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View Full Version : Removing Buzz From Computer (ground loop issue) ?



andrewzarian
05-14-2012, 07:39 PM
I have been trying to correct this issue for a while. I seem to have a ground loop issue (what I think is a ground loop issue) I have tried a ground look isolator (helped a little but not much). Is there anything else I can do to fix this problem?

alekstef
06-03-2012, 02:20 AM
What kind of cable are you using, and where does the computer output go to? A mixer? Ground loops can be very complicated, but there are a few things you can do to prevent them. For one, I would start by powering all your audio equipment (and all equipment that is connected to the audio devices in some way, i.e. computers etc), from the same circuit. If that does not seem to help, depending on the power connector you use, you could try to put a piece of non-conducting tape over earth. I guess that won't be too easy since you seem to be USA-based. The point is to disconnect earth. This should only be a step in the process of elimination, and not a permanent solution, as earth is generally a good thing. One other thing you could try, is to plug out one device after another to see whether the buzz disappears.

I assume you are getting the audio out from your computer through the mini-jack output. If so, I would suggest that you buy something like the Audibox (http://www.arx.com.au/International/audibox.htm) to get balanced line level audio out.

JaseRossi
06-03-2012, 08:19 AM
Ground loops are the death to me. I have been fighting it for months now it seems. I did finally get rid of the problem. I was running a ground loop isolator from the 1/8 output of the sound card to my mixer and then another one from the 1/4 output of the aux sends back to my Skype machine into the microphone input. I was also using a isolator from my 1/8 sound card output for running my music and bumpers. It worked OK.

It got rid of most of the hum. I finally broke down and bought something called a HumX. You plug your computer into the HumX box and then into the wall.

I had to buy one for each machine but it worked PERFECT! So if you have a problem with audio hum from ground loops it's worth a try. They cost more then the isolators but they worked perfect for me and got rid of 100 percent of the hum.

Here is a link on amazon for it.

http://www.amazon.com/Ebtech-Hum-Voltage-Filter/dp/B0002E4YI8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338736630&sr=8-1

andrewzarian
06-12-2012, 05:48 PM
Those are one of the good ones! I got a few of these http://www.amazon.com/Metra-Ground-Loop-Isolator-T47346/dp/B003YNH17K/ref=sr_1_6?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1339548500&sr=1-6

TommySulivan
07-27-2014, 06:09 PM
I just started a thread before seeing this. What do you do when a ground loop isolator doesnt fix the problem.

mcphillips
07-28-2014, 05:42 AM
Try one of the devices that Jase mentioned. It's expensive but it may be a solution for ground loops that you are not otherwise able to eradicate.