New Track 16 interface and "tape hiss" problem

[Diplomat]

Hi guys,
I have just purchased a brand new MOTU track 16 interface and I am slowly going through a few learning curves as I try to get everything working together smoothly. I purchased Cubase 6.5 a few weeks ago and I am getting into the swing of things there after having used Ableton Live for most of this year. Previously I used an Akai DPS24 for about 10 years and decided to change DAW's to use some of the great features in them.

I have been using a friends Mbox2 all this year and decided to upgrade to the track 16 as it suits my needs just fine at this point however I have what sounds like tape hiss coming out of my monitors now.

I upgraded drivers to 4.0.5.5333 this morning and I still have the hiss coming out. This happens in both Ableton and Cubase. Audio would play just fine although the hiss is still audible at quieter listening levels.

Any other track 16 owners on here experience this?

Regards,
Andrew

[boraymond]

Hi,

Firewire or USB? It sounds like the same problem I had when connecting to my Macpro intel 1.1 via firewire. Connecting via USB did it, now completely quiet. In a good way...

Regards.

[Diplomat]

Thanks Boraymond,
It is USB.Hmmm... switching to USB fixed your issue... bummer (for me, I am using USB).
I am using a Toshiba Qosmio laptop i7 running windows 7 64bit

Thanks for you help,
Andrew

[stephentayler]

just a thought.....

open CueMixFX and check if some (or all) of the input faders for the channels are open by mistake - that could introduce unwanted noise.

......... oh and is the noise coming out of the headphones output as well as your monitors??

Cheers

Stephen

[Diplomat]

Thanks Stephen,

I will try that out. I also heard from MOTU support who suggested

"You should calibrate your monitor system. Turn your monitor amps down. Launch iTunes or similar software. Play back a commercial CD at maximum volume. Make sure the output volume of the Track 16 is set to maximum. Bring up your monitor amps to maximum comfortable listening level. Attenuate the signal from the Track 16 from that reference point".

I will have a go at both these when time permits.

Thanks very much for your help.

Regards,
Andrew

[RangerJ ay]

Are you using balanced cables into balanced plugs? Apparently, there are both balanced and unbalanced on the Track 16.

If your monitors support balanced input, use all balanced connections and cables.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Diplomat]

Hi RangerJay,
My cables are balanced. I would assume the main outs on the track 16 are balanced?

I wound the input sensitivity down on the back of the HR824's and the hiss disappeared so it looks like a calibration issue. I have since tried following the advice from MOTU and do you think I can get iTunes or an audio CD to play through Ableton (the platform with which I am most familiar) or Cubase?

What I do have is Ableton now running VERY sluggishly and crashing as soon as I try to load a recent project

And Cubase runs however no sound plays and the meters don't move to indicate that something should be playing as the transport is running...



Andrew

[Diplomat]

Hi guys,
Just a quick update. The hissing was a calibration issue. Previously with the DPS24 I just had the main outs hooked up to the HR824's and I was good to go, no sign of hiss.

With the track 16 I just needed to wind the input sensitivity back a fair bit it turns out to stop the hiss from coming through so now I am a happy camper.

Ableton appears to be behaving itself now so goodness knows what was causing that.

thanks for your help

Until the next issue.
Andrew

[mi.rush]

Hey masters.

Just installed Track 16 drivers. Copnnect thru macbook pro's firewire
Hear "buzz" and "hiss" sound from my powered monitors.

plz, help

[nickwritesmusic]

I had a similar problem when I first plugged mine in, and noticed that it sometimes corresponded to the lights on the interface's meters.

Connecting the computer to a separate power source than the monitors fixed it instantly.

Just something else to try.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

And have the T16 on the included power supply, not FW powered.

BTW, NEVER HOT SWAP FIREWIRE! NEVER!