HELP with interference problem

OK so i have my tables set up in the studio. i used to get some radio interference with people on short wave radios through my turntables and mixer. it has to be coming from either the TT or the mixer because the sound and noise is coming through the one channel on the mixer. it interferes with calibration and playback. you can actually hear the people talking back and forth for short periods. its not all the time but when it happens it messes up any recordings im doing. i basically need to know wht i can do to prevent this from happening. if there is any way. any suggestions?

You could buy an AC Hum Eliminator... fairly cheap and rack mountable.

its not a hum its not really feedback. i can hear them TALKING back and forth. this isnt a 60 mhz humm form a ground problem its something else. but thanks.

Well, you could try to block the signal by putting something between your setup and the rest of the room.

lol HAhahaa, your kidding right? what do you suggest i put between my equipment and the outside world?

Maybe they're not shielded properly inside, I would talk to the manufacturers... That's not acceptable.

Half joke, half serious...That could actually work. I did that when I got all these German voices on my mixer. Scary...

Maybe you can pick up some secret conspiracy plans and stuff and sample that?

who knows, its wiered there must be some dude with a short wave in my block. man get a cell phone.

If you pick up something like this, you know what to do.
"We must kill that guy who plays all that loud music al the time."...
"Yeah, that guy is such a pretender. Let's light up his house"...

You could bust their asses if they haven't paid a license or something. Wouldn't that be fun? At least you would get rid of the problem ;)

man im not going through all that. im just seeing if there is anything else that can be done on my end.

You're most definitely picking up RFI through your mixer or amp (probably your mixer). The first thing I would do is narrow down the point of entry (ie. phono pre-amps, unbalanced RCA inputs, turntable RCA cables, ect). Once you know how its getting into your audio signal path it will be easier to isolate.

Or simply just knock on this guy's door with your cool friends and tell him to stop doing that thing ;)

ok once that is one what is the next step? it would have to catch it then try to do it while hes talking, but when im there i want to the next move. its phono inputs because its affecting SSL and isnt the singal from the tables always a phono signal it switches within the box to the line inputs.

Can you still hear people talking while using Scratch LIVE (ie using the line outs of the hardware interface)?

It's just in your head, synystr. You're turning insane...I also had that, but it's over now :)

lol @ Rev. nah man this has been happening for years, just not all the time and its been a while since it did so i forgot about it. Shaun when in phono mode i can hear the people on the short wave radio's, when its switched to line with SSL i don't hear the voices but SSL goes NUTS. if i have a mp3 loaded and playing it has drop outs, goes backwards all types of things. this i would assume is from the signal that is being sent to the SSL BOx from the signal of thevoices. i know this isnt a problem that came with SSL i was just hoping with all the brains on here it could be figured out without spending a fortune. anything i can tell you to help ask me.

You have to protect your setup from receiving these things as I said earlier by using something to block the conspiracy signal. Or maybe try to move it and see if you still get it...

I recommend wrapping tin foil round your head, that should should stop them. ;-)

But seriously, you might want to invest in some ferrite coils. You need to wrap them around the phono leads on your decks. Ferrite is the stuff inside the bulges on games console control pads, and alot of computer cables.
www.maplin.co.uk
This sort are perfect, the aim is to get the ferrite to stay in tight contact with the outside of the cable, put them at the end nearest the mixer. If you can't get this clip on type, get the ones that are like rings and loop the cable through several times.

By the way maplin is like radio shack so I would try there first.

ok its happening alot today, its only coming from one turntable's phono plugs. if i switch it to another chaneel same thing on that channel. so apparenttly its something with the table but its a newone, kinda sucks. any other ideas than the ferrite?

ok more insit, after more testing. it only does it when the SSL box is used. meaning if i plug the TT into the Box it has the interferance. if i don't use the box i have no interferance. so it is the box after all. so now which leads should i put the ferrites on?

Sounds like it's the phono preamps within the SSL box that are picking up the interference.

The ferrite coils (as nobspangle suggested) are going to be your best bet.

ok now where should i put them in the setup. on the tt rca's going into the SSL box or the RCA's going from phone on the Box to phono on the mixer? i hope i dont need all of them, thats alot of ferrite!

If the problem is only there when the box is in, you probably want to put ferrite on the end of the cables going into your mixer. If that doesn't work, try the end of the turntable cables going into the SSL box.

If you've got an old FM radio lying around that has a built in aerial you should find a ferrite rod inside, it'll be about 4" long with thin wire coiled round it. You could try winding the phono cables round that rod.

Another informative thread, nice work guys.

indeed it is, i'm sorry to hear the cause may be the phono preamps of the SSL interface though.

Actually, the cause of the problem is the short wave radio transmissions :P LOL

@dj synystr

Did the ferrite work?

hehe... ;-)

i went to the store and they didnt have the ones that slip over in stock so i ordered them and they should be here tuesday/tom. i hope the dude is talking so i can see if it worked and not find out during a mix.