on the mixer I had the same problem a few months back on one of my systems but it could be alot of things
 
I use the Radio Shack interface as suggested by DJ Zinc. I plug it from my Sound Card (Ch 1 and 2) and then to the RCA coming from my Aux channel. No problem. It was purchased several years ago for the Laptop I was using. When I got the new Laptop I forgot to connect it one time and found that I didn't need it. However, I continue to use it for "peace of mind" just in case attitude. LOL!

Also, I purchased a Monster power/distribution supply that has all kinds of "preventers". All my speakers and subs are Active so I plug them into the Monster strip as well. I plug the strip into the wall so everything is covered. On occasion, I do plug the subwoofer directly into a separate wall outlet bypassing the strip for fear of tripping the Reset button. Still no "hum" from the sub.

Another feature that sometimes causes problems is when the Mic control is still open but the mic is shut off...you can hear "pink" noise when music isn't playing. I turn it back to Zero and I'm good.
 
The 3 prong to 2 prong costs all of about 49 cents each.

The ground loop comes into play when you have multiple grounds. So, if your computer power supply has a ground plug on it, and you are connecting it to AC devices, you establish multiple grounds, hence the loop.

There's no fear of needing a ground on the computer, because their power supplies convert AC to DC, so unless you take the power supply into the bathtub, you don't need the ground on the computer.

80-90% of all the outlets here on The Farm are 2 prong, so I use the adapters. I have a box of them... ;)
 
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