JesterPilgrim Posted July 16, 2022 Share Posted July 16, 2022 Hi folks. I'm getting really bad quality audio when using the USB from Catalyst as an audio device. I have a Helix LT which sounds perfectly clean when I use exactly the same cables and settings, but from the Catalyst I get a high-pitch whine, and the guitar signal that comes through is all messed up until I adjust all the buffer settings in my DAW. Anyone else having this issue? I'm using Catalyst 100 into an Intel Macbook Pro running Mainstage or Logic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted July 16, 2022 Share Posted July 16, 2022 You have a USB ground loop. Disconnect your other USB cables from the computer until you locate the source of the USB ground loop. It'll probably be your Helix, especially likely if it's connected to the Cat in any way. Anything that in any way gets interconnected with anything that's connected to the Cat is suspect. I have a dozen devices connected to my studio laptop via multiple hubs. Sometimes in order to use the Cat app without the ground loop problem I have to disconnect the Korg nanoKontrol that I use for controlling the volume on my PC212+ which chains from my Helix by L6 Link and MIDI cable and on to the cat for simultaneous MIDI control of speaker parameters on the PC212 and FX/Channel switching on the Cat. I get around it by connecting the Cat to my iPhone, but if I'm expecting an important call I don't want to put the phone on airplane mode so... but I digress. Bottom line - USB ground loops are a PITA and sometimes difficult to troubleshoot. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JesterPilgrim Posted July 17, 2022 Author Share Posted July 17, 2022 On 7/16/2022 at 4:34 PM, rd2rk said: You have a USB ground loop. Thank you, that's it. I've now isolated it to.... my audio interface. Which sucks because I'm obviously using that to monitor via my speakers. However, I don't hear the whine though headphones connected to the audio interface, so I'm wondering whether it actually impacts what is being recorded from the Catalyst, or if it's just affecting the monitors? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted July 17, 2022 Share Posted July 17, 2022 Assuming that you're using a Windows computer, if you've chosen the Catalyst as ASIO in your DAW you can't use the AI to monitor playback, playback is restricted to the ASIO device. There really isn't any practical reason to use the Catalyst as AI unless your AI is an ancient POS with really crappy preamps. If you're worried about the effect of the AD/DA conversion on the sound, don't be, unless you're Superman you won't hear it. I use a Scarlett 18i20 which has SPDIF. There is no humanly detectable difference between sending my Helix through SPDIF and sending it through XLR. Just connect the Cat's XLR to your AI's XLR input and solve the ground loop problem that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JesterPilgrim Posted July 18, 2022 Author Share Posted July 18, 2022 On 7/17/2022 at 6:25 PM, rd2rk said: Just connect the Cat's XLR to your AI's XLR input and solve the ground loop problem that way. Yeah I thought of that, but I'm surprised to discover there's only the one XLR output! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted July 18, 2022 Share Posted July 18, 2022 On 7/18/2022 at 4:32 AM, JesterPilgrim said: Yeah I thought of that, but I'm surprised to discover there's only the one XLR output! It's not a stereo amp, so... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JesterPilgrim Posted July 19, 2022 Author Share Posted July 19, 2022 On 7/18/2022 at 4:13 PM, rd2rk said: It's not a stereo amp, so... Good point. I assumed that the FX would be stereo. I guess I got that idea from the number of USB channels available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted October 18, 2023 Share Posted October 18, 2023 IIRC, USB 1 is processed out, USB 2 is unprocessed for recording a DI track. USB 3 is a Return for re-amping (gets processed). USB 4 is a Return that bypasses processing. I could be wrong, I never use the Cat as an AI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted October 18, 2023 Share Posted October 18, 2023 On 7/17/2022 at 4:46 AM, JesterPilgrim said: Thank you, that's it. I've now isolated it to.... my audio interface. Which sucks because I'm obviously using that to monitor via my speakers. However, I don't hear the whine though headphones connected to the audio interface, so I'm wondering whether it actually impacts what is being recorded from the Catalyst, or if it's just affecting the monitors? Get a Hum Eliminator to go between the speakers and the AI. $15-$30 on Amazon depending what type of connectors (1/4 or XLR) your AI/Speakers use. Works a charm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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