Dirt in the mic in Port (Maybe)

[Greg Miller]

Originally Posted by Bruce Watson

RF noise can get in a bunch of ways

True. But to clarify, we are not talking here about RF. We are talking about 60Hz (or 50Hz in those "slower" countries) hum from the AC power mains. It, too, can get in many ways, but in this case folks are suspecting a ground loop.

Originally Posted by Bruce Dempsey

Was hoping enerloop had a 9v setup but no luck

The correct spelling is "ENELOOP" a contraction of "energy" and "loop" according to the manufacturer, Sanyo.

Strangely, there does not seem to be a 9V version. Perhaps they feel such a battery would be very difficult to make reliable, because you'd end up charging seven or eight cells in series, and series charging requires the cells to be nearly perfectly matched, or else they do not charge evenly and you end up with greatly diminished capacity. (That's why a charger that charges each cell individually, like the LaCrosse models, is preferable... even compared to one that charges cells in pairs.)

[Bruce Watson]

Originally Posted by Greg Miller

True. But to clarify, we are not talking here about RF.

We can be. I've picked up 60 Hz trash from HMI electronic ballasts. No doubt about the source. The trash wasn't a sine wave, but it was definitely 60 Hz.

There are many ways to contaminate a signal. Hum from ground loops is just one, and the OP said it was "buzz" which leaves the origin open to question.

[Rick Reineke]

A 'buzz' is usually 'EMI' (Electromagnetic interference), which can enter a system in a few ways. Usually cables and/or electronics in close proximity to A/C lines or transformers. In this case, 'lifting' the ground would likely not do much. High quality and 'Star Quad' type mic cables do a better rejecting this interference.. which is certainly not specific to wireless systems.
Audio 101: Mic cables should not be ran alongside power cables and crossed at right-angles. secondly, not be in close proximity to gear with large transformers like power amps. I have even experienced EMI from wall-wart and line-lump power supplies, which are normally not shielded by a metal case.

[Greg Miller]

Buzz, by definition, is not a 60 Hz sine wave. (Or, of course, 50 Hz in those countries.) It includes some amount of harmonic content. For example, it can be as little as the fundamental plus third harmonic (60 Hz + 180 Hz). Or it can include harmonics up into the thousands of Hz. Be that as it may, if the buzz is coupled into the audio signal (by way of poor shielding, ground loops, electromagnetic coupling, and/or electrostatic coupling) it's still audio.

"RF" implies electromagnetic and electrostatic waves being propagated through space, using some sort of antenna structures. The frequency range from 30 Hz to 30 kHz is defined as Super Low, Ultra Low, and Extremely Low Frequency (SLF, ULF, ELF) at the lower end of the RF range. So indeed harmonics of the power line frequency might be considered within the range of frequencies that encompasses RF.

The question then is how the noise is introduced into the audio system. I suppose if you have an unshielded power cable at any distance from an audio input cable, you could consider those two cables to be antennas. You might even make that argument if the two cables are touching each other, because the electrical conductors are separated by some finite distance. But if we're talking about a ground loop problem, then RF propagation isn't involved, (I'd think that in theory it's more of a voltage divider issue) so in that case the term "RF" might not be correct.

When I'm thinking of "RF interference" I more likely am thinking of a high powered radio transmitter, with a frequency significantly about the range of audio frequencies (i.e. much higher than 20 kHz) getting into the audio system, and then being demodulated by some non-linearity in the electronics, which creates an unwanted component within the audio signal. That's entirely different from having a signal within the audio frequency range induced into the system, and being directly audible without any sort of demodulation taking place. But again, that isn't defined with "stone tablet" authority anywhere.

All fine points which probably don't affect the solution to this particular problem.

[Gary Nattrass]

We sometimes use two terms her in the UK:

BUZZ is the description for the RF type of noise that is peaky or can also be a connection fault.

HUMM is the low frequency mains inducted 50/60hz sine wave or can be caused by earth loops.

[Greg Miller]

That's pretty much the same set of terminology I'd use.

HUM is usually just the fundamental power line frequency, or perhaps fundamental plus third harmonic (introduced commonly by 3-phase power wiring systems).

BUZZ contains a lot of higher harmonics. If you look at it on a scope, you no longer see rounded sinusoidal waveforms... it starts to look jagged, perhaps a variant of sawtooth or square wave.

The difference is that I wouldn't describe "Buzz" as "RF type of noise" because in my mind, RF implies a signal that is intended to be transmitted via a radio system (e.g. a wireless mic or a nearby broadcast transmitter) which is accidentally received by some part of the audio system. And "Buzz" can be introduced by a bad or open ground, or by a ground loop (typically at a site where lighting dimmers are in use) rather than being "received" at a distance from the electrostatic field produced intentionally by a radio or TV transmitter.

But, going strictly "by the book" the frequencies in "Buzz" do fall within the lowest end of the "RF" range.

[And in my experience, hum is much more easily removed from a track than is buzz, because you need to filter only a few frequencies with mostly sinusoidal waveforms.]

