From goff747@aol.com Sat Jan 24 14:38:41 2004
Subject:Re: TRS plugs question (may be a little OT)


In a message dated 1/25/04 6:18:28 AM, sbac@alum.berkeley.edu writes:

<< Hi guys, I have a question about cables. Using B4 with my computer and a
mixer and an
amp, I'm getting annoying buzzes coming from the connection from the mixer to
the amp.
I'm using mono 1/4" cables, and I remember some people here saying that if
you use 1/4"
stereo (TRS) cables instead of the mono ones, you'll get rid of the noise.
Is that true?
Like instead of using two mono cables, I would use two stereo cables, and
that would
reduce the noise? What if I bought some mono Monster cables, would that
reduce the buzz?

I also notice this when I take just my keyboard and amp to live gigs
sometimes, would
having a TRS cable instead of mono ones help reduce the buzz I get, it really
can get
annoying sometimes. Thanks, I appreciate any help.

Aram >>

it sounds like you might have a ground loop problem stemming from the
combination of your computer, mixer, and amp. even if when playing live. the use of
TRS or monster, is no guaranty you'll get rid of the buzz. try disconnecting
your cords one by, while the system is on taking care to turn the volume of your
amp down, and see if it stops, isolating the cord. then try isolating the
equipment (plug into a different amp, or plug another keyboard in, use different
cords). do you have shielded signal cords? meaning you're not using speaker
wire are ya? are your chords in good condition? if when playing live does your
amp have a ground lift switch? try flicking that. another trick i use in the
studio when hooking up amps, preamps and instruments to a patchbay, is to insert
a direct box which has a ground lift switch. this ususally takes care of the
problem. another idea, are your keyboard, amp plugged into the same power
strip at the gig, if not, you're getting multi paths to ground and that might be
the problem. sometimes using the Rane method is to unhook the ground wire on
one end of a cable, but that can be hit and miss.