Laptop causes Hum or hiss?

[ukpartydj]

Hi I've recently bought a couple of new not so powerful / expensive laptops as my current laptops are overkill really for my DJing and one of the laptops (my favorite) creates a hum / hiss when the USB soundcard is plugged in!?!

The hiss is outputted through the mixer.

I've tried all my other laptops and they do not create the sound. I'm guessing it's not the cable as it doesn't do it on other laptops which would mean that the laptop itself isn't grounded properly maybe??

Any ideas what could help solve this?

[DJRecardo]

Try putting a ground loop isolator inline between the sound card and mixer, it usually solves the problem and they only cost a few quid

[ukpartydj]

Try putting a ground loop isolator inline between the sound card and mixer, it usually solves the problem and they only cost a few quid

Hmmm, sounds like it would solve the problem - bit of a pain though! Cheers

[Shaun]

Yep, definitely sounds like you need a ground loop isolator. The laptop hum is one of the most queried problems here on the forum. Do a quick search and you'll find lot's of advice and opinions regarding this.

[DiscoPromotions]

Have you tried a different usb lead... some of them are not good..

[ukpartydj]

Yep, definitely sounds like you need a ground loop isolator. The laptop hum is one of the most queried problems here on the forum. Do a quick search and you'll find lot's of advice and opinions regarding this.

Will do, not sure the search is working properly for me though just comes up with lots of unrelated recent topics!

Have you tried a different usb lead... some of them are not good..

I don't think it's the lead as my other laptop works fine but I'm going to grab my mixer out of the van and have a play around with my spare leads just incase.

[Kernow]

one of the laptops (my favorite) creates a hum / hiss when the USB soundcard is plugged in!?!
I've tried all my other laptops and they do not create the sound.

Any ideas what could help solve this?

Change favourites ?

[ukpartydj]

Oddly enough I've plugged everything in at home and there is no noise!
Starting to think that maybe it's more an issue with one of my extension leads or even the main supply at the hotel I was working at.
I didn't check the ground on the plugs at the hotel because I checked them a few months back and regularly go there.

I've managed to eliminate -

Mixer
Soundcard
Cables
Power supply to laptop

I've tested a couple of my extensions and they are fine so it's either one of my extension cables or the venue that has the faulty ground I would assume.

[ukpartydj]

Change favourites ?

I wish i could, I bought it especially for an illuminated keyboard though and i love it!

[Kernow]

I wish i could, I bought it especially for an illuminated keyboard though and i love it!

But your issue (and I'm pretty sure the clients too) revolves around sound, not the lightshow ?

Hope you get it sorted