Extremely noisy audio when both PG Express and monitor are connected to my MacBook

[theriverwards]

Hi, I just took my new Pod Go Express Bass out of the box tonight, and when I connected it to my MacBook Pro to use Pod Express Edit, there was a significant amount of hum/interference in the speaker I was connected to. When I unplugged my external monitor from the MacBook, it disappeared. I'd be grateful for any suggestions about how to overcome this.

 

I have the Express unit sending audio via a regular patch cable to the unbalanced input on a powered PA speaker (JBL EON15 G2). The data connection is a USB-C to USB-A cable into a hub that goes into a USB-C port on the computer (though it wasn't any better when I went USB-C to USB-C directly into the computer's port). The monitor is connected via an HDMI to USB-C adapter into USB-C on the MacBook.

 

Thanks!

[silverhead]

Lots of different connectors and cables there. I would begin by stripping things down to bare essentials and rebuilding from there to find the culprit(s). For instance, is there noise using just the audio from POD Express to monitor? Does the noise disappear when you disconnect USB and don’t use the editor? You already know that USB hubs should be avoided. I have no experience with HDMI in these setups but that’s a suspect.

 

Your symptom is often caused by electrical interference. Try using different household outlets, or ideally different circuits, for your POD, computer and speaker. Some people find that adding a hum eliminator device solves the issue.