EP#04 Testing a Power Conditioner and other solutions to remove electro magnetic interference.

Before investing any money in a hardware solutions, try wiring your setup such that analogue cables stay away from power and high speed (usb) data cables.
Prepare for a unscientific video diary on testing four different solutions to try and remove noise from recording analogue synths. If you can't wait to watch all solutions tested, the Furman M-10x E Power Conditioner and Distributor works for my setup... though it probably also helps to have taken a bit more care with cabling because the most obvious thing to try is to keep unshielded/unbalanced analogue audio cables away from power and high speed usb cables.
Before investing any money in a hardware solutions, try wiring your setup such that analogue cables stay away from anything producing ef-noise. Another tip would be to use different electrical circuits if your setup allows it.
I've kept the Furman Power Conditioner and have been happy with it. You'll need to use it with computer/kettle extension cords as the Furman doesn't have plug outs.
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#recording #conditioning #power

[@DubMonitor]

I've been Googling for hours and this is the best video I've found on this - thank you.

[@GameAudioToolkit]

Hi! Brilliant, thanks for letting me know. Hope it helps you out.

[@killingforreligion]

Did it help for your case ?

[@DubMonitor]

@@killingforreligion Unfortunately not. Still hunting for a solution. I'll figure it out eventually!

[@DubMonitor]

Hey all, I wanted to follow up on this (because I know I appreciate when people do). The ultimate solution I found to my interference problem was to shield the speakers using copper (either copper tape or copper fabric). This appears to have completely eliminated the issue, and I was able to do it quite inexpensively ($15-$30). Clearly this means that the cause of the noise issue was different than this video creators (excellent video, once again), but I thought I'd post this as an alternate solution to anyone else who is stuck.

[@matthewflorianz]

@@DubMonitor agreed- it's so good when people come back and update, so thank you very much and happy to read that you managed a cheaper and workable solution. How did you shield the speakers? Did you wrap the speaker in the fabric?

[@jcvitasaguitar3892]

Thanks. This is the best vid I found about power conditioners vs EMF noise

[@GameAudioToolkit]

Thank you, I am not an expert though so hope you are looking at other sources of information also.

[@aarongabbard]

Best part about this review is that you actually play the sound at the start of the video so people know what that odd ball noise is lol

[@GameAudioToolkit]

Thanks, and yes it wouldn’t make much sense without comparing it, glad to read that was useful. Haven't gotten rid of it in full, but it is largely gone. I don’t know if you know the music of Nils Frahm?kzbin.info On his Music for Animals there a similar sound in one track (opening I think, I have it on repeat all the time). It works beautifully. That’s another way to work with this : )

[@aarongabbard]

@@GameAudioToolkit Believe me I've watched a TON of videos about this issue. You're the first. Oddly the two things that helped me the most is The Pyle HUM Eliminator and Balanced Cables to my Monitors...so much trial and error and poof gone now

[@tyronemckenna2541]

Excellent video and explanation! I had the IDENTICAL noise through two guitar amps and its been driving me nuts. I actually ordered a Furman M-10LX E before seeing your video, and was relieved to see that this resolves the issue. Thank you so much!!

[@GameAudioToolkit]

Wow! That is brilliant news, really glad this worked for you. Thanks for letting everyone here know!

[@GameAudioToolkit]

I wonder if you wouldn’t mind a followup. Did it resolve your issue?

[@hafsteinningason6411]

@@GameAudioToolkit looks like he never thought about it again (not a scientific approach but...)

[@beeka3171]

Very informative video. Thank you, I'm gonna try the Furman !

[@GameAudioToolkit]

I hope it worked out for you?

[@yomix84]

I loved your video, man.

[@GameAudioToolkit]

Thank you! Appreciate it : )

[@someusername121]

I had the exact same noise. Wanna know something wild? I hear the noise on my AC-powered *laptop* when I scroll on my *desktop*. The two are completely unconnected electrically aside from the AC mains. I think it's my desktop GPU power gating like crazy and throwing a ton of noise in to the neutral or something. As soon as I even make contact with the audio-interface USB plug ground, I start hearing the noise. Before +5V or data are even connected.

[@GameAudioToolkit]

Wow, that sound like the old days when we had to manage 16 irq’s for hardware sharing carefully, or indeed hear scrolling on the speakers. Did you manage to find a solution for this?

