Lots of white noise from an M-Audio MobilePre

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Level 1

94 points

Lots of white noise from an M-Audio MobilePre

I suppose I should have just returned it long ago, but the MobilePre interface that I use with GarageBand generates a lot of background white noise during recording. I've found lots of proposed fixes out there (changing latency back and forth, restarting GB, etc.) that have not helped me much, unfortunately. The unit itself seems to be inherently bad. I've got the newest driver installed, but the problem is still there. Sigh.

I have a Shure PG57 mic plugged into the MobilePre...this wouldn't be the problem, would it?

Posted on Oct 9, 2005 9:41 AM

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Answer 1

Kurt Weber

Level 6

13,969 points

Oct 9, 2005 12:14 PM in response to Vincent Bove

Play with the gains. My general rule of thumb is to start with all on half way and play with it from there. Usually the main gain gives the most noise so if you are getting lots try turning the main gain down and the knobs on the unit up. Experiment until the noise is at a good level.

In the specs I saw this:
Master Output Volume Control: Software-controlled

This sounds like the main volume is controlled in the Audio/MIDI set up utility perhaps? Have you played with the main gain?

Kurt

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Answer 2

Oct 9, 2005 12:35 PM in response to Vincent Bove

Not too sure if it would cause the problem you've described, but you need to make sure that phantom power is switched off if you're using a Shure PG57.

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Answer 3

Oct 9, 2005 1:04 PM in response to Oliver Arditi (Polyglot)

FWIW,
I had one channel unused on my Tascam US-122, and was using the other with a condenser mic with Phantom Power on, and I got a lot of white noise if the unused channel is turned up with nothing plugged in. Thinking it was defective, I got another US-122 and it does the same thing. So, now, when I use phantom power, I have to make sure the unused channel is turned down. Your problem "could" be a similar thing.

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Answer 4

Vincent Bove Author

Level 1

94 points

Oct 9, 2005 7:20 PM in response to Scott Laughlin-Richard

Thank you all for the prompt replies! I have played with the multitude of gains that I have. There is one on the unit itself, a software control panel gain, and then a few gains within GarageBand itself. I'm not sure which one of those would be considered the "main" gain, but I have been able to mostly reduce the fuzz. Unfortunately, this also makes for VERY quiet recording levels. A decent recording level always seems to come with significant buzz.

I've also turned down the unused channel. That only helped somewhat.

I'll probably have to learn to live with a slightly scratchy recording until I can afford to buy a better interface. Ho hum.

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Answer 5

Kurt Weber

Level 6

13,969 points

Oct 9, 2005 7:51 PM in response to Vincent Bove

Buzz is different from white noise. Buzz or hum are usually ground related.

Excellent article:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86655

Kurt

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Answer 6

Vincent Bove Author

Level 1

94 points

Oct 9, 2005 8:09 PM in response to Kurt Weber

Thank you for the article; however, I'm not nearly enough of an engineer to execute something like that. Especially when it involves mangling my cables.

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Answer 7

Oct 10, 2005 7:02 AM in response to Vincent Bove

Have you contacted M-Audio or the dealer you bought the unit from? Maybe there is something wrong with the unit. Is there a way you can test another interface, borrow one from a buddy to see if you get a clear recording?

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