• Registered: 2017-06-15
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Topic: UFX III - Mic issues: pops and crackles

Hello,

After i got my UFX III I'm experiencing issues with my sE Electronics sE5 stereo pair.

I thought my mics were damaged, but they seem to work just fine on my old Focusrite OctoPre (same cables).

On the UFX III i need very high gain to achieve the same audible level, but the big problem is popping and crackling on the line.

I've recorded two examples below and some silence on different gains: https://soundcloud.com/calcic/sets/rme- … one-issue/

Can anyone tell me why my results are different and worse on the UFX III compared to the OctoPre?

Thank you!

2 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2024-04-14 09:45:44)

  • ramses
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Re: UFX III - Mic issues: pops and crackles

The sound example is marked as private, so nobody can listen to it.

For such troubleshooting, you should always provide some information about the operating system and the hardware. So that it is clear
- whether ASIO drivers are in use here,
- whether the system has the required performance and
- to be able to check whether there are other USB3 controllers on the mainboard in addition to chipset drivers, which could perhaps have something to do with the audio dropouts.

In this case, it is not clear to me whether there really is a problem with the microphone or microphone input or whether it could be due to something else, perhaps settings.

Have you ever worked with the microphones on the UFX III before? Did the issues suddenly occur? How does it behave in other use cases such as audio playback, are there also audio dropouts?

In terms of preamplification, the UFX III should definitely be superior to your Focusrite. Because the Focusrite does not have a 75 dB gain range.

How did you set the microphone input in TotalMix FX? Please send a screenshot.
Don't forget to click on the tool symbol so that you can also see the settings for phantom power and gain.
It would be useful to select the HW output for monitoring to see if the fader for the microphone is also set to 0 dB. Otherwise, it would be no wonder if the volume is low if you turned its volume down for the selected submix (HW Output). Remember, each HW Output has its individual submix.

Have you ever tried audio playback? Because if you also had the audio dropouts during playback, then they would at least not be due to the microphone. It could also be that you have several problems here, partly USB3, partly incorrect settings.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub13
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Re: UFX III - Mic issues: pops and crackles

Hi Ramses,

Thank you for replying on a sunday.

Sorry about that. Here's the correct link: https://soundcloud.com/calcic/sets/rme- … al_sharing

My setup is:
PC <-- USB --> UFX III -- AES --> Trinnov ST-2 --> AMPs --> Monitors
                           '
                           '
                            <-- MADI OPT --> M-32 PRO AD

- I use the ASIO drivers on a windows 11 PC on an ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero.
- The system is a brand new Core i9 and 128mb RAM
- I've tried unplugging the USB cable, and the issue persists when monitoring the microphone
- The UFX III works flawlessly for general Ableton use, as well as listening to music.

The UFX is brand new, so i've only worked with these for my piano which works just fine. They're also phantom powered: https://www.helpinstill.com/page240.html

Here are my two mic inputs - please notice that they're in a completely quiet room. It's the same behaviour when they're on Mic 9 and 10.
https://imgur.com/a/I555fc1

I noticed that the non-plugged microphone inputs also generate significant noise at gain 50 (and event louder when instrument is selected). Not sure if this is relevant.

I hope i answered all your questions.

Thanks again!
JH

4 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2024-04-14 11:48:53)

  • ramses
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Re: UFX III - Mic issues: pops and crackles

Open ports have noise, mute them, thats normal.

> I've tried unplugging the USB cable, and the issue persists when monitoring the microphone

Ok, by using stand-alone mode, you eliminated any potential USB issues.

But did you also validate, that the internal clock is being used?
In stand-alone and normal operation mode?
Check at the UFX III: Options -> Clock -> Clock Source: "INT"

When you validate that
—  there are still clicks and pops even in stand-alone mode and
— even if the clock source is set to "internal"

Then please contact RME support by mail, if RME doesn't respond in this thread.
Maybe there is a defect with the analog session.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub13

5 Reply by MC

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Re: UFX III - Mic issues: pops and crackles

The link to model 125 does not have any reference to phantom power requirements. Nor to mics. These piano sensors are no mics.

