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Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: Big Muff on May 22, 2009, 06:23:45 PM

Title: digi-noise
Post by: Big Muff on May 22, 2009, 06:23:45 PM


Had this issue back in September.. replaced an opti-cable and all was well, till two days ago.

Any ideas on what maybe the cause?

 
Title: Re: digi-noise
Post by: tgakidis on May 22, 2009, 06:40:53 PM
is it divi noise or RF (radio feq) noise?  RF noise happens from bad shields on analog mic and interconect cables.  I had that problem on my active cables but just had them fixed.
Title: Re: digi-noise
Post by: Ekib on May 23, 2009, 04:57:37 PM
Is Digi Noise the same thing as that specific noise on older DAT tapes ?
Title: Re: digi-noise
Post by: sunjan on May 24, 2009, 05:42:37 PM
is it divi noise or RF (radio feq) noise?  RF noise happens from bad shields on analog mic and interconect cables.

Yep, this is radio interference, typically from a mobile phone.
I get this all the time when I forget to switch off mine before the gig.  :P I get the impression that the European (GSM) frequencies are more invasive to the H120 et al. Or is it just my imagination?

So technically, it's not diginoise. You can distinguish this from looking at the WAV and notice that the ambient sound is still present throughout. Diginoise would be more like glitches where all ambient sound was interrupted.
Title: Re: digi-noise
Post by: Big Muff on May 24, 2009, 08:03:27 PM
Hmmm.
is it time to ditch the iriver??

what are my options?
where should i first look to make correction?
This doesn't always happen, but when it does, grrrrr.

Title: Re: digi-noise
Post by: sunjan on May 25, 2009, 02:53:01 AM
where should i first look to make correction?

Switch off your phone before the gig, and don't stand too close to other people texting or talking on the phone.
The iriver is a great recorder, don't shoot the piano player  ;)
Title: Re: digi-noise
Post by: Big Muff on May 26, 2009, 08:38:49 PM


Appreciate the help guys.

avoiding cell phones is NOT going to be an easy fix.
Especially in the jam packed, standing room only venues. I can turn mine off, but everyone around me? that's gonna be an issue..

 ;)
 
Title: Re: digi-noise
Post by: sunjan on May 27, 2009, 05:48:27 PM
avoiding cell phones is NOT going to be an easy fix.
Especially in the jam packed, standing room only venues. I can turn mine off, but everyone around me? that's gonna be an issue..

Yeah, I know. Would wrapping the recorder in aluminum foil help?  ???
I read somewhere that it's not just the recorder that might be suceptible to interference. It can be taken up by the mic, or maybe even the cable?!
Some mics are supposedly better shielded than others. When AT upgraded the AT853's to U853, one selling point was better shielding compared to the old model. Maybe you could experiment with other mics? YMMV...
Title: Re: digi-noise
Post by: Javier Cinakowski on May 27, 2009, 05:57:16 PM
I am going to bet it is the mics. 

A properly working V3 or H120 won't cause this.  Esspecially since the connection between the V3 and iRiver is electronically de-coupled via optical cable.   Those Nak's arn't modern and likely don't have the RF rejection needed for close proximity to cell phones. 

Title: Re: digi-noise
Post by: sunjan on May 28, 2009, 03:17:26 AM
Esspecially since the connection between the V3 and iRiver is electronically de-coupled via optical cable.   Those Nak's arn't modern and likely don't have the RF rejection needed for close proximity to cell phones. 

Very good point, didn't think of that.
I wonder if the OP had the mics mounted up high on a stand?
How many feet away from the cellphone would you need to keep them to be safe?
Title: Re: digi-noise
Post by: Big Muff on May 28, 2009, 07:31:21 AM


So if it could be the mics, is there a way to improve the shielding?
It's really weird that this only started happening back in Sept. I've owned these mics since the fall of '07.
It's like my rig just caught a cold..
 
The mic cables are belden 1804a. Whole Lineage: 700's > Audio Technica 8533 power modules > shorty "LeeGeddy/Bumblebee" interconnects > V3

cheers!
Title: Re: digi-noise
Post by: sunjan on May 28, 2009, 10:46:00 AM
So if it could be the mics, is there a way to improve the shielding?

Hmm, a question for the Nak team, perhaps!? There are some serious hardware hacking going on there, maybe they can chime in?

How did you mount the mics when you got the interference?
Title: Re: digi-noise
Post by: Big Muff on May 28, 2009, 11:57:42 AM


Thanks, I looked into team Nak.

The mics have always been mounted DIN in a pvc bar..  http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,83851.0.html

perhaps the move to nyc has something to do with it?  lots more iphones/blackberries texting about around here