New to Hoster and forum

[rkk1]

I have just started using Hoster after doing things the "old fashion" way for 18 yrs. I know just enough about computers to get myself in trouble. I have experienced the "hum" at certain venues and I ordered the hum eliminator. My question is will this also help sound quality? At these same venues which are older bars the songs seem to fade a bit. This happens on the karaoke music as well as audio music added to the playlist

[ddouglass]

Your hum problem comes from a lack of good ground for the building. Older buildings did not have 3 prong plugs when built and so didn't have a ground on any of the circuits. They may have added newer 3 prong outlets but may not have added the 3 wire wiring.
In those locations you will need to use the 3 wire to 2 wire converters. You can find these in your hardware store.
On your second problem can you explain this a little more in detail? Are you saying the music in the older bars is lower volume than the newer ones or are you saying the music tends to fade in and out?
If it is that the volume seems lower, then this is probably an acoustic problem and an equalizer may help with that.
If it is that the music is changing volume level as in going up and down, then this is a power problem and you may damage your equipment playing there. The only thing I could think of that would help would be a battery back-up for everything. That would level out the power and keep your equipment from being damaged by the up and down swing of the incoming power.

[billyo]

i have cables that has a built in noise/hum supressor, not sure where i got it from, and i've been trying to look for the same cable for a while,i couldnt find anyone that sells it, but these cables are what i used now on my gears in a custom built dj coffin all wired into a custom built surge protector, and my mackie powered speakers, and havent heard any hum since..i have used a 2 channel hum/noise supressor and it didnt help any, till i found these cables..

[rkk1]

Thanks for the reply. I have used my laptop for my regular music for years and I use to use a traktor program to mix the music. I up graded to a new Dell Studio with windows 7 and the traktor program was not compatible. That is what led me to Hoster because I could use both audio as wells as karaoke. I also use the media player to play regular music. I only have the fade problem when I use Hoster and it doesn't seem to be all the time.

[ddouglass]

How is it fading? Are you talking about at the beginning and/or at the end of each song?

[rkk1]

During the entire song. The volume seems to fade in and out. I thought at first it was some songs I downloaded from napster then I noticed it on some of the karaoke songs as well as regular cd's I downloaded on the computer.

[marklwood]

rkk1, are you using a laptop? Are you coming out of the headphone out?

The reason I ask is that sometimes that can cause problems. If I use my laptop, I always use an external USB soundcard with RCA outputs to the mixer. This goes a long way to cleaning up the sound. Just one example
http://www.amazon.com/IKEY-AUDIO-ICO.../dp/B002MFBVGI I use a similar item from soundblaster. Some mixers even have a USB input with a sound card in them.

Then all you have to worry about is the ground hum from the amp. The isolator you ordered will more than likely take care of that. As far as the "fade" you were talking about. The venu may have some power issues. If the service is already overloaded (most are) and you have, for instance, a cooling compressor going out, it will even dim the lights when it kicks on. In that case, a power conditioner or an uninterruptable power suppy (UPS) will be necessary to protect your equipment.

[rkk1]

Yes I use a laptop and yes I'm coming out of the headphones

[marklwood]

Originally Posted by rkk1

Yes I use a laptop and yes I'm coming out of the headphones

For the time being, you can also turn the headphone volume on your computer down as low as possible. This is a powered out (it drives the headphone speakers) running to a line level input on your mixer. By turning down the volume as far as you can get away with, you will reduce the power (and noise) running to your mixer.

[billyo]

Originally Posted by marklwood

For the time being, you can also turn the headphone volume on your computer down as low as possible. This is a powered out (it drives the headphone speakers) running to a line level input on your mixer. By turning down the volume as far as you can get away with, you will reduce the power (and noise) running to your mixer.

i am having second thoughts about your suggestion, not that it wont work, nor i'm criticising it, my question is if you turned down the headphone volume, you then have to turn up your board and in my opinion that will make the board work harder to reach or make your speakers work to its peak ( harder ) , correct me if i'm wrong ,what i do was i have my laptop volume high which is connected to one of the boards line in channel,and my board main volume is up to the unity gain, my speakers ( powered ) are on 12'oclock, and i just turned the channels gain down where my laptop is connected , works for me i havent heard a hum/noise for a while now..