Sound in Linux - lower noise level

[#The fREaK!]

When using Windows, there is always a loud backround noise. It gets louder when you turn up the volume, and extra loud while you move the mouse pointer, for some reason.

I just noticed that this isn't the case when using Linux. I can adjust the volume up and down, and I can move the mouse pointer like crazy without hardly affecting the noise level. It stays the same. Very low. Not even a 1/10 of the noise level when using windows, and more flat. Not the wide, weird humming and popping noise I get while using Windows. Have anyone else noticed this?

[Toe]

If you're getting a loud background noise in windows, something be fucked up. Updated your drivers lately?

[hedge]

If you're getting a loud background noise in windows, something be fucked up. Updated your drivers lately?
I notice a kind of ... hmmm i suppose it could only be described as a really quiet distortion when i move my mouse around, or even sometimes when theres plenty of HDD activity. But i've checked it up, and it seems to be a common glitch with the onboard sound (soundstorm) on my motherboard (A7N8X deluxe rev. 2).
The problems you're describing sound like a driver error however, and only in the windows drivers obviously.

[Rex_Mundi_Incarnit]

Hi guys im back! :biggrin: About your problem, i too have onboard sound and just when i bought my computer, ie components to build one, i really had that problem as well. Noise thru the speakers when my hdd did stuff or when my mouse moved. I also had really a lot of interference when i started my computer and would mostly go away when windows started. I bought a ground loop filter which really solved most of the problem. The noise from my speakers, a low frequency bass hum, was removed. The noise from my hdd activity and mouse movement sort of disappeared with time. So now im really happy with my less than professional onboard AC97 audio codec ;) :grimreape :biggrin:

[hedge]

Hi guys im back! :biggrin: About your problem, i too have onboard sound and just when i bought my computer, ie components to build one, i really had that problem as well. Noise thru the speakers when my hdd did stuff or when my mouse moved. I also had really a lot of interference when i started my computer and would mostly go away when windows started. I bought a ground loop filter which really solved most of the problem. The noise from my speakers, a low frequency bass hum, was removed. The noise from my hdd activity and mouse movement sort of disappeared with time. So now im really happy with my less than professional onboard AC97 audio codec ;) :grimreape :biggrin:
Yep, same audio codec that I've got. I've read that many mobo's onboard sound suffer from inteference from shoddy wiring and shielding etc., which i think this problem may very well be, seeming it only happens on some form of activity within the computer.
Anyway, I've tried changing just about every setting in the mixer to no avail. My new sennheiser's do seem to put across less of the noise then my older zalman 5.1's did, and it really is quite hard to notice at all when playing music.
So I'll just try and ignore the problem until i have enough money for a decent sound card... :cheeky:

[Rex_Mundi_Incarnit]

Hedge, do you have an earth loop isolator? It's very good at supressing noise. If you dont have one, get one, it saves you from having to buy an expensive sound card. Also make sure that the earth loop isolator is a professional one.

I have one similar to this one (http://www.usblaster.com/index.php/9,hid--,sid--34,sg2id--16,artId--55)

[hedge]

Hedge, do you have an earth loop isolator? It's very good at supressing noise. If you dont have one, get one, it saves you from having to buy an expensive sound card. Also make sure that the earth loop isolator is a professional one.

I have one similar to this one (http://www.usblaster.com/index.php/9,hid--,sid--34,sg2id--16,artId--55)
hmmm $60 Aus for one... I can pick up an m-audio revo for around 200-250, still a fair difference in price. Well I'm quite broke at the moment anyway, so I think i'll have to live with it for a while either way ;)

[Rex_Mundi_Incarnit]

That much? 60 AUD = 34 Euros, I got one for 20 Euros :puzzled: Maybe an older version...still looks very professional and it also says it is so, also from the same manufacturer.

20 Euros = 34 AUD :)

[hedge]

That much? 60 AUD = 34 Euros, I got one for 20 Euros :puzzled: Maybe an older version...still looks very professional and it also says it is so, also from the same manufacturer.

20 Euros = 34 AUD :)
hey mate, I only took a quick look over the internet so I should be able to find a slightly cheaper one. Anyway, thanks for the help :)

[Toe]

my older zalman 5.1's
You mean, you actually BOUGHT those things??? Ew ew ew ew ew ew ew ewwwwwwwwwww!!!


