{"id":18368,"date":"2020-11-24T09:05:45","date_gmt":"2020-11-24T09:05:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thepodcasthost.com\/?p=18368"},"modified":"2021-05-11T13:03:53","modified_gmt":"2021-05-11T12:03:53","slug":"power-conditioners-gear-related-noise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thepodcasthost.com\/equipment\/power-conditioners-gear-related-noise\/","title":{"rendered":"Power Conditioners: How to Once and For All Rid Yourself of Gear Related Noise"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You\u2019ve just purchased shiny new gear \u2013 maybe even a booth too. Everything is now plugged in and ready to go. You record your first podcast episode. During editing, you notice there\u2019s a buzz in your audio. No clean up tools seem to be effective. Despite your best troubleshooting efforts<\/a>, there\u2019s still a buzz. The problem may not lie in your recording, but in your signal during playback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, audio gear is susceptible to all sorts of interference, aka noise. This noise can be created at various points where the audio signal is travelling through your gear. If you\u2019ve read our troubleshooting article<\/a>, you\u2019ve learned how to counteract this at the recording stage. Now it\u2019s time to learn how your playback can be affected by noise, as well as some options on how to fix it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, some investigation is needed before opening your wallet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is the Noise Actually Coming From Your Recording?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The easiest way to determine if noise exists within the recording itself is to look<\/em> at the audio through a spectrogram<\/a>. You’ll find a spectrogram tool inside most DAWs, for example, Audacity or Adobe Audition<\/a>. A spectrogram is a visual representation of all frequency content within a recording. This can greatly help to isolate the stage from where a noise issue is arising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A spectrogram takes care of any uncertainty<\/a>. Noise will have a specific shape that differs from the voice. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Spectral<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

No matter which spectral tools you use, interference noise (other than hiss and crackles) will always look like solid horizontal bars across the recording, as above. The tricky thing to be aware of is that a fan or HVAC<\/a> can produce a similar shape. This will also have to be investigated and ruled out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t see solid bars, the noise is not in<\/em> your recording. It\u2019s your playback device. Listen carefully. Can you hear a buzz and or hiss from your monitors or headphones with nothing playing back? Remember, there might be some<\/em> hiss. Every device has a self-noise<\/a>, after all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One Last Test<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Next, check for a faulty cable if you are using studio monitors into an interface. It\u2019s always a good idea to have a spare cable for testing purposes. Hear a buzz? Disconnect the monitor from the interface and turn on. Still hear a buzz? You might have a case of dirty power<\/em>. This can potentially affect you in the recording stage too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is dirty power? It can be anything from fluctuations in voltage to an introduction of electrical noise in various forms. Hums and crackles can actually be a side effect of dirty power for audio. In that case, you may want or need to consider using a power conditioner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If It\u2019s Not in My Recording<\/strong>, Why Should I Worry<\/strong>?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are doing your own editing and\/or mixing, everything you hear in playback can affect the processing decisions you have to make. Having noise-free playback is just as important as a clean recording. A hum that isn\u2019t actually in the recording could result in incorrect EQ\u2019ing, unneeded noise reduction, or over-editing. This is where a power conditioner can come into play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a Power Conditioner<\/strong>?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A power conditioner has two main functions, and perhaps a third depending on manufacturer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Regulates voltage output<\/li>
  2. Filters noise like EMI & RFI<\/li>
  3. Surge and spike protection (brand and model dependant)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Why Voltage Matters<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Fluctuating voltage feeding into your gear can age your gear quicker. In North America, electronics are happy at 120V. If the voltage jumps too high or dips too low, your gear may not perform as intended. You\u2019ve invested in your gear and computer. A proper voltage supply allows for peak performance of all your critical electronics. You may even realize energy efficiency on your power bill in the long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Noise Filtering<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    A power conditioner is like having a noise reduction plugin for your power supply. Keep one thing in mind: if noise persists after installation of a power conditioner, you may need to get your gear serviced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Surge Protection<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Protect your investment from overloading due to an unexpected electrical event. It\u2019s not just a storm that can cause a surge or spike. Birds on a power line, faulty transformers, accidental events, even beavers chewing down a power pole (yes, that happened to me!) will all cause unforeseen issues with your power supply. If you work out of your house, I also cannot recommend strongly enough getting a full house surge protector installed as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So What Do I Get<\/strong>?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    My studio is rocking a power conditioner from ART PRO Audio<\/a>. The slight difference between their base model and higher-end models is insignificant. You get the exact same protection with the base model as with the higher ones. The higher-end models have more outlets, USB ports, and voltage metering capabilities (not really needed for most people).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here\u2019s my right channel studio monitor without a power conditioner:<\/p>\n\n\n