Onboard sound interference

badgerino

Hello

I have a Dell Dimension 3000 and a PA system (bix mixer and speakers). All my music is on the PC and I want to use it to play music for a party. Only problem is that when I turn up the sound, I get a lot of interference - noise which I presume is coming from within the PC (whirring, clicking etc). Using headphone the intereference is almost undetectable, but when its amplified by an order of 400 or so watts, it's really quite loud.

I was wondering if anyone knew whether inserting a separate sound card (i.e. a dedicated sound device) would reduce (or eliminate) this?

If so, any recommendations for a good cheap one? Not looking for sound quality just yet, I only want to get rid of the interference.

Cheers!

albertross_2

Do you have a microphone plugged into the PC? (The reason I ask is your description of whirring/clicking, which is not the sort of noise I would expect from a line-out).

£$&*"($£&(

This sounds like the common ground loop problem when connecting PCs to sound systems. Laptops and external soundcards tend to be worse. In music production circles it's a recurring topic. The simplest solution is to get an isolator/transformer. I use an Art Cleanbox II (not to be confused with an Art Cleanbox). The cheapest option is to use a ground loop isolator as used for car audio. Not the best for critcal music production listening but fine for live music. I use this one from Maplins.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=ground%20isolator&source=15&SD=Y

badgerino

I don't have a microphone, but I will try and use the isolator - thanks!