[@someusername121]

@@GameAudioToolkit I ended up doing a 2 punch. First, an ADUM3160 powered USB dongle that optically couples the USB signals. That seemed to help a lot. Second I found that I did have a massive ground loop created from my laptop to my desktop because I (forgot) that I had my microphone run into both my laptop and desktop. So a ground loop isolator (3.5mm) fixed it right up. Now it's perfectly silent at max amplification. I tried other things previously like AudioQuest doo-dads and AC power filters but none of them made a difference.

[@GameAudioToolkit]

@@someusername121 great detective work on your end, thanks for sharing and showing that there is unfortunately not a single silver bullet solution to these challenges. Glad to read that you have solved it.

[@leo.nordmann]

I think I have the same issue as you had. I'm gonna try the Furman out and see if that helps it.

[@GameAudioToolkit]

Hope it will work out well.

[@killingforreligion]

Did it help for your case ?

[@leo.nordmann]

@@killingforreligion Nope, not at all unfortunately.

[@mrsayang]

NO...a Furman does not help. Here is the proove. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaKpmWSbbNeUsNE

[@GameAudioToolkit]

@@leo.nordmann That is a shame, shows how complex running even a studio setup is. Did you manage to pinpoint any cause for this. I’d be interested to know anything I can add to the description. Don’t want people spend ping money on a solution if it won’t work. Thanks again for sharing your experience!

[@ColocasiaCorm]

It’s not a grounding issue?

[@Spunkbreaker]

I got the same Furman, it helps, but also you should separa audio cables from power cables. And use good cables like the sommer karbo series and neutrik golden pin and you will get even better sound. I gonna upgrate my Furman for a one of the prestige series plus a furutech cable. Thanks for the video

[@GameAudioToolkit]

You are very right and those are some really good tips in your reply - thank you for sharing this information!

[@sphaera3809]

I don’t think power cables will do much to improve anything unless they are shielded. Look at the Furman specs, some of their more expensive offerings don’t seem to offer a significant improvement in filtering AC.

[@Spunkbreaker]

I got new Furman, sound is less picky, and little bit cleaner. Like all in profesional audio, is only a micropart of all the big puzzle.

[@Spunkbreaker]

@@sphaera3809 thank you for the info about the power cables! I will consider buil my own power cables! I got very good audio cables in all my conections but still having the standard power cables in also all my gear...do you think I will notice at least a minimum improvement with shielded power cables? I mean, in all my chain.

[@mrsayang]

Check out how bad a Furman eliminates electrical noise, it is a joke. I wanted to buy a Furman....now I don't want to anymore. Check out THIS video....you will be shocked. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaKpmWSbbNeUsNE

[@sphaera3809]

Very convincing! Thank you for taking the time to share your findings! :-)

[@GameAudioToolkit]

Thank you! Hope it can help you out.

[@metisstudio]

Hello! I think I have an electrical noise problem in my studio. When I want to use my guitar amp or record guitar, I always hear noise at the same frequency (7k hz and above) and harmonics. When I use a microphone, I do not encounter this noise. When I use an analog compressor, there is really very little noise. How do you think I can solve this? Should I use ups or power conditioner? I hear this same sound in guitar amps. Even if I turn off all items such as air conditioner, refrigerator, lamps, I hear this sound.

[@jennyk9601]

thanks man the video has helped me to solve my own issue bc my guitar rack also had annoying noise even with a noisegate and the guiatr volume off bc the noise was from the amps power supply furman solved the issue ;)

[@GameAudioToolkit]

Excellent, glad to read it helped you out and thanks for sharing info.

[@AlessandroLucas]

Thank you! I wonder if I can get rid of noise off my kemper… This seems to be very promising

[@matthewflorianz]

Would advice you to start with cables. For instance, are they near an electromagnetic source? Maybe this is not a one-stop solution for everyone, but as you said, it could work. Good luck and let us know?

[@memeartesanal4276]

I've the same issue with my kemper, this works bro?

[@AlessandroLucas]

Unfortunately I didn’t have the opportunity to test one…

[@GameAudioToolkit]

@@AlessandroLucas shame would be good if you could try one out, it’s not a cheap investment unfortunately.

[@Lorak669]

Hi Thanks for this video. I have recently purchase same furman conditioner. Im waiting for cables. Could you make a short video haw you connect your equipment through the power conditioner outlets please. Im in UK so I have same power sockets. A bit disappointing furman dont provide UK cables and cable patches. I have purchase power conditioner to reduce similar noise. While I'm recording my guitar thorough usb I can hear my mouse when I move it. I hope this furman will resolve the problem. Cheers!

