• From: Somerset, UK
  • Registered: 2011-04-18
  • Posts: 6

Topic: Operation noise.

Hi guys, I just bought a Fireface400, my very first piece of pro quality gear, for my project studio and am unsure as to whether or not I have a faulty Unit. After unpacking and installing it, i noticed a whistling noise, ever so faintly, coming from the unit, which, after connecting to my Yamamha HS80s (and powering them up) was amplified, to the point of irritation. Its not a 'loud' sound, but with the current heat, I have a desk fan blowing in my room and I can hear the sound over it. If i make any adjustment on the Unit's dial, it changes frequency as if some sort of interference. The unit makes this sound, powered up from mains, without PC turned on/with pc turned on and also from buss-power, with the wal-wart removed. I spoke to a friend who is an electrical engineer and he said its, possibly, a faulty PSU on the unit.
I have emailed Synthax, but as its easter weekend, im not expecting to hear from them anytime soon, and I asked them if this was standard operation noise of the unit and something I'd be expected to put up with, but I've googled that and related topics and found no precedences of it happening before. Has anyone else ever had this problem?
The unit has the 3.034 driver and 1.71 firmware, which i thought installing would maybe cure the sound and I'm running a Intel i5 Sandybridge 3.4ghz, Gigabyte H67, 4gb OCZ Gold RAM, 64gb SSD OS, 1tb Caviar Green and a Macbook Pro 13", but like I said, this noise began without it connected to the pc and continues if on wall-wart or buss power.
I really don't want to get rid of the unit as my PC's stability has gone through the roof since i began using it, so i am aware of what an amazing piece of kit it is, just cant put up with this constant ringing. V.much like tinnittus.
Thankyou so much, in advance, for your time.

Producer, Deep/Tech DnB, Minimal Dub etc.

Mike Hall's Website

  • From: Somerset, UK
  • Registered: 2011-04-18
  • Posts: 6

Re: Operation noise.

Hello!! Anyone got any ideas?? Im still just a noob, need help!!

Producer, Deep/Tech DnB, Minimal Dub etc.

Mike Hall's Website

  • From: Somerset, UK
  • Registered: 2011-04-18
  • Posts: 6

Re: Operation noise.

Further addition to post, I have been using the headphone outs (analog7/8) and am getting no noise from this output. I really don't have a clue here guys and don't want to have to send it back and be without an interface for however long. Would really appreciate any advice.

Producer, Deep/Tech DnB, Minimal Dub etc.

Mike Hall's Website

  • From: Somerset, UK
  • Registered: 2011-04-18
  • Posts: 6

Re: Operation noise.

I have come across posts suggesting it could be a ground loop or something, but im in the uK and am unsure if this relates to me. I have taken the interface off of bus power, back onto mains and tested it on different outlets throughout my house and the noise remains. If i rotate the dial, it changes to another frequency. It's definitely not right, and if it is, its most definitely not a noise that i can live with, its driving me MENTAL!! lol.

Producer, Deep/Tech DnB, Minimal Dub etc.

Mike Hall's Website

  • Registered: 2009-12-30
  • Posts: 127

Re: Operation noise.

I think it is a slow week because of the Holiday.  I am sure some others will be able to post some suggestions soon.

If I read your post correctly and you say the noise is coming from the unit itself when it is not connected to anything, then yes, you probably have a bad unit.  The unit itself should be all but silent when sitting plugged in by itself.  I would send it back for exchange.  Is there a retailer nearby where you can take your unit to do an A-B comparison?

If the noise is only present through your monitors, here are some things to try.  Move the unit to a completely different location with a different power source.  Try connecting to a UPS to make sure the power source is as clean as possible.  Make sure there are no fluorescent lights or other equipment that might be emitting RF interference in the room.  If you are not getting it through the headphones, then try using TotalMix to route the output differently.  Try different speakers.

Hope this helps.  Be sure to let us know what you find.  It is a fine interface, you just need to get this issue sorted.

  • Jeff
  • Jeff
  • Moderator
  • Offline
  • From: USA
  • Registered: 2007-05-21
  • Posts: 4,667

Re: Operation noise.

All your posts before today were on Easter Sunday. Sorry if this was overlooked.

Since you don't hear the noise on phones, it's pretty clear this is a ground issue.

Regards,
Jeff Petersen
Synthax Inc.

Jeff's Website

  • From: Somerset, UK
  • Registered: 2011-04-18
  • Posts: 6

Re: Operation noise.

My apologies for getting frustrated. I knew it was Easter weekend, but was desperate as I had no one to call. Just my luck to have a problem when everyones taking time off, lol. But thankyou for getting back to me.
Before sending the unit back, I shall try it on some more power sources. As i said, the actual 'hum/whistle' comes out of the unit, if I place my ear about a foot away I can hear it, and then if I rotate the dial, it changes the frequency of the sound. I tried plugging my monitor into the headphone (output7/8) jack to see if it'd generate the sound, which it did. So im a little stumped by that, no noise coming through my headphones, but when I put the monitor in the same output, it causes the noise again. When Jeff says its a ground issue, would that be " I have a ground issue" in the power mains, creating the problem in the unit, or "the unit has a ground issue" as in it sounds to be faulty? Ive never had this issue on the two other soundcards i've used on this power source, nor has any other piece of my equipment ever displayed any grounding problems, if thats what this noise represents.

Producer, Deep/Tech DnB, Minimal Dub etc.

Mike Hall's Website