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Weird noise in the background of my mic recordings

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rzeremaj

rzeremaj

PCHF Member
Apr 8, 2020
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#1
Hi!
I have an issue with my USB microphone. Whenever it is plugged into my PC, no matter how I decrease the levels of gain, there is always this weird crackly noise heard (available here: https://files.fm/u/cajxxvhx ). I tried the microphone with my laptop and it's not so present as with the PC. The regular miniJack microphone works fine...
Please, maybe someone has an idea what could be the case of that super annoying noise? I tried some de-noising ferrite clip-ons on the cable, I tried grounding the PC and still nothing...
 
#3
Hi,

Yes I tried all of them, both front panel and back panel, and both USB 2.0 and 3.0...
I recently realised that this sound is also very slightly audible and it's coming from the case. However, for some reason it's being transferred only via USB recording devices - it's not there via mini Jack, and any other playback devices
 
#6
so it's only the USB connected mic, a 3.5mm mic is fine?
and it's present on all devices you connect the mic to, even if slightly less noticeable?

would that not suggest it is the USB mic and in particular the unshielded cable it probably uses.

I had a similar issue when I connected my 2.1 speakers to my new wall mounted PC.
all the same hardware that previously had no issues but due to the new cable layout, the speakers where picking up electro-magnetic interference.
got a shielded audio cable from the US and all good.

with the audio example you gave, is that the noise you are hearing?
I had to crank my volume to 100% just to hear that slight whirring sound.
so that noise only appears with the USB mic plugged in?
 
#8
Hi!

Sorry for the late response... The sound is audible even if I unplug the microphone from the PC and it seems to be coming from inside. I think this might be the fault of the HDD... I also checked the mic on my girlfriend's Mac laptop, my Windows laptop and the sound in the recordings wasn't there so I guess it's not the mic....
I also recorded the noise one more time so it can be heard more clearly (I don't mean the static noise of course, there is this weird noise as well) - https://files.fm/u/je2tnca7#/
 
#9
agree, it can't be the mic then.
it's not the best of recordings as far as trying to isolate which noise is which.

to rule out fans, push a soft bristled brush into all the fans (don't forget the power supply one and the graphics card if there is one) and see if the noise stops.
otherwise, yeah, I'd be saying it's the hard drive. what type is it? HDD or SDD, and what rpms? if it's the rare super fast 10K rpm type, that could be the noise. but I'd have to say, even if it is the HDD, it just sounds noisy, not bad.
 
#10
It's not the fans either. I recently had a hardware upgrade (the noise was there before the upgrade) and the gpu was completely replaced and all of the fans were either replaced or cleaned...
The HDD is TOSHIBA HDWD110, 7200 RPM.
I have the SSD as well for the operating system and it's ADATA SU800.
I uploaded the noise again, I boosted it this time. https://files.fm/u/xz6755eg#/
The noise I mean is not the ambient, the fan sounds or the static. There is this high pitch sound... (maybe this time it'll be clearer which one I mean)
I'm trying to get rid of it because it somehow impacts the recording and it's impossible to use the recordings in any way...
 
#11
I can hear the constant high pitch 'whistle' (I guess you could describe it as) but that sounds like ambient background noise, or fan noise or static - in other words all the stuff you said to ignore. :)

it still would not hurt to stop each fan in turn and see if they are the source. if for no other reason than to definitively rule them out.
 
#14
I'm sorry for not replying... I ruled out the fans and now I'm waiting for a new drive because the HDD i currently have is dying anyways - so it probably was it's fault all along. I'll let know if that was it and if the noise is gone after I install a new one.
Thanks for the help!
 
#16
This thread will now be closed until the OP can afford to either keep it updated or conclude it, we are here to help not to continually have to ask for an update.

Thread reopened at request of the OP.
 
#17
Hey!

So I tried what you suggested, disconnected the HDD, booted and the noise was still there so that didn't help either. I have a new SSD now, the noise is still here.
I have no idea what can it be... my thoughts are that maybe it's the power supply or the general electricity in my house as I live in a 60-years-old house, in which not all of the wall-outputs are grounded. So maybe it's some kind of resonance from the old installation...
No idea... Nevertheless, thank you for all of your suggestions, if you have any further ideas I'd gladly listen!
 
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