maybe this http://recording.org/threads/m-audio-fast-track-mkii-high-pitched-noise.52607/
or this http://recording.org/threads/pulling-my-hair-out-over-high-pitched-consistent-noise.53460/

Nick Veldkamp, post: 438703, member: 49875 wrote: On my windows 10 machine the ring only happens when I open up certain software like Cubase, audacity and even my sound recording properties.

Following the links that Chris posted above, and having checked those things, if following those suggestions doesn't make a difference, this sounds like maybe it's a driver issue?

Have you visited the website for your interface and made sure that you've got the latest drivers ( and firmware, if applicable) or looked for patch updates or bug fixes?
Have you opened your control panel and made sure that the Lexicon is the only sound device enabled for your system? Or do you also have resident sound cards active/enabled as well?

My collaborator friend has a basic system with a Lexicon Alpha and has this problem since moving to windows 10 - and Lexicon have abandoned their users and not released any windows 10 drivers anyway - and their website says not currently supported. However, his has always had higher than acceptable levels of high pitched whine - which seems to be USB linked. He tried a Focusrite device and this too had the problem but worse. After a lot of trial and error - I came to the conclusion the problem was in the DC supply in the USB cable which drives the device. The nominal 5V was dropping when these devices were connected, to just above 4V and the one computer that was clean (a Panasonic tough book running Vista) managed the full 5V when the Lexicon was attached. He bought a Roland - tricky to source, but it has a power supply and is silent.

His Lexicon works silently on my macbook pro. I've got a Lexicon Omega which I use portable with my macbook, and I quite like it.

Alright thanks everyone, I will try out those fixes in the link chris posted. I'm not planning on using the lexicon with my windows 10 device so what would you all recommend for using it with my XP machine (where the ring was constant no matter what software was open), I plan on installing more RAM and upgrading the operating system to vista or 7.

Nick Veldkamp, post: 438717, member: 49875 wrote: I plan on installing more RAM and upgrading the operating system to vista or 7

I feel compelled to advise, go to 7. Vista is a pig

any chance we can hear this noise - we're kind of guessing. I too would suggest 7 - more modern cubase versions can be clunky with OS's older than they are. I'd not expect the RAM to make any difference to the noise, but significantly improve cubase when the track counts and gizmos increase.

Could you post a link to the noise? My lexicon is totally silent on my backup windows system and the mac.

audiokid, post: 438718, member: 1 wrote: I feel compelled to advise, go to 7. Vista is a pig

Yeah definitely.

Alright so here's the noise, I pulled this from another forum, you might have to turn up the volume a lot to hear it clearly.
https://www.gearslu…

Now thinking about it, as silly as it seems I used to record with a USB rock band microphone and stopped doing that because of the same noise.

Is Vista even supported anymore?
Not that I would advise it even if it was... As Chris mentioned, Vista wasn't exactly a crowning achievement by Microsoft. It's like the evil stepchild that they keep locked away and only mention when they have to.
Go with 7.

Just as a heads up -- my pc had a noise that was specifc to gigabyte motherboards of a certain kind that needed something very obscure changed in the bios if I remember correctly so actually look up any info related to your motherboard as well.

DogsoverLava, post: 438736, member: 48175 wrote: Just as a heads up -- my pc had a noise that was specifc to gigabyte motherboards of a certain kind that needed something very obscure changed in the bios if I remember correctly so actually look up any info related to your motherboard as well.

We're talking noise through headphones right?

Alright so I have tried almost everything you guys suggested, lexicon support told me the interface is faulty. Should I send it back and get a new one or keep trying fixes? Let me clarify the situation a bit, so my microphone came with an xlr to 1/4, now I plug that into the instrument port and its perfect, crystal clear just very quiet because its for instruments. If I turn up line 2/mic to a louder point than I need, I hear the faint ring. I plug in my xlr and it amplifies it. The xlr has a bad ground in it as I touch it, it buzzes all over. (bought a $5 20 foot xlr on amazon if that says anything) So I'm stuck here, I don't know if I need a good xlr or if I need to ship out the interface, it's getting close to my 30 day warranty.

Nick Veldkamp, post: 438746, member: 49875 wrote: We're talking noise through headphones right?

yes -- and I'm trying to find a reference to the issue I had and the fix -- but it was byzantine -- some deep deep bios setting that was causing noise related to my MB. Until I found the fix I thought I was going to have to buy a new motherboard from a different company. When you have PC issues -- always google and search for the issue related to your actual motherboard or hardware. Look for device and driver conflicts - look for bios issues -- it can be anything.

