Help Me! My Laptop Is Buzzing!!

I'm sure many of you laptop users have encountered this problem when hooking up your computer to your system. If the laptop is running on battery power than all is well, but as soon as you plug in the power you start to hear a buzzing coming from your speakers. What you are hearing is a ground loop (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_loop_(electricity)) and can easily be rectified.

Sometimes this problem is cleared up with the use of a power conditioner. It may also be cleared up by plugging the laptop into a different circuit then the rest of your audio gear.

What you would like to buy is a Ground Loop Isolator. (http://www.radioshack.com/sm-see-all-needs-and-wants--pi-2062214.html) Simply place this device between your mixer audio source and mixer. It looks like



http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pRS1C-2160121w345.jpg



There are a number of other ways to correct the problem if need be. Some are safe, some aren't. You can actually connect a ground wire to your laptop but I'm sure you don't want to do that. If you REALLY are in a pinch you can use a ground loop adapter (those little adapters that allow you to plug a 3 prong plug into a 2 prong socket) or remove the ground pin from the computer plug. These are NOT safe ways to rid your system of the problem. Will they work? Yes. Can they kill you with a static shock? Of course. Do you REALLY want to play with electricity? Below is a picture of a ground loop ADAPTER. Don't confuse a ground loop isolator and a ground loop adapter. This is what you DON'T want.

http://www.epanorama.net/documents/groundloop/cheater.gif

BTW, if you need to use the ground loop adapter then make sure you have one on any external hard drives you use as well. I am NOT endorsing the use of ground loop adapters OR removing the round pin. I'm simply letting you know that these quick fixes do work and are commonly suggested as fixes across these boards.

Do yourself a favor and purchase a $20 ground loop isolator and fix your problem.

Here's some more reading if you want to learn the dangers. (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.epanorama.net/documents/groundloop/cheater.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.epanorama.net/documents/groundloop/problem_solving.html&h=151&w=150&sz=4&hl=en&start=37&tbnid=VAQ1DGs_GoITtM:&tbnh=96&tbnw=95&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dground%2Bloop%2B%26start%3D20%26ndsp% 3D20%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff%2 6sa%3DN)

Once I cleaned my laptop with alcohol. It was buzzed for a couple of hours.




.

YBDJ - I've read that the radio shack solution can degrade the audio signal...I have a DTI ground loop isolator..$40....it takes unbalanced to balanced (you could run your laptop right to your powered speakers....etc.

I'm with you on that one Steve, time and time again we have ran into many deliquint issues with the ground loop isolators from Radio Shack. Having a properly set up system can avoid the need for one of these isolators. However there are things that you just can't avoid such as dimmed lights, or faulty wiring.

YBDJ - I've read that the radio shack solution can degrade the audio signal...I have a DTI ground loop isolator..$40....it takes unbalanced to balanced (you could run your laptop right to your powered speakers....etc.


Thanks Steve. Just trying to get the word out on the correct way to fix the audio buzz.

I use the Ebtech Hum X filter (http://ebtechaudio.com/humxdes.html) on both my DJ system and my home surround system. Like the DTI unit, it safely gets rid of the hum without affecting the signal's volume or frequency response.

I use the Ebtech Hum X filter (http://ebtechaudio.com/humxdes.html) on both my DJ system and my home surround system. Like the DTI unit, it safely gets rid of the hum without affecting the signal's volume or frequency response.


I agree with Bryan! I have been using this and it works great...thx

Chris- just adding to the mix...I mentionerd the DTI simply for the other advantages as well as eliminating the ground loop noise. There is a nother device: it's name escapes me...Its an isolator but also gives the ability to plug a mic in....adjustable gains

Let's assume that I have everything plugged into a Furman power conditioner. If I add one of these hum eliminators to the end of the power conditioner will it eliminate the hum from everything and anything plugged into the conditioner, or do I need to first isolate the source of the hum and plug this onto the end of that particular piece of equipment?

good question fuzz, i'd like to know the answert to that one too.

Ahhhh! My cd players don't buzz!:sqwink:

Ahhhh! My cd players don't buzz!:sqwink:


I also have CD players. :sqcool:

Let's assume that I have everything plugged into a Furman power conditioner. If I add one of these hum eliminators to the end of the power conditioner will it eliminate the hum from everything and anything plugged into the conditioner, or do I need to first isolate the source of the hum and plug this onto the end of that particular piece of equipment?
I will let you know next week end. I am going to try it. I just got the ebtech hum x today and amd going to run it off my furman next Saturday.

Let's assume that I have everything plugged into a Furman power conditioner. If I add one of these hum eliminators to the end of the power conditioner will it eliminate the hum from everything and anything plugged into the conditioner, or do I need to first isolate the source of the hum and plug this onto the end of that particular piece of equipment?

Ground loop must be eliminated from the source and it is quite possible to have more than one occurance of it in some situations. If the problem is a larger potential variance between components, then all of the HumX in the world will not resolve the issue; you will need to also use a transformer type inline GLI.

