emptyvesselband Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 Ive heard quite a few ppl say they get the same thing. Its far worse when usb is connected to my computer and strange enough, even when the USB port button is turned off, it makes no change in the sound, I have to unplug it. When unplugged its still there but much more faint. Steady 8k tone ringing. Its some kind of interference. If I put an 8k notch eq at the end of the chain in helix it does nothing. I have to put that filter on the other end of the cables, in my interface's mixing software. But, again, when usb is plugged in, that makes little difference because its picked up by the usb cable. Ive got a good usb cable with a ferrite on it. Idk if its the right one, I guess they have different freqs they can target? Ive tried all my cables. Im about to sell my helix because after way too long putting up with this, trying to solve it. Any help appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schmalle Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 It's a ground loop. If you have a spare USB cable you can try if cutting the shield helps. If not a USB Isolator helps. Or something like a Morley Humno Noise Eliminatorar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emptyvesselband Posted October 11, 2023 Author Share Posted October 11, 2023 Also, when usb is plugged in theres nothing I can mute and nowhere to place a notch filter to eliminate it. Not on the master channel of the interface mixer or anywhere else. Id have to put a physical filter on my studio monitors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schmalle Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 See answer above. It's a lollipop USB hardware design in the PC - some switching noise at the rate of 8kHz propagates via USB. Test it: plug the Helix only in USB but not in mains power. The second you connect mains to the Helix the noise is there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emptyvesselband Posted October 11, 2023 Author Share Posted October 11, 2023 On 10/11/2023 at 2:36 PM, Schmalle said: It's a ground loop. If you have a spare USB cable you can try if cutting the shield helps. Cutting the shield? like the inner shielding not just the plastic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schmalle Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 On 10/11/2023 at 10:14 PM, emptyvesselband said: Cutting the shield? like the inner shielding not just the plastic? I'd put thin adhesive tape (i.e. TESA tape) around the flat USB cable plug's metal housing so that it is isolated and not contacting the USB socket. Also some small thin stripe of tape on the left pin (GND). Alternatively you can physically cut shield and GND. Why would that help? - You only need USB's D-, D+, 5V connected. The GND and Shield don't need to be connected because GND is already connected via the power plug. The second GND connection (aka ground loop) via USB causes the problems. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 I have so many USB devices connected that modding USB cables is not really practical. I Just use these: Amazon.com: PYLE-PRO Compact Mini Hum Eliminator Box-2 Channel Passive Ground Loop Isolator,Noise Filter, AC Buzz Destroyer, Hum Killer w/ 2 1/4-Inch TRS Input and Output for 2 Mono /1 Stereo Signal - PHE300 : Musical Instruments Or these: Amazon.com: Pyle Compact Mini Hum Eliminator Box - 2 Channel Passive Ground Loop Isolator, Noise Filter,AC Buzz Destroyer, Hum Killer w/ 1/4" TRS Phone,XLR Input/Output, Uses 1:1 Isolation Transformer : Musical Instruments Back when I only had a couple of USB devices in the audio realm, I tried a USB isolator. Made it worse and cost more than the Hum Eliminators. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schmalle Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 I forgot about audio isolators as a practical solution. I can recommend the Behringer HD400 for this. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 I think the HD400 and the (PYLE) PHE300 are made in the same Chinese factory with different branding. Actually, when I looked it up today on Amazon I noticed that the PHE300 is $14 (I paid $19 in 2016!) and the identical HD400 is $29. The PHE400, which has both 1/4" and XLR is the same price as the less endowed HD400 and the Morley MHE, which is identical to the PHE400, is $99! Shop carefully! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datacommando Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 On 10/12/2023 at 4:12 PM, rd2rk said: I think the HD400 and the (PYLE) PHE300 are made in the same Chinese factory with different branding. Actually, when I looked it up today on Amazon I noticed that the PHE300 is $14 (I paid $19 in 2016!) and the identical HD400 is $29. The PHE400, which has both 1/4" and XLR is the same price as the less endowed HD400 and the Morley MHE, which is identical to the PHE400, is $99! Shop carefully! Yep, I had also noticed that they do appear to be very similar, almost identical, boxes with different branding. It seems to be quite common with a lot of products made in the Orient. Buyer beware. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emptyvesselband Posted October 14, 2023 Author Share Posted October 14, 2023 On 10/11/2023 at 7:41 PM, rd2rk said: I have so many USB devices connected that modding USB cables is not really practical. I Just use these: Amazon.com: PYLE-PRO Compact Mini Hum Eliminator Box-2 Channel Passive Ground Loop Isolator,Noise Filter, AC Buzz Destroyer, Hum Killer w/ 2 1/4-Inch TRS Input and Output for 2 Mono /1 Stereo Signal - PHE300 : Musical Instruments Or these: Amazon.com: Pyle Compact Mini Hum Eliminator Box - 2 Channel Passive Ground Loop Isolator, Noise Filter,AC Buzz Destroyer, Hum Killer w/ 1/4" TRS Phone,XLR Input/Output, Uses 1:1 Isolation Transformer : Musical Instruments Back when I only had a couple of USB devices in the audio realm, I tried a USB isolator. Made it worse and cost more than the Hum Eliminators. Ive been hearing people say these wont work for this type of noise. Did you have noise like mine? And yeah, Ive got about 14 usb cables in the mix. Fortunately only 2 of them do this and only when the helix is on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted October 14, 2023 Share Posted October 14, 2023 On 10/14/2023 at 11:12 AM, emptyvesselband said: Ive been hearing people say these wont work for this type of noise. Did you have noise like mine? And yeah, Ive got about 14 usb cables in the mix. Fortunately only 2 of them do this and only when the helix is on. The thing about noise is that I can't hear what you hear without a recording of the noise. What you call "8k ringing" I interpret as what I call a high pitched "whine". If we're talking about the same thing, the Hum Eliminators I use work fine. Buy one from a source with a proper returns policy and try it. Then you'll KNOW. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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