Another Type Of Humming Sound Problem
 

:?
I have a Ruggedized Laptop™ Computer With Video Hoster® Software, and just had my first paying gig. (Thanks again to everyone who helped out by answering my many pre-gig questions!) At the onset of the gig I had a MAJOR humming sound problem that seemed to be caused by my brand-new amplifier (Crown XLS 202 DJ XLS202Dw/200 watts in each channel at 8 ohms).

My Crown amp was working perfectly fine when it was at my home, however, after being transported less than 5 miles away a horrible humming sound kicked in. After quite a bit of troubleshooting (component to component wires, speakers wires, laptop wires, etc.) I gave up. Luckily a spare amp was available. After replacing the Crown AMP with an (over 20 year old) Audionic of Oregon CC-2 APM (117 VAC 60 HZ 4 AMP Bridge Mono CHA 80 OHM MIN) the problem went away, however, the output sound was no where as good as when I was home using the Crown AMP. After the gig I went home to re-engage the Crown AMP and everything worked perfectly.

Just wondering if the establishment’s power source could have been the problem as the performance took place in a newly added building addition that had numerous Keno machines, flat screen TVs mounted on the walls and a juke box. (I tried plugging the Crown AMP directly into the wall outlet with no luck.)

Any and all advice greatly appreciated.

Gwen

Gwen this is exactly the same problem as what you had with the laptop. Regardless of which piece of equipment it is showing up in it is still a ground loop problem. Get a large enough Surge Protector extension cable, plug all your equipment into it and then use the Radio Shack or the other item listed in your other thread.

Thanks a ton!

also you shouldnt have your computer volume cranked all the way up.

i usually go a little above half.

I don't agree with you Beavis. I run my computer volume at full and my amp at about 80%. I control the output level through my mixer and equalizer (limiter built-in). If I ran my computer at 50% I would have a hard time picking it up and controlling it with the mixer.

I run my windows faderes one line below full volume on the "Volume Contorl" volume (or main volume) and on the "Wave" volume. This assures I get a good signal level with no internal distortion which can happen if the sound card is not up to snuff (low quality).

My 2 cents.

Jim :g

i do the same, have my laptop full volume, my boards fader is at unity gain, and the gain knob is at 12 o'clock and the channel fader is at around a line under the unity line, and my powered speakers is at 12 o'clock too..when i used to used my amp its at full volume..

Ditto " " :)

I bought one of these and all the audio equipment and the laptop get plugged into it:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Furman-M...99-i1389441.gc

I also bought one of these and it goes between the soundcard out on the laptop and the mixer:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Rolls-HE...47-i1124895.gc

No hum- ever, now.