Native Instruments - Knowledge Base
Knowledge Base
How to get rid of ground loops (50 or 60 hz hum)?
How to get rid of ground loops (50 or 60 hz hum)?
Ground loops are perceived usually as a hum or buzz in your audio signal. They generally emerge when an electrical system (two or more electrical devices) is connected through more than one way to the electrical ground.
The cause can also be other devices that are connected via (video/radio)cable to the ground, such as a radio or television.
The cause of the noise can be the computer and its internal devices, or devices connected to the computer like external hard drives. (Note that even if the power supply of your laptop computer is not connected, your setup may still be vulnerable to ground noise from an external device with its own power supply.)
With this in mind, the following points should help to eliminate the ground loop:
Try to eliminate the loop.
See below.
Use balanced cables.
If possible, always use balanced audio cables to connect your audio device to your mixer or speakers. If your mixer provides both unbalanced and balanced inputs, avoid using the unbalanced inputs if you can. This might prevent ground loops from occurring.
Always connect your devices to the same power outlet (e.g. with a multi-outlet power strip).
Break the loop (if necessary) with a DI box
If you cannot fix the ground noise problem by disconnecting equipment and using balanced cables, you still have the possibility of using a DI (direct input) box between the Native Instruments Device outputs and the mixer inputs. Most of these boxes have a ground lift switch on them, this can be used to break the ground loop and eliminate the noise.
A DI box is especially recommended if your mixer has unbalanced inputs only.
Here are some steps you can undertake to try to eliminate the ground loop or to find its source:
A first troubleshooting step is to disconnect all devices from your computer and/or mixer, but not the amplifier and/or speakers. This applies also to other peripheral devices you may have connected to your computer (external data storage, CD burners). Disconnecting the audio equipment (preamp, etc.) from the shield can prevent unwanted hum or current from flowing between the two devices. This helps prevent the creation of ground loops from forming between equipment, for example in cases of floating ground equipment.
A floating ground circuit is a circuit in which the ground is not used as a fixed reference, rather, it is a common node in the circuit. This can occur when equipment is not connected to a grounding point. Some older electronic equipment may be designed purposely with floating grounds. (it is not uncommon to find old vacuum tube guitar amps with this problem). You may also have to separate polarized plugs (two-prong) from grounded plugs (three prong), by connecting them to separate circuits. In case the ground loop disappeared, you can add the devices one after the other to see with the connection of which device it reappears.
Another check to see if the amplifier or active monitors create the ground loop is to monitor your audio signal from the headphones output of your audio device (in case your audio device is equipped with one) via a headphone. Therefore the amplifier or the active monitors need to be physically disconnected from your audio device. In case the ground loop disappears, you need to lift the ground on your amplifier or the active monitors.
Note: Contact the manufacturer of your device before lifting the ground to find out if ground lifting is supported on your device.
On Laptops low quality power supplies often lead to ground loop noise. Run your Laptop on its battery, only to see if the ground loop disappears. In case the ground loop disappears, you need to lift the ground on your Laptop.
Note: Contact the manufacturer of your Laptop before lifting the ground to find out if ground lifting is supported on your device.
On Desktop computers the monitors (screens) might cause the ground loop. Try to turn your monitor off and disconnect its power supply while you hear the ground loop. In case the ground loop disappears, you need to lift the ground on your monitor.
Note: Contact the manufacturer of your monitor before lifting the ground to find out if ground lifting is supported on your device.
One customer solved the "hum" problem by turning off the "Tune Fork" in the Tuner modul of Guitar Rig.
Ground loops are perceived usually as a hum or buzz in your audio signal. They generally emerge when an electrical system (two or more electrical devices) is connected through more than one way to the electrical ground.
The cause can also be other devices that are connected via (video/radio)cable to the ground, such as a radio or television.
The cause of the noise can be the computer and its internal devices, or devices connected to the computer like external hard drives. (Note that even if the power supply of your laptop computer is not connected, your setup may still be vulnerable to ground noise from an external device with its own power supply.)
With this in mind, the following points should help to eliminate the ground loop:
Try to eliminate the loop.
See below.
Use balanced cables.
If possible, always use balanced audio cables to connect your audio device to your mixer or speakers. If your mixer provides both unbalanced and balanced inputs, avoid using the unbalanced inputs if you can. This might prevent ground loops from occurring.
Always connect your devices to the same power outlet (e.g. with a multi-outlet power strip).
Break the loop (if necessary) with a DI box
If you cannot fix the ground noise problem by disconnecting equipment and using balanced cables, you still have the possibility of using a DI (direct input) box between the Native Instruments Device outputs and the mixer inputs. Most of these boxes have a ground lift switch on them, this can be used to break the ground loop and eliminate the noise.
A DI box is especially recommended if your mixer has unbalanced inputs only.
Here are some steps you can undertake to try to eliminate the ground loop or to find its source:
A first troubleshooting step is to disconnect all devices from your computer and/or mixer, but not the amplifier and/or speakers. This applies also to other peripheral devices you may have connected to your computer (external data storage, CD burners). Disconnecting the audio equipment (preamp, etc.) from the shield can prevent unwanted hum or current from flowing between the two devices. This helps prevent the creation of ground loops from forming between equipment, for example in cases of floating ground equipment.
A floating ground circuit is a circuit in which the ground is not used as a fixed reference, rather, it is a common node in the circuit. This can occur when equipment is not connected to a grounding point. Some older electronic equipment may be designed purposely with floating grounds. (it is not uncommon to find old vacuum tube guitar amps with this problem). You may also have to separate polarized plugs (two-prong) from grounded plugs (three prong), by connecting them to separate circuits. In case the ground loop disappeared, you can add the devices one after the other to see with the connection of which device it reappears.
Another check to see if the amplifier or active monitors create the ground loop is to monitor your audio signal from the headphones output of your audio device (in case your audio device is equipped with one) via a headphone. Therefore the amplifier or the active monitors need to be physically disconnected from your audio device. In case the ground loop disappears, you need to lift the ground on your amplifier or the active monitors.
Note: Contact the manufacturer of your device before lifting the ground to find out if ground lifting is supported on your device.
On Laptops low quality power supplies often lead to ground loop noise. Run your Laptop on its battery, only to see if the ground loop disappears. In case the ground loop disappears, you need to lift the ground on your Laptop.
Note: Contact the manufacturer of your Laptop before lifting the ground to find out if ground lifting is supported on your device.
On Desktop computers the monitors (screens) might cause the ground loop. Try to turn your monitor off and disconnect its power supply while you hear the ground loop. In case the ground loop disappears, you need to lift the ground on your monitor.
Note: Contact the manufacturer of your monitor before lifting the ground to find out if ground lifting is supported on your device.
One customer solved the "hum" problem by turning off the "Tune Fork" in the Tuner modul of Guitar Rig.
100%
0%
i recieved this week my guitar rig 3, kontroller edition. i connected the kontroller to several amps, but i experience every time the same problem.: i connect the amp on the L output. signal/sound is fine. If i connect the same cable/amp to the R-output, the signal is full hum !! This is also the same when i use 2 amps. The R-output shows a strange behaviour. If you want, i can send also a small movie so that you can see/hear, whats going on. please advice !! best regards, willem p.s my ordernummer was: 14722441
Hello, With Traktor 3LE, when i want to make a loop, I can't choose the point in and out when i use the loop. There is automaticaly two points. How can i choose my owner loop? Thanks
Hello, With Traktor 3LE, when i want to make a loop, I can't choose the point in and out when i use the loop. There is automaticaly two points. How can i choose my owner loop? Thanks