Soundcloud is still private...

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

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6 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2024-04-14 13:38:00)

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Re: UFX III - Mic issues: pops and crackles

MC wrote:

The link to model 125 does not have any reference to phantom power requirements.

Model 125?

There is no valid link anymore at sE Electronics web server for the mentioned S5 mic.
The product picture of this legacy product leads to the wrong webpage for the S8.

But if you look at Music store or other online stores, you see that this is a condenser mic which needs phantom power:

https://www.musicstore.com/de_LU/EUR/sE … 011174-000

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub13

7 Reply by MC

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Re: UFX III - Mic issues: pops and crackles

OP in post 3:

> so i've only worked with these for my piano which works just fine. They're also phantom powered:
> https://www.helpinstill.com/page240.html

They are not.

The SE mics might. In that case and with a brand new UFX III, I would suggest to activate Phantom Power on all 4 inputs and let the unit run one night through. The input caps need so called forming, which is audible as low volume crackling and poffs.

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

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8 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2024-04-14 14:30:38)

  • ramses
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Re: UFX III - Mic issues: pops and crackles

@MC, one of the (optional) components seems to be a phantom-powered mixer

https://helpinstill.com/helpinstill-pha … mixer.html

https://helpinstill.com/img/piano-sensor.png

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/grhp6k48ojhudtfkv6tt7/2024-04-14-15_27_06-Model-240-Upright-Piano-Sensor-Piano-Mic-Mozilla-Firefox.jpg?rlkey=ytdh0srpn4zo5usx2p12ivrtd&amp;dl=1

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub13
  • Kubrak
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Re: UFX III - Mic issues: pops and crackles

Phantom powered mixer means IMHO mixer, that it does not need external power source as being powered by phantom...

It does not say whether it provides phantom for stripes, or not....

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Re: UFX III - Mic issues: pops and crackles

On the UFX III, the sE5 should work flawlessly of course. And yes, they need phantom power. I have several similar mics including sE1A and sE8 combined with my two RME interfaces as well as with other preamps - all fine.
So let’s hope it’s this caps forming thing which is new to me - thanks @MC, I just learned something new!

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Re: UFX III - Mic issues: pops and crackles

MC wrote:

with a brand new UFX III, I would suggest to activate Phantom Power on all 4 inputs and let the unit run one night through. The input caps need so called forming, which is audible as low volume crackling and poffs.

Cannot that be made during QualityCheck before unit goes to customer? Or is it something that disapears when travelling to stores and customers, so it must be done again? I have never heard of it.

12 Reply by MC

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Re: UFX III - Mic issues: pops and crackles

Then Google it. And no, this can not be done during production as it would delay production and in the end cost the costumer a lot of money. Also this is no obvious issue unless you have the OP's situation - he seems to use a brand new unit with a very low volume source, unusually high gain and phantom power on.

Apart from that it is not even clear if this is really the cause of the issues.

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

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13 Reply by juliush (edited by juliush 2024-04-15 08:33:06)

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Re: UFX III - Mic issues: pops and crackles

ramses wrote:

Open ports have noise, mute them, thats normal.

> I've tried unplugging the USB cable, and the issue persists when monitoring the microphone

Ok, by using stand-alone mode, you eliminated any potential USB issues.

But did you also validate, that the internal clock is being used?
In stand-alone and normal operation mode?
Check at the UFX III: Options -> Clock -> Clock Source: "INT"

When you validate that
—  there are still clicks and pops even in stand-alone mode and
— even if the clock source is set to "internal"

Then please contact RME support by mail, if RME doesn't respond in this thread.
Maybe there is a defect with the analog session.

Thank you. I'll try the support route.

Yes, clock is set to internal
https://i.imgur.com/9aAhzhU.png

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Re: UFX III - Mic issues: pops and crackles

ramses wrote:

@MC, one of the (optional) components seems to be a phantom-powered mixer

https://helpinstill.com/helpinstill-pha … mixer.html

https://helpinstill.com/img/piano-sensor.png

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/grhp6k48ojhudtfkv6tt7/2024-04-14-15_27_06-Model-240-Upright-Piano-Sensor-Piano-Mic-Mozilla-Firefox.jpg?rlkey=ytdh0srpn4zo5usx2p12ivrtd&amp;dl=1

The system requires phantom power indeed. It was especially made for my custom Una Corda piano.