Alright i'll keep searching

Also check your device managers etc - look for things like ATI-HDMI audio (if you have an ati card) and disable it. Sometimes you still have other devices trying to access audio (like you video card through HDMI) and it's getting confused with your interface and your native sound on the motherboard. Disable SLI -- see if that helps -- there can be weird conflicts. Make sure your onboard soundcard has been disabled as well.

DogsoverLava, post: 438758, member: 48175 wrote: Also check your device managers etc - look for things like ATI-HDMI audio (if you have an ati card) and disable it. Sometimes you still have other devices trying to access audio (like you video card through HDMI) and it's getting confused with your interface and your native sound on the motherboard. Disable SLI -- see if that helps -- there can be weird conflicts. Make sure your onboard soundcard has been disabled as well.

Yeah all that stuff I've been trying, hopefully its something in the BIOS or maybe the interface is faulty like lexicon said, Cubase keeps kicking it out because "too many errors"

Nick Veldkamp, post: 438747, member: 49875 wrote: lexicon support told me the interface is faulty. Should I send it back and get a new one or keep trying fixes?

I'd send it back. Process of elimination.

I've heard that from so many digital devices connected to computers - it's bus noise, and is common. It's digital and the harmonics mean it is very difficult to screen out. It's actually quite mild, the Lexicon Alpha my friend had grief with had that same problem but louder. His focus right replacement had the same issue, as I detailed above. His new Roland is silent. My Tascam has that sound if you turn everything up full, but at normal fader levels I can't hear it. For certain, it's coming in over the USB connection, but I've never discovered exactly why some computers suffer badly. One thing you could do is check all the usb ports are the same - if some of the ports are fed from motherboard headers, I guess it's possible the unscreened cable could internally be very close to one of the data lines and that's how it's getting in? My computers all use the same 19" rack (Carillon computers) and they have a front USB socket, and that cable is header connected and does cause a problem with a couple of devices I connect that are fine on the rear sockets? Not tried it with audio devices.

Yeah, so I'm shipping it out soon and ordering a new interface, and a good xlr. I've heard a lot about using USB isolator adapters to fix the problem but they're more than I want to spend right now, do you all think a regular USB hub could fix the problem?

I'd send it back, and get a good xlr cable, just to be safe. That said, is there anything at all plugged into any of the other USB ports? It's possible that there is multiple ports, but using the same USB bus internally on the computer. I'm pretty sure Paul was talking about this too.

You can/should disable all USB ports that your computer has, and one by one check them, and see if there's improvement.

I wouldn't buy more stuff to try and fix this issue. Your interface is designed to plug right in, without hubs or isolators. If the new interface/cable does the same thing, on every port, then is related to the computer, not the interface. First thing to figure out is if the interface is defective or not.

I know it's annoying, I got into the 'buy this specific extra adapter, then specific external HDD, and this and that' with a troublesome laptop and DAW. 2k, and 3 interfaces later, it was simply the program (PTLE 7) just wasn't written to work with the then new core 2 duo systems. PT m-powered always ran flaky, yet any other program ran flawlessly. Even more, it ran flawlessly Without all the specific 'compatible' hardware and accessories I was buying, to fix PT.

Please learn from my mistakes. Or at least don't go tossing a lot of money at it.

Do any of your buddies or family members have a computer of any sort you could try quickly, and see if the noise is the same?

kmetal, post: 438795, member: 37533 wrote: I'd send it back, and get a good xlr cable, just to be safe. That said, is there anything at all plugged into any of the other USB ports? It's possible that there is multiple ports, but using the same USB bus internally on the computer. I'm pretty sure Paul was talking about this too.

You can/should disable all USB ports that your computer has, and one by one check them, and see if there's improvement.

I wouldn't buy more stuff to try and fix this issue. Your interface is designed to plug right in, without hubs or isolators. If the new interface/cable does the same thing, on every port, then is related to the computer, not the interface. First thing to figure out is if the interface is defective or not.

I know it's annoying, I got into the 'buy this specific extra adapter, then specific external HDD, and this and that' with a troublesome laptop and DAW. 2k, and 3 interfaces later, it was simply the program (PTLE 7) just wasn't written to work with the then new core 2 duo systems. PT m-powered always ran flaky, yet any other program ran flawlessly. Even more, it ran flawlessly Without all the specific 'compatible' hardware and accessories I was buying, to fix PT.

Please learn from my mistakes. Or at least don't go tossing a lot of money at it.

