User Guide

Why am I hearing noise in my studio monitors?

Q: Why am I hearing noise in my studio monitors?

A: The presence of noise in the playback stream has been a tricky problem since the inception of

speaker technology. This article should help you troubleshoot your setup so that you can isolate

the component causing the noise and act accordingly. Below are the most common reasons for

your monitors to play back a noisy signal, as well as troubleshooting tips for how to remove

noise.

The Definitions of Noise

There are many types of noise, all with different meanings and causes. Noise is merely a

symptom of some underlying cause, usually not a problem in and of itself. It is important to

figure out what type of noise you are experiencing in order to treat it properly. Below is a list of

the most common types of noise, as well as brief descriptors of their possible causes and

solutions.

"White" Noise

"White" noise is noise that contains all, or most, elements of the frequency spectrum at random.

It is heard as constant, high-frequency "hiss" resembling the rushing of air or a television turned

to a dead channel.

Solution:

White noise is most often caused by the gain, or amplification, turned up too high at some point,

either on the monitor, from within software, or from the audio interface. Check the levels of your

interface, software, and speakers to make sure that nothing is being over-amplified.

Note: Highly sensitive microphones, such as most condensers, can pick up ambient noise in the

room that may not be audible to you, such as air conditioning, outside noise, wind, etc. Please

keep environmental noise in mind when recording.

Digital Distortion

Digital distortion is noise accompanied by "grinding" or "buzzing" sounds that appear

completely unnatural. Often, they follow the processes of the computer being used; for instance,

if one opens a program on their system, this noise may alter along with this process.

Solution:

Digital distortion is usually either caused by an issue with the audio interface, or the monitors

being connected to the same power strip/socket as the computer. Make sure your

monitors/playback solutions are connected to a separate power source than your computer and

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Why am I hearing noise in my studio monitors? Q: Why am I hearing noise in my studio monitors? A: The presence of noise in the playback stream has been a tricky problem since the inception of speaker technology. This article should help you troubleshoot your setup so that you can isolate the component causing the noise and act accordingly. Below are the most common reasons for your monitors to play back a noisy signal, as well as troubleshooting tips for how to remove noise.
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other digital hardware. Or, make sure you are using a quality power conditioner. Check with the support for your particular interface for more information on possible driver issues, fixes, and optimizations. Feedback Feedback is a phenomena that occurs when a microphone is placed too close to a playback speaker; this causes the mic to capture the audio that the speaker is emanating, then play it back through the speaker, then capture it again - creating a feedback loop.
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      Use "balanced" cables. These cables are much less susceptible to environmental interference and can carry a signal with high integrity over a longer length than other forms of cabling. If at all possible, use balanced cables to connect your interface to your monitors. Balanced cables contain three lines: two identical transmission lines as a twisted pair, encased in a third shield. You will find balanced cabling most often in the form of 1/4" TRS or XLR.