15 Reply by juliush (edited by juliush 2024-04-15 08:58:15)

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Re: UFX III - Mic issues: pops and crackles

MC wrote:

OP in post 3:

> so i've only worked with these for my piano which works just fine. They're also phantom powered:
> https://www.helpinstill.com/page240.html

They are not.

The SE mics might. In that case and with a brand new UFX III, I would suggest to activate Phantom Power on all 4 inputs and let the unit run one night through. The input caps need so called forming, which is audible as low volume crackling and poffs.

Thank you. I'll try leaving it on over night. Althought, it has been powered on for many days now during daytime.

I've made the playlist public - you can listen here: https://soundcloud.com/calcic/sets/rme- … al_sharing

  • ramses
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Re: UFX III - Mic issues: pops and crackles

juliush wrote:
MC wrote:

OP in post 3:

> so i've only worked with these for my piano which works just fine. They're also phantom powered:
> https://www.helpinstill.com/page240.html

They are not.

The SE mics might. In that case and with a brand new UFX III, I would suggest to activate Phantom Power on all 4 inputs and let the unit run one night through. The input caps need so called forming, which is audible as low volume crackling and poffs.

Thank you. I'll try leaving it on over night. Althought, it has been powered on for many days now during daytime.

I've made the playlist public - you can listen here: https://soundcloud.com/calcic/sets/rme- … al_sharing

"This playlist does not contain any tracks."

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub13
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Re: UFX III - Mic issues: pops and crackles

ramses wrote:
juliush wrote:
MC wrote:

OP in post 3:

> so i've only worked with these for my piano which works just fine. They're also phantom powered:
> https://www.helpinstill.com/page240.html

They are not.

The SE mics might. In that case and with a brand new UFX III, I would suggest to activate Phantom Power on all 4 inputs and let the unit run one night through. The input caps need so called forming, which is audible as low volume crackling and poffs.

Thank you. I'll try leaving it on over night. Althought, it has been powered on for many days now during daytime.

I've made the playlist public - you can listen here: https://soundcloud.com/calcic/sets/rme- … al_sharing

"This playlist does not contain any tracks."

Okay, NOW it works. Sorry....

  • waedi
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Re: UFX III - Mic issues: pops and crackles

Sounds like electrostatic discharging and I think this is inside of this phantompowered mixer.
This issue appears on every mic input in the interface, right ?

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Re: UFX III - Mic issues: pops and crackles

waedi wrote:

Sounds like electrostatic discharging and I think this is inside of this phantompowered mixer.
This issue appears on every mic input in the interface, right ?

Yes, it's the same on all four inputs. But the interesting thing is that my phantom powered pickup system for my piano works just fine.

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Re: UFX III - Mic issues: pops and crackles

So the issue disappeared ?
Glad you can work

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Re: UFX III - Mic issues: pops and crackles

waedi wrote:

So the issue disappeared ?
Glad you can work

Ah, no unfortunately not. Sorry for not being clearer.

The issue persists with my sE electronics mics, but the issue was never there with my phantom powered pickups...

The mics works fine with other interfaces...

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Re: UFX III - Mic issues: pops and crackles

Do you have another microphone for testing the inputs of the interface ?

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  • ramses
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Re: UFX III - Mic issues: pops and crackles

waedi wrote:

Do you have another microphone for testing the inputs of the interface ?

He wrote in the initial post, that the mics work fine on the Focusrite and you can hear that in the track which he recorded with the Focusrite.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub13
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Re: UFX III - Mic issues: pops and crackles

Then where are the test results with those mics on the UFX inputs ?

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25 Reply by MC

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Re: UFX III - Mic issues: pops and crackles

The sound is strange and not 'forming', but worse. Maybe it's time to conctact your seller or local distributor to clear this with their support personel.

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

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