Computer noises through speakers at DVinfo.net

Vincent Oliver · January 13th, 2014, 04:15 AM

I have a Firestudio Mobile external sound card which uses the Firewire port, whenever I move the mouse or open a new screen I get a rustling noise from my speakers. It is very annoying, last week I purchased the Focusrite 214 (USB) in the hope that the problem would be cured, alas no such luck, I still get the same rustling noise when windows open or mouse movement. Does anyone have a cure for this.?

Many thanks in anticipation or a solution.

Gary Nattrass · January 13th, 2014, 04:32 AM

A lot of computers do this and it is mostly the cheap and nasty sound card built into them which also has an unbalanced output.

I managed to cure this by using my blackmagic HD card to output the audio in balanced line level to my digidesign desk which then feeds my monitor amp.

Jay Massengill · January 13th, 2014, 06:26 PM

Please describe precisely the audio chain from your computer to your speakers and how they are powered.

Vincent Oliver · January 14th, 2014, 03:53 AM

Thank you Gary and Jay for your feedback and interest.

Jay,

I have the Presonus Firestudio mobile which uses the Firewire port and the Focusrite Scarlet 2i4 which uses the USB port. I am using the TRS (balanced) connection for my Yamaha monitor speakers. Nothing more complicated than that. The CPU noise happens when I move the mouse or open a window or open a web page with lots of images. If I use the power adapter with the Firestudio then the noise is virtually eliminated, the Focusrite uses power from the USB port.

Jay Massengill · January 14th, 2014, 07:35 AM

When you monitor your interfaces from their headphone jacks using good headphones do you also hear the noises from the computer?

Also, where do you have your interfaces located physically in relation to the computer and its monitor?

Vincent Oliver · January 14th, 2014, 07:48 AM

Hi Jay,

No, both the FireStudio and Focusrite are totally silent with Headphones attached ( Sennheiser HD 25)

The computer is under the desk and the interfaces are approx 4 foot away.

Jay Massengill · January 14th, 2014, 08:34 PM

Next I would connect the audio line outputs from the interface to some other audio device like a recorder or a mixer that you can also monitor with headphones. If that's clean then it has to be your speakers or their AC power connection in relation to the computer AC power, or the precise location of the audio cables going into the speakers in physical proximity to your computer or computer monitor.

If that test has noise, then it could be your cables are bad or aren't wired correctly for a balanced connection.

Which Yamaha speakers do you have? And what type of computer monitor?

Vincent Oliver · January 15th, 2014, 03:48 AM

Jay, I have just had a "Doh" moment and looked at the cables I see that I am using unbalanced jacks, i.e. only two contacts per plug. Do you think using a Balanced TRS cable will cure the problem? or should I be using that anyway? I did think I was using TRS cables as previously stated in an earlier post, I guess we shouldn't always assume without checking first.

Jay Massengill · January 15th, 2014, 07:22 AM

Balanced cables are certainly worth a try, it might solve the problem easily.

Vincent Oliver · January 15th, 2014, 07:30 AM

I have ordered a pair of Balanced cables, will let you know if they cure the problem.

Steve House · January 15th, 2014, 09:02 AM

Just FYI, the computer noise could actually be radiated from the monitor or the monitor cable as well as the CPU. Also, not all speakers are well shielded and they could be picking up the RF directly.

Vincent Oliver · January 15th, 2014, 09:06 AM

I will experiment with the placement of the speakers or monitor and see what happens, I am putting all my hopes into the Balanced cable option, fingers crossed.

Vincent Oliver · January 16th, 2014, 04:43 AM

The balanced cables option didn't work, just tried them. I also tried putting in a dedicated USB & Firewire card, again not a solution. I am stumped.

Jay Massengill · January 16th, 2014, 07:42 AM

What type of computer video monitor do you have?

Do you have any other device you can connect your interface to with your new balanced cables, and monitor that device with headphones to make sure the problem starts happening when the signal reaches your speakers and not before?

I don't know if this would work, it really shouldn't be needed, but plugging your speakers AC power into a line filter like this one:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/651629-REG/Gefen_GTV_PLC_FEU_GTV_PLC_FEU_Power_Line_Filter.html

Can you connect your audio interfaces to your speakers (sitting in the exact same spot) but running from a different computer like a laptop? Then confirm that signal path is clean independently. Next move the mouse and open up some windows on your main computer and listen if that still induces the sound on your independently connected speakers.

Jens Korsgaard · January 16th, 2014, 09:41 AM

I reckon the balanced cables might fix this, however, just out of curiosity, can you give us a little more information as to the computer specs? For instance, do you have a wireless lan card or the like installed? Its rare, but some of the added PCI components can cause the effect you are describing. I've had it happen more than once on different setups.

Also, just to be sure, have you completely turned off the onboard soundcard device? I realize that the firewire likely overrule whichever soundcard you have, but from time to time the onboard card will act up, if not turned off entirely.

Again, I doubt its any of those, but those are easily checked while you wait for the cables to arrive!