PS: ~$20 for a ground loop isolator? I'd just get a new soundcard (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=29-120-103&depa=0) for that price...

[hedge]

You mean, you actually BOUGHT those things??? Ew ew ew ew ew ew ew ewwwwwwwwwww!!!
Yeah I know, shit for music, but they aren't too bad for games. (There is a reason why i bought myself some Sennheisers ;) )


PS: ~$20 for a ground loop isolator? I'd just get a new soundcard (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=29-120-103&depa=0) for that price...
I really do have my heart set on the maudio revo... But how bad is it in games?

[Rex_Mundi_Incarnit]

But really; how big is the gap between 16 bit and 24 bit audio? After all 16 bit and 44.1kHz is "cd-quality." Something that has been claimed since windows 3.1. :cyclops:

Also does for example the "CHAINTECH 7.1 Channel PCI Sound Card, Model "AV-710" support EAX 2, maybe 3? And does it do hardware mixing upto at least 32 channels? Of course that is not being said. :bandit:

[Toe]

Do note that the AV-710 uses a VIA ENVY 24HT-S chip, which is virtually identical to the 24HT in the Revo. This might sound kinda screwy, but you can get killer 2-channel from the rear outputs. Long story short: they put a so-so DAC on the front & center, and a killer DAC on the rears. Go into the driver control panel & set it to "hi-res 2 channel" mode, and get hot hot 24/192 (edit: had 24/96 before) action outta the rear channels. From the reviews I've heard, that mode is virtually indistinguishable from a Revo or Prodigy or Aureon (the high-priced Envy24-based cards). It does great 2 channel audio, and pretty good 7.1 surround, and costs less than $25. Sounds good to me!

For more info:

Good review of Maddog Entertainer 7.1 (http://techreport.com/reviews/2004q1/maddog-entertainer/index.x?pg=1), which is very similar to an AV-710, but costs a bit more. Gives info on the DAC/drivers thing.

Big AVS Forum thread about Envy24-based cards (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=364771)

[hedge]

Do note that the AV-710 uses a VIA ENVY 24HT-S chip, which is virtually identical to the 24HT in the Revo. This might sound kinda screwy, but you can get killer 2-channel from the rear outputs. Long story short: they put a so-so DAC on the front & center, and a killer DAC on the rears. Go into the driver control panel & set it to "hi-res 2 channel" mode, and get hot hot 24/192 (edit: had 24/96 before) action outta the rear channels. From the reviews I've heard, that mode is virtually indistinguishable from a Revo or Prodigy or Aureon (the high-priced Envy24-based cards). It does great 2 channel audio, and pretty good 7.1 surround, and costs less than $25. Sounds good to me!

For more info:

Good review of Maddog Entertainer 7.1 (http://techreport.com/reviews/2004q1/maddog-entertainer/index.x?pg=1), which is very similar to an AV-710, but costs a bit more. Gives info on the DAC/drivers thing.

Big AVS Forum thread about Envy24-based cards (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=364771)
That made from some intereseting reading. It becomes apparent that the ENVY 24HT-S is probably just as good as the 24HT in my situation, seeming I'm only really going to be using 2 channels almost all of the time.
And by some of the benchmarks seen in those links, it would appear that the difference between hardware channels and software emulated doesn't have a big hit on game performance at all.
Thanks for the links and the info.

[Todd The Kiwi]

$25 yank = $35 ozzy
score :nervous:
are you going to borrow a filter of any type before throwing copper? :cross-eye

[hedge]

$25 yank = $35 ozzy
score :nervous:
are you going to borrow a filter of any type before throwing copper? :cross-eye
I'll probably just throw about some money :cheeky: hehehe

[#The fREaK!]

If you're getting a loud background noise in windows, something be fucked up. Updated your drivers lately?

I have had this problem with:

1. Onboard souncard
2. Soundblaster 16PCI
3. Soundblaster Live! 5.1
4. Terratec DMX 6fire 24/96

I have also noticed it on all my friend's computers.
The level of the noise varies a bit between the soundcards (my Terratec card has the lowest noise level) but it's still there as long as I'm using Windows.

[Rex_Mundi_Incarnit]

Like we mentioned above, you probably need a ground loop isolator to get rid of the noise.