Help please: what is this annoying sound?

[JKos]

This is my prime suspect:

Is the equipment on the pole new since you last recorded without the issue? It could even be something a neighbor has bought/installed/turned on.

- John

 

[Alex J]

Is the equipment on the pole new since you last recorded without the issue? It could even be something a neighbor has bought/installed/turned on.

- John

Not that I know of. I think maybe using a bass with a powerful preamp brought out something that was probably always there. My vintage Fenders aren't the most sensitive, thankfully.

Next door neighbor does have their own studio setup with all kinds of gadgets. In fact I might ask if he has a similar issue

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

But it does it when I'm not even plugged into the computer, in a different room, on a headphone amp powered by batteries?

Here's a longer clip.

That is odd. You know, it could be your power. The adapter, or whatever. Mine only does it during playback...when it happens. For me, it all depends on how my 15 year old laptop feels that day. Haha. You, I just got to say its a power issue if you're not even plugged in to a computer. It didn't always do it, right?

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

This is my prime suspect:

View attachment 3935705

*Silenty plots to murder pole, smiling menacingly*

 

[Alex J]

Since you said that you get the noise when using a portable headphone amp, that pretty much rules out everything except RFI or EMI. The good news is that you can take advantage of your portable headphone amp to wander around your house/apartment to see how and where the noise changes, which might help you identify the source if it's in there somewhere. Then take the bass out into the back yard or parking lot, etc. to see if you still get the noise, which would help determine if the source is actually in your house/apartment. If you're lucky it could be as simple as a dimmer switch, television, or other electrical equipment.

Unhelpfully, the quietest point is half way down the stairs!

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Unhelpfully, the quietest point is half way down the stairs!

Out door studio?

 

[Lobster11]

Unhelpfully, the quietest point is half way down the stairs!

Haha. Yeah, that would be an awkward place to set up a recording studio.

Seriously, this could be diagnostic if you're in an apartment building: If you go farther down the stairs, maybe you're picking up interference from a similar source in a downstairs neighbor's apartment. What happens if you go outside? If the noise goes away then, it would seem to rule out your "prime suspect" and suggest the source is coming from within people's apartments (or perhaps I should call them "flats" since you're from the U.K.) and therefore maybe something within yours that you can do something about.

 

[Alex J]

Haha. Yeah, that would be an awkward place to set up a recording studio.

Seriously, this could be diagnostic if you're in an apartment building: If you go farther down the stairs, maybe you're picking up interference from a similar source in a downstairs neighbor's apartment. What happens if you go outside? If the noise goes away then, it would seem to rule out your "prime suspect" and suggest the source is coming from within people's apartments (or perhaps I should call them "flats" since you're from the U.K.) and therefore maybe something within yours that you can do something about.

I live in a terrace, so on the one hand I have three floors to experiment with, but on the other I have three floors of neighbours on both sides. And the walls are super thin. You can hear everything.

Anyway I get the same issue on the ground floor as in the loft. So yes, garden next

 

[Lobster11]

You can hear everything.

In this case what you can hear isn't relevant.

Looking forward to a report from the garden....

 

[HG1180]

This sounds like it could be cell phone interference to me. Do you set your cell phone on top or near the equipment?

I was going to say this, its what happens to my equipment if a phone is left too close.

 

[JMarkD]

Had a similar issue with an active bass into my Focusrite and iMac. Turned out to be some sort of RF or something from the mac. Backed away from the computer and the issue went away. Maybe too simple?

 

[ObsessiveArcher]

I had a similar experience as you. I ended up getting one of these:
Electro-Harmonix

 

[Alex J]

I had a similar experience as you. I ended up getting one of these:
Electro-Harmonix

Interesting. Do you experience any loss of high end when you use this?

 

[sawzalot]

I've had a similar sound caused by my phone being too close to the bass. Also my wireless router causes something similar. If you have either of those components near your equipment, move them farther away.

 

[pingvuiini]

0:14 - Sounds like a tiny gong.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

I had it pretty loud in headphones and didn't hear it. Perhaps a longer clip?

You might try a power conditioner...

If whomever you're working with understands that you're working in a home studio, I'm sure they won't worry too much about it. Noise reduction plugins work wonders...

Yeah, a longer clip where I can move the volume control on the track all the way up. I really didn't hear a thing but my hearing about 3Khz is terrible and I have to turn tracks up significantly to get the music detail that other folks hear at much lower volumes.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

But it does it when I'm not even plugged into the computer, in a different room, on a headphone amp powered by batteries?

Here's a longer clip.

Heard it that time including the little "bonk" near the end.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Is there a cell phone on a charger nearby?
Move it.

 

[Wasnex]

But it does it when I'm not even plugged into the computer, in a different room, on a headphone amp powered by batteries?

Here's a longer clip.

That sounds like your modem is nearby.

 

[StatesideRambler]

A few other things to look into are fluorescent light fixtures nearby (upstairs and down), dimmers anywhere in the house and motor speed controls (fans & pumps for example).