I got one of these to switch/mix my laptop output between the PA, a bookshelf stereo, and a headphone practice amp:
http://www.amazon.com/Pyle-Pro-PHA4...&sr=1-5&keywords=headphone+splitter+amplifier
and the first thing I noticed was - there is a buzz/hum between the laptop & the PA when the Pyle is in the middle.
It's also noisy between the laptop and the bookshelf stereo.
I haven't tried the headphone amp yet.
Interestingly, it only makes noise when the laptop is the audio source. No problem with iPod as the source.
Even on the same (dedicated) power circuit as the PA.
iPod -> board = no noise
Laptop -> board = no noise
iPod -> Pyle -> board = no noise
Laptop -> Pyle -> board = NOISE
Laptop on battery power makes no difference (!).
Laptop on same (dedicated) power circuit as the Pyle and the PA makes no difference.
I think that rules out ground loops.
Makes no difference whether the other outputs on the Pyle are used or not.
Makes no difference which output is connected to the PA.
Makes no difference whether it's going to line in of channels 15 & 16 on the board, or the ST2 in.
Swapped out the cables between the board and the Pyle, makes no difference.
Makes no difference whether it's coming out of the headphone jack or the line out jack of the laptop.
Makes no difference where I set the level of the laptop output.
There is a distinct threshold in the Pyle's volume knob; at zero there is some (too much) hum. It is constant until about 1:00 where a new buzz becomes audible. The new buzz tapers with the volume control and the original hum stays constant.
Gain is structured properly AFAIK, i.e. maxed at the laptop, just below the buzz threshold at the Pyle (though still suffering from the hum).
When going into line inputs of channels 15 & 16 the channel gains are zero (!) and the pads are on and I still have to keep the sliders down around 1 or 2 to get a reasonable volume level.
When going into the insert inputs of channels 15 & 16 the level is so low I can barely hear it even with channel gains & sliders full up.
Where's the middle ground?
I really like the concept of the unit but the noise level is not OK.
What could be going on here?
Is there a better quality unit that wouldn't have this problem?
Is there something about a laptop that will cause this problem with any mix/switch unit?
Would the problem go away if I used some kind of switch instead of the Pyle mixer?
And what about Naomi?
http://www.amazon.com/Pyle-Pro-PHA4...&sr=1-5&keywords=headphone+splitter+amplifier
and the first thing I noticed was - there is a buzz/hum between the laptop & the PA when the Pyle is in the middle.
It's also noisy between the laptop and the bookshelf stereo.
I haven't tried the headphone amp yet.
Interestingly, it only makes noise when the laptop is the audio source. No problem with iPod as the source.
Even on the same (dedicated) power circuit as the PA.
iPod -> board = no noise
Laptop -> board = no noise
iPod -> Pyle -> board = no noise
Laptop -> Pyle -> board = NOISE
Laptop on battery power makes no difference (!).
Laptop on same (dedicated) power circuit as the Pyle and the PA makes no difference.
I think that rules out ground loops.
Makes no difference whether the other outputs on the Pyle are used or not.
Makes no difference which output is connected to the PA.
Makes no difference whether it's going to line in of channels 15 & 16 on the board, or the ST2 in.
Swapped out the cables between the board and the Pyle, makes no difference.
Makes no difference whether it's coming out of the headphone jack or the line out jack of the laptop.
Makes no difference where I set the level of the laptop output.
There is a distinct threshold in the Pyle's volume knob; at zero there is some (too much) hum. It is constant until about 1:00 where a new buzz becomes audible. The new buzz tapers with the volume control and the original hum stays constant.
Gain is structured properly AFAIK, i.e. maxed at the laptop, just below the buzz threshold at the Pyle (though still suffering from the hum).
When going into line inputs of channels 15 & 16 the channel gains are zero (!) and the pads are on and I still have to keep the sliders down around 1 or 2 to get a reasonable volume level.
When going into the insert inputs of channels 15 & 16 the level is so low I can barely hear it even with channel gains & sliders full up.
Where's the middle ground?
I really like the concept of the unit but the noise level is not OK.
What could be going on here?
Is there a better quality unit that wouldn't have this problem?
Is there something about a laptop that will cause this problem with any mix/switch unit?
Would the problem go away if I used some kind of switch instead of the Pyle mixer?
And what about Naomi?
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