Do any of your buddies or family members have a computer of any sort you could try quickly, and see if the noise is the same?

I have multiple computers I've been trying and it's always the same thing, I do what I call a "universal test" on each computer where I start to record in Audacity and even when I open up the recording sound properties in the control panel they all trigger the noise.

Nick Veldkamp, post: 438797, member: 49875 wrote: I have multiple computers I've been trying and it's always the same thing, I do what I call a "universal test" on each computer where I start to record in Audacity and even when I open up the recording sound properties in the control panel they all trigger the noise.

And the common denominator to all these multiple computers is....?

In that question lies your answer

Sounds like a driver issue, defective interface, or bum cable(s). I'd make use of your return/exchange policy.

kmetal, post: 438817, member: 37533 wrote: defective interface

+1 (y)

Time will tell, but dare I say, chaulk another one up for RO!!!?????

If its across every computer he has used in the process, and the OP has used the same interface, and the drivers are up to date, I'd put my money on it being a faulty interface or USB cord that is connecting the device is a little Basil Fawlty.

Alright so........ New interface, new cord, same problem. I've made sure all other audio devices are disabled even the onboard audio in the BIOS, made sure all my drivers are up to date, using Windows 7 now, tried different USB cords and ports. I've fully figured out how to record good it's just that stupid sound.

Have you disabled the onboard Ethernet ports, and wifi?

kmetal, post: 438853, member: 37533 wrote: Have you disabled the onboard Ethernet ports, and wifi?

Ha, I did see that I could disable the onboard NIC but didn't think it would do anything. I'll try that out next.

network cards are notorious noise makers.

kmetal, post: 438857, member: 37533 wrote: network cards are notorious noise makers.

Would it matter if it had an ethernet connection into it or not, I barely ever have it connected to the internet and didn't the whole time I was trying out recording.

Its always a good idea to not have any processes running in the background while your using your DAW as these can effect the processors ability to do its job, particularly on PC's or laptops that have limited RAM.

Your PC will still be running apps in the background regardless. Its a good idea to physically disconnect your internet cable or wifi then stop or disable all non crityical applications and even disable your anti-virus.

The less drain on your CPU the better your PC's ability to run all the processes associated with your DAW.

Its a good idea to note down what you disable on a pen and paper so you can correctly start these apps again later.

Just remember to enable any apps you disabled and also restart your anti-virus after you have finished your session and closed your DAW.

Disabled the NIC, went to task manager and sound is the only application running. Didn't fix.

What is the make and model of the computer your using? What OS.? Also, if your cell phone is near you, try putting in in another room.

Are all the computers you've tried this on in the same house?

You've disabled the wifi too correct?

Okay so I was just messing with it a little bit and found a USB cable that won't make the high pitch noise, at least not near as loud as the others. And I've realized through normal audio playback that when the bad noise is audible the output volumes on the interface are up way louder than I would ever need them. Now here comes the main problem I need to fix, my mic. I plug the xlr in without the mic, the sound gets a little bit louder (assuming because it hasn't completed ground connection with a microphone). I plug the mic in and it gets a lot worse and I can't grab the mic because it buzzes (bad ground). I've heard reviews from this cheap mic that you should re wire the microphone when you get it due to chintzy wires and ground problems.

what mic are you using?

You've got to tell us what your using at this point, it's difficult to assess what'd going on, knowing nothing about your setup. Kinda like saying "my car is making a funny noise", and providing no addition information about it. Or going to the doctor and saying 'I have pain somewhere, what is it?'

If your using a mic with known issues, try another mic.

I'm guessing there's bad grounding or a loop. Probably due to inadequate/dirty power. Are you in an apartment with ACs and heaters, boilers running? Fridges?

DonnyThompson, post: 438866, member: 46114 wrote: what mic are you using?

$10 PYLE dynamic mic.

kmetal, post: 438869, member: 37533 wrote: You've got to tell us what your using at this point, it's difficult to assess what'd going on, knowing nothing about your setup. Kinda like saying "my car is making a funny noise", and providing no addition information about it. Or going to the doctor and saying 'I have pain somewhere, what is it?'

If your using a mic with known issues, try another mic.

I'm guessing there's bad grounding or a loop. Probably due to inadequate/dirty power. Are you in an apartment with ACs and heaters, boilers running? Fridges?

K, Basement in my house i've tried two different rooms. Dell Desktop Windows 7 plugged straight into wall tried powerstrips too, Lexicon alpha interface, xlr mic into line 2/mic channel. Listening back through headphones and sometimes hooking the RCA outs to my stereo system.