[@GameAudioToolkit]

Hope that the Furman helps you out like it did for me. The cable patches are obtainable through various outlets and I was aware to need them, so ordered a batch. If you search for Computer Extension Cord, IEC320C13 to IEC320C14, or Kettle Lead/Power Cable you should be able to get them. I also got one of these: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B074Q3PKKS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 All good points, I'll add them to the description. Did have a spare Uk Plug and got it to fit the metal contraption with some bending and shaving off plastic (without exposing any conductive bits). You don't have to use it as it's a preventative measure for accidentally pulling out the power cable. Hope it all works for you, don't invest too much in cables till you know for sure it fixes your problem. Finally, I have everything in my chain connected to that same Furman box. Computer, Monitor, speakers, sound-card. Think of microphone, guitar amp etc. all needing to go through the Furman and observe it's maximum draw. Good luck!

[@Lorak669]

@@GameAudioToolkit Thank you so much for response. I really appreciate it.

[@_OopsieDaisies]

Thank you! I just bought the furman ss-6b power strip that i guess isn't quite a conditioner but should filter out interference and i hope it does the trick. after watching this video, if the strip doesn't work, i might have to try the rack version like you used. There's cell towers on the roof of my apartment like 15 feet above me so i might be outta luck but here's hoping!

[@burntkappa6005]

Have any luck with your power strip? Certainly cheaper than the rack models..

[@_OopsieDaisies]

@@burntkappa6005 I feel like it made a bit of a difference but the interference is traveling through the air still. Hopefully I'll be in a new place soon and I'll have a quiet setup :)

[@burntkappa6005]

@@_OopsieDaisies That's unfortunate, hopefully your new place gives you clean sound! I'm fighting something similar right now, I'm going to move soon anyway but trying to solve it in the meantime is annoying. I'll update if I find a fix!

[@andvgeo2253]

any updates?

[@GameAudioToolkit]

@@andvgeo2253 interested too, always appreciate the effort when people update a previous question or finding. Hope it worked.

[@riddlauk]

Hello mate.. ive got a simliar problem with my house wiring causing problem like this with my gaming pc.. my mouse and keyboard lag in shooting games.. im wondering if you know if this will help or fix the issue ? ive brought a mains conditioner like you and it didnt help but the furman helped you ..

[@GameAudioToolkit]

Hi Adam. I am no expert and didn't even realise a relation between power, lag and input can exist as you describe. My problem was audible and measurable and believe it must have come from having different power supplies connecting to each other via the cables running between them. Ie. synth on power supply A, audio card on power supply B, computer on power supply C and cables running between all of them. Furman's are used in studio environments so that was why I invested in getting one as they aren't cheap. So honest answer is that I don't know.

[@datsim_music]

Excellent video! Thanks a lot

[@matthewflorianz_gameaudio]

Thank you, glad it was useful!

[@tcerecords5253]

Are both the PC and keyboard connected into the power conditioner? Or isolated?

[@GameAudioToolkit]

Sorry for late reply, I run everything through it except for the incoming Ethernet cable.

[@ripperthecrooks6428]

Hey i have a similar problem but with heavy metal guitars, noise just creeps in my recordings like that whenever I play, like the noise you would get without a noise gate. Maybe I can send you a file and you can see what I mean? Will a power conditioner solve this?

[@GameAudioToolkit]

Hi - I am no expert in this and got my the from testing and comparing. Are you recording with a computer? In which case try without a PC present and see if the noise is still there? There might be a different reason for you then my (what seemed like an) USB related noise pollution on my system. Alternatively, if there is a return/fair use policy then you could try and buy one and return if it doesn't work? Second hand might be an option too perhaps? Sorry I can't be more helpful.

[@ripperthecrooks6428]

@@GameAudioToolkit yes I record with pc. Uad appollo twin direct hi z input.

[@RARECORDSPH]

i discover mine it is because of a power transformer or any kind of power supply that has a transformer inside. putting it near in audio cables or wires of interfaces cause frequency interference.

[@GameAudioToolkit]

That is a good tip, thanks for sharing. It is possible that it could have been the case for me too, and the process of rewiring/repositioning fixed it. The video is by no means a scientific process. Glad you got it solved!

[@danender5555]

Let that poor curious animal to taste a pure plugged hot power cord, maybe she will notice a difference between conditioned and unconditioned solution.

[@IgorHatesEverything]

This is the only intelligent video I've seen on this sort of thing.

[@GameAudioToolkit]

Thank you, that’s really kind to say. Missed a few things that the commentary has picked up on, thanks all! Well worth reading those too. - I am not experienced in this beyond observations in my setting. Hopefully useful.