Carvin IEM - noisy and cuts out

[camthebassman]

We have 3 Carvin EM900 IEM systems, rack mounted with all the other gear, including a Mackie 1608 and a couple of wireless guitar receivers and wireless router for the Ipad. All three Carvins are on separate frequencies. All of us complain about the sound quality of the IEMs:

1. Low level "noise" present at all times, but most noticeable when there is no one playing.
2. Click/clack noise occasionally...sounds like a modem..rapid fire clickity -clack
3. Audio drop outs occasionally.

I'm wondering if we are experiencing interference issues between the Carvins and the wireless router for the Mackie and/or cell phones that are present in the area. We recently discovered a noise issue running through the Mackie that was caused by my Iphone 4. None of the other cell phones in the room have any affect on the system. We have 2 or 3 Ipads on stands that interface with the base unit via the wireless modem (I think...maybe it is Bluetooth?)

Anyone experience similar issues? any suggestions on a remedy? I have adjusted the Carvin frequencies many times and have had no improvement in the "noise/drop-out" issues.

thanks

 

[morgansterne]

1) I don't hear any background noise per se with mine. I do hear a little burst of noise around the signal coming through, like a low res mp3, when it goes from silence to signal.

2) I get this like crazy if I put my carvin receiver too close to my line 6 instrument wireless transmitter. The modem sound is likely interference from computers of some variety, though its probably not an actual modem.

3) I have to turn down the volume at the transmitter to avoid these. I think maybe it's the limiter glitching out, but if I make sure the volume on the trans is low and the volume at rcv is high, it works out ok.

 

[camthebassman]

good points on 2 and 3. Our carvin transmitters are in the same rack with IPad, wireless modem, a couple of guitar and microphone wireless receivers, and the Mackie.

I thought I disabled the limiter on my unit...will check tonight.

thanks

 

[wideload]

#2 sounds like cell phone interference. Had that problem with an older Shure wireless mic. Replacing with a newer Sennheiser wireless system fixed the problem. All three problems sound like a case of "you get what you pay for". Just my $0.02.

 

[s0c9]

I use the EM900 rack mounted alongside 4 Shure PSM 200's. They are all on separate channels and the Carvin is in a different band.
I do NOT use the Carvin buds (have 1964 Ears Qi [quads]) as they are cheap/junk which might be part of your issue.
Check with some standard mp3-player buds and compare.

I DO have dropouts occasionally, but it's mostly due to cell or TV interference and varies from venue to venue. If you are in a fixed location, then you should be checking what's being transmitted in your area and chose frequencies that avoid that.
Check out this thread on the the subject
http://forums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/topic,150415.0.html

 

[camthebassman]

I am using Shure buds...they sound a little better than the Carvin's. I loaned the Carvin's to our drummer for his wired system.

Much better last night at practice:

Volume on the Carvin transmitter was almost maxed out. I adjusted volume to about 1/2 and boosted the input to the Carvin from Mackie Aux send. Raised the volume on my receiver to get the level I need to hear. HUGE improvement in sound quality. Noise level greatly reduced relative to the signal level. I had zero dropouts and minimal click/clack episodes. I do not use the limiter function on the receiver.

Gig Saturday. I think it's good to go. Thanks!

 

[camthebassman]

Worked pretty well at the show after I changed frequencies...still has some occasional crackling, but no drop outs. Serviceable.