Topic: What do you think caused this recording glitch?

[bconnolly]

My recording from Thursday night has a few static glitches in it and I'm trying to pinpoint the problem so it doesn't crop up in future tapes.  Here is an example of the glitch:

http://iamserio.us/files/click-n-pop.mp3

So far, I really don't have any sure-fire culprits.  I guess it could be the mics, the XLR cables, the UA-5 or my S/PDIF cable but I'm really not experienced enough to know what that sort of glitch usually points to.  Would a cellular phone interfere with the signal going through XLR or S/PDIF?  Does anyone have any ideas?

[Genghis Cougar Mellen Khan]

My recording from Thursday night has a few static glitches in it and I'm trying to pinpoint the problem so it doesn't crop up in future tapes.  Here is an example of the glitch:

http://iamserio.us/files/click-n-pop.mp3

So far, I really don't have any sure-fire culprits.  I guess it could be the mics, the XLR cables, the UA-5 or my S/PDIF cable but I'm really not experienced enough to know what that sort of glitch usually points to.  Would a cellular phone interfere with the signal going through XLR or S/PDIF?  Does anyone have any ideas?

I didn't hear any, butI'm listening to it on a laptop...  Who is that, Mogwai?

[china_rider]

Listening though puter speakers but did not hear a glitch either.

[bconnolly]

It's on the right channel.  It's like a .... static tinny noise.  Not really sure how to describe it.

Also, it's Animal Collective.

[china_rider]

Ok....downloaded into Audition and listened through headphones.  Congratz for noticiing the distortation. +T I hear it too.  How long has it been since you cleaed the contacts on your cables?  Just a guess.

[Roving Sign]

It sounds like RF leakage...its almost like you can hear the pacing of a conversation... or something emphaising/interacting with the HD writes...It's pretty subtle - I have to listen closely.

Like when a semi-truck goes by my house and the guy is on the CB - it leaks through - you can hear the coversation...but only to a certain point...sometimes it sounds like an untuned LSB/USB radio frequency...like its not de-modulating properly...(sorry for the HAM radio lingo!)

[Krispy D]

It sounds like RF leakage...its almost like you can hear the pacing of a conversation... or something emphaising/interacting with the HD writes...It's pretty subtle - I have to listen closely.

Like when a semi-truck goes by my house and the guy is on the CB - it leaks through - you can hear the coversation...but only to a certain point...sometimes it sounds like an untuned LSB/USB radio frequency...like its not de-modulating properly...(sorry for the HAM radio lingo!)

^^^^I agree,  sounds like it has a rhythm of some sort.  I've heard of cell phone interference but never experienced it personally.  maybe this is what people are talking about.

[obscurem]

It does sound like a mobile phone signal to me (can only just hear it with headphones in your sample).  I’ve never noticed it in a recording, but I do turn my phone off just in case, I suppose you’re not immune to others close by though.  When I play my jukebox in the car through a cassette adaptor, it picks up the mobile signal quite strongly.

I don’t anything about the cables involved to say whether it’s something that can be eliminated or reduced, but good luck with it.

My phone (amplified), attached.

[SparkE!]

I'm also guessing that it's a GSM phone.  T-Mobile and Cingular both run GSM phones and it sounds like text messaging or sending of pictures or email.  I'd be suspecting that you have a broken shield connection somewhere in your right channel mic cable.

[cleantone]

Yes definitly a cell phone. No doubt.

[Kush]

That is the exact noise I hear right before my cell phone rings when I'm sitting near my computer speakers.

[bconnolly]

So it's settled.  No more phones around the rig while recording.

Thanks guys.