January 13th, 2014, 04:15 AM	#1
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	Computer noises through speakers I have a Firestudio Mobile external sound card which uses the Firewire port, whenever I move the mouse or open a new screen I get a rustling noise from my speakers. It is very annoying, last week I purchased the Focusrite 214 (USB) in the hope that the problem would be cured, alas no such luck, I still get the same rustling noise when windows open or mouse movement. Does anyone have a cure for this.? Many thanks in anticipation or a solution. __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

January 13th, 2014, 04:32 AM	#2
Gary Nattrass Trustee Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cornsay Durham UK Posts: 1,992	Re: Computer noises through speakers A lot of computers do this and it is mostly the cheap and nasty sound card built into them which also has an unbalanced output. I managed to cure this by using my blackmagic HD card to output the audio in balanced line level to my digidesign desk which then feeds my monitor amp. __________________ Over 15 minutes in Broadcast Film and TV production: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1044352/

January 13th, 2014, 06:26 PM	#3
Jay Massengill Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burlington Posts: 1,976	Re: Computer noises through speakers Please describe precisely the audio chain from your computer to your speakers and how they are powered.

January 14th, 2014, 03:53 AM	#4
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	Re: Computer noises through speakers Thank you Gary and Jay for your feedback and interest. Jay, I have the Presonus Firestudio mobile which uses the Firewire port and the Focusrite Scarlet 2i4 which uses the USB port. I am using the TRS (balanced) connection for my Yamaha monitor speakers. Nothing more complicated than that. The CPU noise happens when I move the mouse or open a window or open a web page with lots of images. If I use the power adapter with the Firestudio then the noise is virtually eliminated, the Focusrite uses power from the USB port. __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

January 14th, 2014, 07:35 AM	#5
Jay Massengill Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burlington Posts: 1,976	Re: Computer noises through speakers When you monitor your interfaces from their headphone jacks using good headphones do you also hear the noises from the computer? Also, where do you have your interfaces located physically in relation to the computer and its monitor?

January 14th, 2014, 07:48 AM	#6
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	Re: Computer noises through speakers Hi Jay, No, both the FireStudio and Focusrite are totally silent with Headphones attached ( Sennheiser HD 25) The computer is under the desk and the interfaces are approx 4 foot away. __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

January 14th, 2014, 08:34 PM	#7
Jay Massengill Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burlington Posts: 1,976	Re: Computer noises through speakers Next I would connect the audio line outputs from the interface to some other audio device like a recorder or a mixer that you can also monitor with headphones. If that's clean then it has to be your speakers or their AC power connection in relation to the computer AC power, or the precise location of the audio cables going into the speakers in physical proximity to your computer or computer monitor. If that test has noise, then it could be your cables are bad or aren't wired correctly for a balanced connection. Which Yamaha speakers do you have? And what type of computer monitor?

January 15th, 2014, 03:48 AM	#8
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	Re: Computer noises through speakers Jay, I have just had a "Doh" moment and looked at the cables I see that I am using unbalanced jacks, i.e. only two contacts per plug. Do you think using a Balanced TRS cable will cure the problem? or should I be using that anyway? I did think I was using TRS cables as previously stated in an earlier post, I guess we shouldn't always assume without checking first. __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

January 15th, 2014, 07:22 AM	#9
Jay Massengill Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burlington Posts: 1,976	Re: Computer noises through speakers Balanced cables are certainly worth a try, it might solve the problem easily.

January 15th, 2014, 07:30 AM	#10
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	Re: Computer noises through speakers I have ordered a pair of Balanced cables, will let you know if they cure the problem. __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

January 15th, 2014, 09:02 AM	#11
Steve House Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,742	Re: Computer noises through speakers Just FYI, the computer noise could actually be radiated from the monitor or the monitor cable as well as the CPU. Also, not all speakers are well shielded and they could be picking up the RF directly. __________________ Good news, Cousins! This week's chocolate ration is 15 grams!

January 15th, 2014, 09:06 AM	#12
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	Re: Computer noises through speakers I will experiment with the placement of the speakers or monitor and see what happens, I am putting all my hopes into the Balanced cable option, fingers crossed. __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

January 16th, 2014, 04:43 AM	#13
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	Re: Computer noises through speakers The balanced cables option didn't work, just tried them. I also tried putting in a dedicated USB & Firewire card, again not a solution. I am stumped. __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

January 16th, 2014, 07:42 AM	#14
Jay Massengill Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burlington Posts: 1,976	Re: Computer noises through speakers What type of computer video monitor do you have? Do you have any other device you can connect your interface to with your new balanced cables, and monitor that device with headphones to make sure the problem starts happening when the signal reaches your speakers and not before? I don't know if this would work, it really shouldn't be needed, but plugging your speakers AC power into a line filter like this one: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/651629-REG/Gefen_GTV_PLC_FEU_GTV_PLC_FEU_Power_Line_Filter.html Can you connect your audio interfaces to your speakers (sitting in the exact same spot) but running from a different computer like a laptop? Then confirm that signal path is clean independently. Next move the mouse and open up some windows on your main computer and listen if that still induces the sound on your independently connected speakers.

January 16th, 2014, 09:41 AM	#15
Jens Korsgaard New Boot Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Aalborg, Denmark Posts: 10	Re: Computer noises through speakers I reckon the balanced cables might fix this, however, just out of curiosity, can you give us a little more information as to the computer specs? For instance, do you have a wireless lan card or the like installed? Its rare, but some of the added PCI components can cause the effect you are describing. I've had it happen more than once on different setups. Also, just to be sure, have you completely turned off the onboard soundcard device? I realize that the firewire likely overrule whichever soundcard you have, but from time to time the onboard card will act up, if not turned off entirely. Again, I doubt its any of those, but those are easily checked while you wait for the cables to arrive!