DC power vs AC power

[Philbo King]

Haha pseudoscience

Not really. These were clock systems for aerospace systems and microwave transceivers with phase noise requirements below -140dBm/Hz. Believe me, management would not spring ~$500k for a screen room if they could avoid it. They had no problem with buying me a couple 6V lantern batteries though.

 

[Icarus88]

Not really. These were clock systems for aerospace systems and microwave transceivers with phase noise requirements below -140dBm/Hz. Believe me, management would not spring ~$500k for a screen room if they could avoid it. They had no problem with buying me a couple 6V lantern batteries though.

'tin foil hat'
no, using DC batteries for sound systems may be pseudoscience as you say

 

[antcollinet]

Zero ground loop

You don’t need a mains gound to create a ground loop. You can do it with plain old two way interconnect. (EG one way for audio out, and a path back for audio in (eg a recording loop)

Your hypothesis is faulty - DC is not better than AC. The effects of ground loops can be eliminated by careful selection of gear, how it is interconnected, or by isolation, or by balanced connections. Running stuff on battery is an un-necessary fools errand.

 

[Icarus88]

You don’t need a mains gound to create a ground loop. You can do it with plain old two way interconnect. (EG one way for audio out, and a path back for audio in (eg a recording loop)

Your hypothesis is faulty - DC is not better than AC. The effects of ground loops can be eliminated by careful selection of gear, how it is interconnected, or by isolation, or by balanced connections. Running stuff on battery is an un-necessary fools errand.

That's why I wanted to ask you. I would never attempt something like this without learning it in depth.

 

[DonH56]

What about USB isolators?

Depends upon what is the cause of the ground loop. Can always try one and see. I have no experience with them, nor am I familiar with the USB standard. Ethernet is galvanically isolated per spec.

 

[DonH56]

I also read that they use filtering devices, UPSs, etc.

Those will not generally break a ground loop.

 

[MaxwellsEq]

I also read that they use filtering devices, UPSs, etc.

They use balanced working. There are massive UPS and huge diesel generators installed in broadcast centres and data centres to keep transmission working during power cuts and survive brown-outs, BUT not to improve audio.

They use balanced working. That's it. No funky HiFi foolery. They have to make money and need everything to work reliably all the time. Mucking around with silly stuff just wastes time.

 

[Icarus88]

They use balanced working. There are massive UPS and huge diesel generators installed in broadcast centres and data centres to keep transmission working during power cuts and survive brown-outs, BUT not to improve audio.

They use balanced working. That's it. No funky HiFi foolery. They have to make money and need everything to work reliably all the time. Mucking around with silly stuff just wastes time.

Thanks

Since I'm not an expert on the subject, I just wanted to ask you.

 

[DVDdoug]

Recording studios are mostly concerned with acoustic noise (soundproofing).

I did read once that light dimmers are "not allowed" because of the electrical noise they put on the power line. ...A million years ago I worked for the parent company of Chuck E. Cheese (fun job before they went bankrupt) and their restaurants used big motorized Variac dimmers (which don't make electrical noise) to automatically dim the lights every time a show starts.

 

[MaxwellsEq]

Thanks

Since I'm not an expert on the subject, I just wanted to ask you.

OK, but try to avoid "Just Asking Questions".

We explained balanced / differential working is the fundamental tool to control ground loops in studios with 1000s of km of cable and thousands of inputs. But instead of ASKING something like "oh, so don't they depend on UPS and filters?". (a reasonable question) you instrad STATED: "I also read that they use filtering devices, UPSs, etc" (which implies that you have some knowledge). Then you come back with "Since I'm not an expert on the subject, I just wanted to ask you." If you're not an expert, why claim that you know about UPS and filters?

 

[Icarus88]

OK, but try to avoid "Just Asking Questions".

We explained balanced / differential working is the fundamental tool to control ground loops in studios with 1000s of km of cable and thousands of inputs. But instead of ASKING something like "oh, so don't they depend on UPS and filters?". (a reasonable question) you instrad STATED: "I also read that they use filtering devices, UPSs, etc" (which implies that you have some knowledge). Then you come back with "Since I'm not an expert on the subject, I just wanted to ask you." If you're not an expert, why claim that you know about UPS and filters?

You are right, it is my fault.

 

[Icarus88]

Balanced connections. Virtually all pro equipment used in studios and live has balanced inputs & outputs. Virtually all home equipment has unbalanced connections (RCA or 3.5mm).

In MOST home setups with relatively short cables it's not a problem.

I plugged an XLR cable into the interface, but it didn't do anything, I don't understand.

 

[Ropeburn]

Balanced connections. Virtually all pro equipment used in studios and live has balanced inputs & outputs. Virtually all home equipment has unbalanced connections (RCA or 3.5mm).

In MOST home setups with relatively short cables it's not a problem.

You'd be surprised how many synthesizers and FX devices don't have balanced in/outputs. Infact, the majority doesn't.

 

[raindance]

DC systems have no isolation and have much worse ground loop effects than AC powered systems where the internal circuitry is isolated by the transformer.

 

[Icarus88]

You'd be surprised how many synthesizers and FX devices don't have balanced in/outputs. Infact, the majority doesn't.

Absolutely, it is not in my interface, scarlett solo gen 3, because it made no difference

 

[Icarus88]

Newbie questions


My mistake is trying to get high sound quality with a cheap interface, there is no such world.

 

[antcollinet]

I plugged an XLR cable into the interface, but it didn't do anything, I don't understand.

Did you remove the rca connections and replace them with xlr, or are the rca connections still in place? Between which components did you use xlr?

 

[Icarus88]

Did you remove the rca connections and replace them with xlr, or are the rca connections still in place? Between which components did you use xlr?

I connected the guitar to a EQ pedal with a jack, then I connected EQ pedal with xlr cable to the interface. It got much worse. Maybe a jack-xlr cable would work.

 

[Jimbob54]

I think designing the entire sound system entirely according to DC is a figment of the imagination. Maybe even ridiculous. Maybe stupid.

So why ask about it in your first post ?

 

[Icarus88]

So why ask about it in your first post ?

an unstable mind