Some ideas:

Plug the power adaptor to different ac outlet than the rest of your gear.

Turn the power adaptor 180 degrees and replug it. Sometimes it works.

Use a good UPS and plug your laptop's power adaptor to the battery bakup outlets. You should do this anyway.

Try Ebtech's hum eliminator.

Try a balanced power supply.

JCarlo wrote: Some ideas:

Plug the power adaptor to different ac outlet than the rest of your gear.

Turn the power adaptor 180 degrees and replug it. Sometimes it works.

Use a good UPS and plug your laptop's power adaptor to the battery bakup outlets. You should do this anyway.

Try Ebtech's hum eliminator.

Try a balanced power supply.

I tried plugging it into my power conditioner and my regular surge protector, and I still go the same hum.

I turned the power adaptor - doesn't do anything.

What is a UPS? I can only think of "universal power supply". How do you plug the adaptor to the battery backup outlets?

I'll look into the Ebtech.

Please elaborate on a balanced power supply.

I'm still new to DAW recording, so forgive me for my ignorance on some of your suggestions.

Thanks!

It might be the switching power supply in your computer, which can cause a lot of trouble in the audio band.

Here is some useful background info:
http://www.epanorama.net/documents/groundloop/home_solving.html

I believe the Firepod is not connected to earth; does it have a wall wart transformer with only 2 prongs?

Does you laptop power supply have an earth connection (2 prongs or 3?)?

Do the monitors have an earth connection?

Here is a line isolation transformer (best solution):
http://www.hammondmfg.com/171.htm
This will isolate your PC from the other circuits.

or this -which may not be as good but much cheaper: HUMplug-e
http://www.21best.com/21_best/electronic/security/video/filters/for_sale_.html

Best of luck.

Link555 wrote: It might be the switching power supply in your computer, which can cause a lot of trouble in the audio band.

Here is some useful background info:
http://www.epanorama.net/documents/groundloop/home_solving.html

I believe the Firepod is not connected to earth; does it have a wall wart transformer with only 2 prongs?

Does you laptop power supply have an earth connection (2 prongs or 3?)?

Do the monitors have an earth connection?

Here is a line isolation transformer (best solution):
http://www.hammondmfg.com/171.htm
This will isolate your PC from the other circuits.

or this -which may not be as good but much cheaper: HUMplug-e
http://www.21best.com/21_best/electronic/security/video/filters/for_sale_.html

The HUMplug-e is what I would need. The first one (isolation transformer) looks good, but a little bulky... it would be a pain to carry around with my portable DAW. Also, I can't seem to find a price on that one (unless I called).

To answer your questions:
The firepod is not a wall-wart. It is a 2-prong "central station" power supply seen here: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.presonus.com/store/images/PSfirepod.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.presonus.com/store/index.php%3FcPath%3D28&h=68&w=73&sz=3&hl=en&start=6&um=1&tbnid=rtZJnFHZMPaFZM:&tbnh=65&tbnw=70&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfirepod%2Bpower%2Bsupply%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DG

My laptop power supply is a ground connection (3 prong).

My studio monitors are both 3-prong (however they are not the problem - only the laptop creates the ground loop when plugged in).

Thanks.

Thanks Ardroth,
Ok so the firepod has a floating chassis. Which mean there is no earth connection, IE no third center prong.

All and all I think the HUMplug-e, should work, but if doesn't the Hammond iso-transformer will.

Link555 wrote: Thanks Ardroth,
Ok so the firepod has a floating chassis. Which mean there is no earth connection, IE no third center prong.

All and all I think the HUMplug-e, should work, but if doesn't the Hammond iso-transformer will.

Yeah, I agree... I ordered the Ebtech HUM-X from Amazon.com for $60... hopefully it will solve my problem. Thanks for the help man.

Ive read the same problem with the firrepod power supply also

No problem Ardroth. Good luck!