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Faint Buzz/Whine from USB-C Interface

MisterGreen

By MisterGreen
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MisterGreen

MisterGreen

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I just got a new interface for my new build and I'm noticing a faint buzz or static coming out of my HS-50's (but strangely, not from my Event TR8's). It gets worse when I move my mouse around. Whether the interface is on or off, it's there. I've isolated it to the USB-C connection. When I unplug the cable, the noise goes away. I've tried 3 different USB-C connections on the computer and even one of the Type A connections with an adapter, with no luck. Also tried unplugging the display power and moving one of the HS-50's away from the computer. Has anyone ever experienced this?

Also, you don't hear it through the headphone outputs; only the speakers.

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MisterGreen

MisterGreen

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4 minutes ago, OutrageProductions said:

You've got electromagnetic field issues which are common in consumer grade audio electronics. Make sure that power & audio/data  cables are not physically laid in parallel, move things around to minimize noise, and use a USB cable with a ferrite choke on it.

Regarding that, none of the cables have moved and this wasn't present with my old PC.

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Amberwolf

Amberwolf

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Presumably the speakers are powered from the wall AC sockets (the headphones wouldn't be), so you may have a ground loop; this would only be audible in the things connected to the wall.

Is the new computer a laptop?  If so, unplug it's ac adapter and see if ti goes away.  if it does, you can get isolation devices for the ac adapter (1:1 transformers that go between it and the wall) that should fix this.

 

If it's a desktop then you don't have the option of unplugging it, but you could move it to the same outlet as the speakers as a test.   

Also, if the interfrace has it's own ac adapter, *that* could be the source of the groundloop.  

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Jim Roseberry

Jim Roseberry

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Ground related noise is super common in a home studio.

To minimize the potential for ground related issues:

  • Start by powering the entire studio from a single outlet.
  • Use gear that has balanced outputs/inputs... and always use balanced cables.

 

To trouble-shoot a ground related issue:

  • Disconnect everything from the audio interface (just connected to the PC via USB)
  • Connect a pair of headphones to the audio interface
  • Turn up the headphone amplifier (be careful with your hearing)... and see if the ground noise is gone

If the ground noise is gone (most likely), the ground issue was with one of the devices that were originally connected to the audio interface.

If the noise is still present, it's almost surely a problem with the USB cable that connects the audio interface (swap out the USB cable).

 

In over 30 years of building DAWs professionally, the PC itself has literally *never* been the source of ground noise issues.

Edited by Jim Roseberry
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MisterGreen

MisterGreen

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Thanks Jim (and others) for the reply. To your points, Jim: Yes, everything is powered by a single outlet. My speakers and monitor are plugged into a Furman conditioner which is plugged in to a UPS. The PC is also plugged into the UPS. All cables are balanced. I'm going to get shorter cables for my HS-50s (which are the only speakers making the noise). Currently 6-foot but can easily use 3-foot. I'm also getting a new, shorter USB-C cable for the interface.

I did unplug both pair of speakers from the interface and no noise can be heard through the headphones. So, it appears to be isolated to the HS-50s.

Also, I am not using the external power supply on the interface.

I'll keep you posted if find the culprit.

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msmcleod

msmcleod

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Not sure if this will help, but I had a ground loop in my live rig at one point that took absolutely ages to track down.... and yes, they were all powered by a single outlet.

The issue was I had two rack cases on top of each other, and the rim of the two cases were touching.  Because some of the rack's had their own case grounded,  it created a ground loop between two or more of the units via the rack ears and the rim of the rack cases.

My fix was a bit of tape (well actually a thin self-adhesive foam strip) over the rim of the cases so the rims didn't touch, but equally I could have used insulated rack screws/washers.

So TDLR - don't just check connections, check what they're screwed into too! 

 The way to troubleshoot is unscrew everything from the rack (but leave them plugged in/connected) and make sure none of the units are touching - if the noise goes away, that's your issue.

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HIBI

HIBI

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On 3/1/2025 at 2:00 AM, MisterGreen said:

It gets worse when I move my mouse around.

This may be off the mark, but if you have a wireless mouse that uses a USB dongle type receiver, this could be the cause. In that case, try moving the USB receiver to a port a little further away (such as the front port).

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MisterGreen

MisterGreen

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18 hours ago, HIBI said:

This may be off the mark, but if you have a wireless mouse that uses a USB dongle type receiver, this could be the cause. In that case, try moving the USB receiver to a port a little further away (such as the front port).

Both mouse and keyboard are wired. Unplugged them both as a test. Sound is still there. Also, tried a different USB-C cable, tried different speaker cables, tried relocating the interface, and unplugged the WiFi antenna and put the PC in airplane mode. No luck.

Also, the sound disappears when the PC is shut down.

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Jim Roseberry

Jim Roseberry

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That sounds like USB related noise (from a poor quality USB cable).

 

Another potential source of noise... is a WiFi Router.

If you've ever played live using wireless mic or wireless in-ear-monitors, you've almost surely encountered Router noise.

It's very rhythmic/consistent.

I've had unshielded guitars (even from the likes of Gibson Custom) that picked up Router noise (my Router is close to my studio desk).

I now have a metal shield in front of my Router (half-baked Faraday Cage).  It cuts down greatly on devices picking up the noise.

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MisterGreen

MisterGreen

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10 minutes ago, Jim Roseberry said:

That sounds like USB related noise (from a poor quality USB cable).

 

Another potential source of noise... is a WiFi Router.

If you've ever played live using wireless mic or wireless in-ear-monitors, you've almost surely encountered Router noise.

It's very rhythmic/consistent.

I've had unshielded guitars (even from the likes of Gibson Custom) that picked up Router noise (my Router is close to my studio desk).

I now have a metal shield in front of my Router (half-baked Faraday Cage).  It cuts down greatly on devices picking up the noise.

Thanks for the info, Jim. I replaced the OEM interface cable with a shorter Anker cable and it's still there. Next will be to get some ferrite beads. I had also disconnected the WiFi antenna from the mobo and it's still there.

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Simeon Amburgey

Simeon Amburgey

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On 2/28/2025 at 12:00 PM, MisterGreen said:

I just got a new interface for my new build and I'm noticing a faint buzz or static coming out of my HS-50's (but strangely, not from my Event TR8's). It gets worse when I move my mouse around. Whether the interface is on or off, it's there. I've isolated it to the USB-C connection. When I unplug the cable, the noise goes away. I've tried 3 different USB-C connections on the computer and even one of the Type A connections with an adapter, with no luck. Also tried unplugging the display power and moving one of the HS-50's away from the computer. Has anyone ever experienced this?

Also, you don't hear it through the headphone outputs; only the speakers.

I had a similar issue with connecting my keyboard to USB and also an outboard interface where I would hear a lot of strange noise and such. At first, I tried the ferrite cores around some of the audio and USB cables.

My solution was to use a USB ground isolator and that took care of the issue right away. Here are a few on Amazon;
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=usb+ground+loop+isolator&crid=2CPDVH0YI7JIX&sprefix=USB+ground%2Caps%2C120&ref=nb_sb_ss_mvt-t9-ranker_1_10

Joyfully yours,
Simeon

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