[Bruce Dempsey]

What a great re-read of the technical reasons for unwanted audio noise
Well it's a year later and the only method to achieve in-camera noise free audio to my new cam, an ax100 is to either use the onboard mics or a wireless mic designed with a 3.5 out to the camcorder a samson al1, am1
However I still need to ingest house audio via xlr.
I've gone battery everything, the rolls mx36 mixer and the camera 100% battery, bought a ground lifted xlr adapter, all to no avail.. Still have very hummy buzzing going on.
Is there a black box or other device which filters out the noise or other simple solution
tks

[Jay Massengill]

It seems like the only item that hasn't changed in your setup is the MX36 mixer.
Do you still get hum if the MX36 is attached to the camera input but there is nothing yet connected to the MX36 from the house mixer?

[Rick Reineke]

I never leave home without a few IL19s.. if I will need to interface with other systems.. especially A/C powered gear. Sescom IL-19 Inline Pro Audio Hum Eliminator THE INDUSTRY STANDARD
I've used them for years.. long before Tower Products (Markertek) acquisition of Sescom . One of the few pieces of useful gear that actually went down in price

[Bruce Dempsey]

no noise what-so-ever when the mixer is turned on and the stereo output from the mixer is plugged into the Mic in on the cameras via a 16" cable.
ditto on the noise level when the samson wireless and a sony 44b lav with its own battery are attached and functioning.
It's finding a way to quietly ingest the audio from the house system (I have 4 venues tested and all are similarly fraught with buzzhumm
I have been attempting to input via an xlr on the mx36 and acccording to the rolls docs "2 xlr balanced inputs for connection to any standard dynamic or condenser mic. The input circutry has a very wide input range and can accommodate almost any (mic ti line) level signal"

will order up a sescom today (fingers crossed)

[Jay Massengill]

I've also read that description in the manual about the wide range of input signal. However on the web page (but not in the manual) it says there are mic/line switches on the inputs as well as the output.
I don't see any switches on the inputs in the photos, but they don't show all the sides or the phantom power switches.
Other than the hum and buzz, does the level of the signal seem ok or is it extremely hot when getting a signal from the house mixer?
Are you certain the phantom power is switched off for the input you're connecting to the house mixer?
Have you tried using the Aux Input jack with a correctly wired cable for a line level signal test?
The illustrations also show a headset mic input, but it's not on the block diagram.
Maybe their claims about the XLR inputs being able to handle line level signals just arent correct.
Good luck with the IL-19. I don't have one of those but I use other transformer isolation boxes.

[Bruce Dempsey]

mic/line switches on the inputs: None that I can find. The only switches on the side are Phantom and they are both in the off position.
The last venue I tried it a couple of weekends ago the signal was so hot from the house system that I could not attenuate it at all. Just blasted in and If I had vu meters they would have been hard over, bending the needles
The headset mic input on the front works fine with the wireless receiver but I have not yet attempted to ingest house sound thu that 3.5

I sent a message to Rolls asking about the slr mic/line switches (you have a good eye as well as a good ear)

Apart from the rolls which has a handy under the camera mount to the tripod, I have a new tascam dp 004 purchased a few years ago but never figured out how to use it however I might soon if the sescom inline hum elimenator fails to quiet things down. or try that passive beachtec under the cam which seems to work in similar situations for those reviewing it on the bh site

[Rick Reineke]

Unfortunately the manual is vague. But I agree with Jay and also suspect the MX36 'Auxiliary' input is for line level input sources. I don't recall seeing an XLR mic/line input w/o some kind of switching.. (I don't see any switch on schematic input stage either)
The manual does however state under the 'CONNECTION'' header on page 6: " Stereo auxiliary sources such as the output from another mixer ...... ... ... be connected to the AUX IN via a stereo 1/8” (3.5mm) Tip-Ring-Sleeve plug."
The specs state it has a maximum input level of +20dB, which is typical for nominal +4dB op level that one would find on a console mixer.

[Bruce Dempsey]

so If I were to use the 3.5 aux in to the mx36 from the house desk what sort of xlr to 3.5 would you suggest ? the Il19 will be here Monday so whatever should have it in line too I presume.
Also wondering about attenuating or adjusting the level of the signal at the aux in jack

[Rick Reineke]

The aux. input on the MX36 mixer appears to be a 'stereo' L/R input and uses a 1/8" TRS connection.
So if a single line output from a PA mixer is balanced, (typically a 1/4" TRS or XLR connector) a custom cable (or plug) would be needed.
The 'hot' terminal, (XLR pin-2 or 1/4" tip) would be connected to both the 1/8" plug's tip and ring. XLR pin-3 or 1/4" ring terminal are tied together and connected to shield/ground. If the cable run is long, put the IL-19 iso transformer at your end of the cable, so the cable run would remain balanced most of the distance.
If the PA mixer's output is unbalanced (typically a 1/4" TS), the tip connection would feed the 1/8" plug's tip and ring. (There's a diagram in the MX36 manual)
The other option is to get a 'line to mic' level attenuation/pad and use an XLR mic input on your MX36 mixer. In this or the unbalanced case the IL19 should not be necessary unless there's a ground loop or other issue.
In all of the scenarios, Phantom Power should be OFF.