Karaoke Forums

Hi,

I’m moving over from live band, to DJ now to KJ. I’m using my Peavey 6 channel PA; old school, on-board EQ, 400 W, a Genesis DJ mixer and a PC tower at the moment.

The PA alone sound okay but I do have a slight hiss, though no 60 hum. It’s very strong and clear other than the hiss.

You hook up the VocoPro rechargeable mics, the VocoPro Harmonizer and the DJ mixing board in the chain and it’s pretty much the same over-all sound, not bad.

Using the cheesy 1/8 out jack on the sound board, straight to the DJ mixing board and then we have more hiss and noise. Not horrible but I’d like to clean it up as much as I can?

I’ve tried the usual; 3 prong to 2 prong, switching those around. No go.

Any fixes you guys could recommend?

Thx,

Mark from Murrieta, CA

I'm not real clear on how you have this set up so I'll just throw a couple of thoughts out there. Are you using an old Peavey XR600 series mixer head? If so which one? I used to use an old XR600C for many years as a keyboard amp. Built like tanks, weigh even more, but far from being silent in operation. Are you running your output into the POWER AMP IN (I don't think this jack is balanced) are you running into a CHANNEL or does the head have RCA ins? Yes, most of those little 1/8 plug type cables are pretty low quality, they do actually make some decent ones though. I do something similar to what your doing and I got some cables that were shielded better and that helped quite a bit. Also, the 1/8 jack on your sound card just isn't the most forgiving connection in the world. You might even want to consider going to a usb external soundcard or you could try running into a direct box and then run balanced into the Peavey head. These are a few of the things I've done in the past to resolve interference.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHUCA202

_________________
Quickness of mind will deceive the eye

I go USB out from my computer rather than dorking around with the 1/8" to RCA converter. My experience has shown this to be a solid way to get the noise down.

Also, check out the Radio Shack Ground Loop Isolator. Folks here SWEAR by that!

In short I am running just as you say and I now see the problem.

Yes, you are right, it's a XR-500 and it is a tank. I'm going to get a Radio Shack Ground Loop Isolator for sure and I guess I'll have to get a USB connector as well. I've tried sending out the R and L to two different channels and that doesn't make a change for the better.

BTW, this USB audio device; it states that it has inputs and outputs. Are you telling me that you can access the audio coming out of the PC through this device? I didn't think thast was possible? From a USB port.....?

And, I use two sound cards, for audio mixing through my DJ board using Club DJ Pro. How would this work?

Am I missing something here?

I love this forum. I'm new to connecting high tech to low tech but with your help, I'll get her working well enough.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHUCA202



This is the kinda device I'm talking about. usb from the computer to rca.

Since you're using two signals for sound, you will probably have to identify which one uses which sound device.

I don't understand why you need two, though. Clubdjpro plays karaoke! Have that in one player, and your other audio in player b.

Hi,

I don't like the karaoke options in ProDJ. but I do like the DJ funtions. You need two soundcards for previewing a song using one soundcard, while playing another song, through the other soundcard (the program is set up to do this), like old school mixing, which I find very helpful for cueing up a tune with a lame front end and back end, etc.

I ordered one of those USB audio break out deals this morning.

BTW, I bought to of those ground devices, no change in the background sound.

Thx,

Mark

I'm not sure why you bothered with the Radio Shack isolator, you had already said in your original post that it wasn't a 60 cycle hum. That's why I only suggested items that pertained to rejecting interference and possibly changing to a USB soundcard. I see you did order that, let us know how that works for you. Something else you can try while your waiting is to lower the output of your soundcard so the peavey isn't amplifying so much noise. Remember, that Peavey you are using is probably pushing forty years old and is capable of just so much as far as audio quality.

_________________
Quickness of mind will deceive the eye

It is called floor or thermal noise caused by running amps full blown. If you have ever woke up at night with the TV on station signed off and noise it is the same thing The AGC in the receiver is wide open (no signal) Never run the onboard sound on a PC at max. The DAC will put out floor noise. Put all gains at mid then adjust from there.

I cringe when many on here always rec running something wide open although headroom on good amps allow this setting. . The linear portion of any amp is -6DB low end and same high end. Specs use -3DB but there is a small amount of harmonic distortion at -3DB. 3DB is half power..

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Hi,

Well, they do state that it helps with a bit of the device noise as well. No worries, they're not that much money and I can slways use one in my truck; Sirius plug and play, etc.

I know what you mean about the volume from the soundcard out, etc.

I'll let you know my results after I get the USB audio break out deal.

Thx very much to all for the on-going help,

Mark