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I hate to even ask this. I am using a Dell laptop for the first time this week to host my show. I have been getting a buzz through the speakers when the laptop is plugged in. When I unplug it, no buzz. Does anyone know of a (filter) that will take this out or have any ideas what I can do to eliminate the noise?

Try unplugging the SVideo connector going to the TV. If the buzz stops then, disconnect the cable or satellite from the TV and I bet it will disappear.

If that doesn't do it, try a USB audio interface or a "hum destroyer".

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

You might try a USB sound card to see if the buzz stops. Could be the internal sound card or connector is shot.

....or maybe a ground loop isolator from radioshack for $16.95 would work.

But laptops run on DC power...I wouldn't think you could get a ground loop coming through the laptop. EZ-test...unplug the laptop and run on battery to see if the buzz goes away.

Wait a minute. Plugged in to what?

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Let me rephrase the question or better explain. I keep the power cord (charger) plugged in during use. When I unplug the charger, the buzzing stops. I feel it has to be the charger making the noise. This is a new laptop, so I'm guessing it should not have card problems as of yet. I am using a VGA cord to my stage monitor as I don't have the S video setup. Is there any filter to stop this humming sound that is caused by the charger? Maybe, one that will hook inline?

Hello,

I had the same problem.

YES, the previous posts all will probably fix your problem. An external USB sound card will probably also improve your sound.

BUT, if you want the CHEAPEST and easiest fix just to get rid of the buzz, drop by any home improvement store, or even wal-mart, in the electrical section, pick up those little 3 prong to 2 prong adapter. The kind you put on the end of a 3 prong plug to make it plug into a 2 prong adaptor. I bought 3 for like $2 - $3 at walmart.

I can tell you from personal experience, this will work.

Aha. Now that I know you mean't connected to power, as Michelangeo said you can go 3->2pin power plug. Those DC power supplies don't really need to be grounded anyway, shouldn't be a safety problem.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Thanks guys!!! You Rock!!! I have several of those 3>2 adapters just layin' around takin' up dust!!! Thank you sooo very much!!!

I assume you are plugging your music in through the headphone jack? Hmm?

If that is the case, than you need to stop that.

You need what's called an audio interface... sometime referred to as a "USB sound card."

A decent one will run you about 100 bucks. I use one from M-Audio, and that solves the problem straignt away.

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

uh huh, read my thread on uca202. I've never had sound issues or buzzing going thru my internal soundcard.

then your power adaptor is probably going up.

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

A battery is a dead short to AC or any fluctuating voltages such as spikes. Lifting the cold or earth ground on any electronic gear subjects the load to power surges for they have to dissapate thru signal ground. However with a 1:1 isolation transformer the fluctuations or spikes have a direct path to earth ground and the DC component and signal ground is isolated. (no ground loop for signal) Powered speakers require a trs cable (balanced) to maintain the difference between signal ground and cold ground. The ground can be lifted on them also to eliminate the buzz but lifting the ground in any case is not recommended. A USB audio interface uses or establishes a signal ground and provides isolation.

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Using a 3 to 2 pin power adaptor...

Are you not basically un-earthing the laptop? Is that not dangerous?

Why ? The laptop is only receiving low voltage anyway (19V) and the output wire from the transformer is only a dual wired cable.

Thats what I did to stop the noise. I just cut the earth wire off from the extension socket I use to plug the computer in.

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[font=Fantasy][/font] "Travellin' at the speed of light"

Not really. There isn't a direct AC ground connection anyway, it is an AC/DC converter. In fact, most laptop power supplies only have two prongs.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Sure, the laptop needs no direct earth through the convertor - but I was wondering about the convertor itself? No worries, was just curious

If it had a metal case I might worry a bit, but most all of those are plastic and insulated. Again, most of the cords for those types of units are two-wire.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Removed the earth connection in my laptop PSU years ago with no problems. Fixed the buzz immeadiately. There is no mains earth in a laptop just a dc ground from the PSU. Everything is double insulated anyway as mentioned.

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Gadget's Karaoke : Boldly singing what no one has dared sing before.