Charles would a DTI ground loop isolator work?

Let's assume that I have everything plugged into a Furman power conditioner. If I add one of these hum eliminators to the end of the power conditioner will it eliminate the hum from everything and anything plugged into the conditioner, or do I need to first isolate the source of the hum and plug this onto the end of that particular piece of equipment?

Yup. I have seen buzzing go away by making sure my laptop and audio AND LCD projector are all through the same power conditioner or at least the same circuit. Dunno if this what helps, but my system is clean...(and not the best name brand either...)

Charles would a DTI ground loop isolator work?

Steve,

Yup, the DTI isolates ground loops from between audio components and it is possible to use the DTI in stereo or as two separate channels to eliminate two instances of ground loop hum. The DTI and GLIs like it are made for eliminating it from occuring between components. The HumX works for poorly sheiled / imporperly grounded circuits and eliminates the possibility of ground loop hum there as well as the better power conditioners with line filtering.

Yep I also use the Hum X here is a pic.

A more long term solution is to replace the laptop sound card. Even better is to simplify the amount of equipment in your rack.

Built in laptop sound cards are junk. I've never seen one with 1/4 output jacks. Most cases, they're an analog devices AC97 card, or part of the NB chipset. They're great if you're watching a movie on headphones on a plane, but once you start plugging into high end AMP and mixers, it's time to ditch that junk. You spend tons of money on your mixer, speakers, amps and laptop. Why not spend a few extra bucks on a decent laptop sound card?

http://www.etcetera.co.uk/products/images/EMU035p.jpg

1616m from emu

First off, let me say i'm an emu fanboy. Let's make this perfectly clear.. The emu has a ton of 1/4 inputs, 2 XLR's and RCA with a ground screw (for turntables) and optical in/out. With all these inputs/outputs you can route everything through the EMU. You can ditch at least 2 pieces of equipment by doing this.

You can ditch your mixing boards. The EMU has a built in mixer program called patchmix.

You can ditch your effects boxes. The 1616m has tons of effects like reverb and delay that can be chained together to make new effects. Any effects the EMU doesn't have can easily be found in the world of audio VST plugins(I happen to use a software pitch changer for my DVD and laserdisk drives).

Even if you can't live without the faders on your mixer, you can still route everything through a 1616m and a regular mixer. Or do as I do, and use a midi controller like this peavey 1600x to control the mix digitally through the EMU.
http://synthmod.net/peavey/1600_paint/nord_1600.jpg

Either way, a more professional soundcard will eliminate hum, and open your mixing up to all kinds of fun things.

Colleagues : Has there been some great innovative suggestions here or what?? Thanks for the education.

One topic not being covered is the proper procedure for troubleshooting or isolating the cause of the hum first, before applying medication.

Part of the service I provide clients when they make their BOSE L1 purchase with me, it to do a step by step analysis of what they have now, beginning with the L1 itself which often takes the better part of an hour. Most often, the noise culprit is not a piece of equipment, it's a faulty cable or cord or power conditioner or AC adapter.

Unless you have isolated the specific illness and treated it directly, some of these wonderful noise solutions may be covering up a more significant and potentially fatal problem.

Ground loops can occur anywhere, without any single piece of gear being "defective".

Audio, video, control, and computer gear do not all use the same internal grounding schemes. Thus when you connect that computer or video rack to your mixer - you get a buzz.

There are three places you can get a loop - and they can all occur at the same time and even interact wth each other. (Ever done somethig that makes the hum weaker - but won't eliminate it?)

Sometimes, if you're lucky the strength and tone of the buzz will give away it's precise source.

Loops can originate in your AC lines, typically when you interconnect gear powered from diferent AC sources.

Plugging everything into the same outlet usually solves this. However, if you need more than one outlet to power your system - you don't have that option. Use the Hum-X, lift a ground, or get a distro.

Loops can originate between components with different internal grounding schemes.

Say your audio uses a floating ground, and your video has a chassis ground - plugging into the same outlet or lifting the Ac ground probably won't help you. Use the DTI or similar GLI to break the loop. You can even try a direct box in a pinch if you have an available mic input.

Loops can occur in your coax video lines.

This shows up as vertical rolling bars in in your video signal, and like the audio you have to isolate the mismatched components completing the loop. RF leakage or interference will produce a herringbone pattern.

Loops can occur along your rack rails

If you cannot solve this by isolating either or both the signal and electrical grounds you have no choice but to also remove the offending gear from the rack or insulate it from the rails with nylon bushing/washers and/or screws. You also have to be certain it isn't touching any adjacent piece of gear, and don't let your hands cpmlete the lopp either!

Pro, I had that last issue with the loop in my rack rails, electricians tape and nylon screws and washers did the trick!

Nice post.

Ahhhh! My cd players don't buzz!:sqwink:


RIGHT ON! Did I ever tell you that yer my favorite?