My new XTouch (4 days old) is fantastic except that the faders are sticky when I move them by hand in Sonar. After some troubleshooting I figured out it is a grounding issue. If I plug the device to different sockets in the home studio, it is less jittery on some of them and more on some. If I place my other hand on the device while moving the faders, it works fine. While im getting an electrician to check the power lines in the studio, I want to check with the experts in this forum for insights on such grounding issues.
FYI,the power flows from the wall to a UPS -> to a spike buster -> to a 220v to 110v transformer -> to the Xtouch.
The Xtouch is connected to computer through USB. The computer is connected to another spike buster which itself is connected ot the same UPS.
Thanks in advance !!

It could definitely be a sort of ground loop between the computer and the Xtouch through the usb cable. This actually might be caused by your transformer if it isolates the grounds between the 110 and 220 sides. When you plug the USB cable in it now creates a path to the UPS ground through the USB cable.
 
In my studio when I have my Pod HD 500 connected to my computer with the USB cable my amps have increased hum. All my devices are plugged into a surge protection device and to the same circuit.
 
PC's are noisy and can draw lots of power and create noise and grounding issues in my experience. If it is the USB cable to the computer that is causing the issue you could try to find a USB isolator or have the electrician see if there is a ground connection between the 110 and 220 sides.
 
Just my thoughts. Good luck.

reginaldStjohn
It could definitely be a sort of ground loop between the computer and the Xtouch through the usb cable. This actually might be caused by your transformer if it isolates the grounds between the 110 and 220 sides. When you plug the USB cable in it now creates a path to the UPS ground through the USB cable.
 
In my studio when I have my Pod HD 500 connected to my computer with the USB cable my amps have increased hum. All my devices are plugged into a surge protection device and to the same circuit.
 
PC's are noisy and can draw lots of power and create noise and grounding issues in my experience. If it is the USB cable to the computer that is causing the issue you could try to find a USB isolator or have the electrician see if there is a ground connection between the 110 and 220 sides.
 
Just my thoughts. Good luck.

Useful tips John ! Thanks...will try all of these. I am very skeptical about the transformer coz the issue got better though it did not go away when I connect the xtouch to a laptop running on batteries. In this case, im guessing the ground loop with the PC might not exist but I did have to use the transformer.
 Different sockets in the house showed different behaviour. So getting the grounding checked tomorrow.
Will try to find alternative transformer or will get this one checked. I don't know if i can use 220v directly on the xtouch coz the socket on the xtouch reads 100-240v. I am doubtful so to be on the safe side im using the step down transformer.
 I read on the net that the carpet in the room can reduce the sensitivity due to isolation of the user from the ground. Will try alternatives for this as well.
 
 

What you seem to be saying to me is you are having power issues. (Ground loop)
If this is the problem, (I don't know where you are in the world) I live the US in a fairly new house and for some reason I have lots of ground loop issues. What I have discovered in my case it that I have to have everything plugged in to one power outlet and I have use a power conditioner to power everything. That's just the way it is for me. I use two power conditioner systems and they will not work together. Only (one) select outlet will work in each space. Non of the other outlet will work, they all create ground loop issue. 
 
Well that my 2 cents. maybe something will help...  
 
Peace

RishiS
 I don't know if i can use 220v directly on the xtouch coz the socket on the xtouch reads 100-240v. I am doubtful so to be on the safe side im using the step down transformer.
 I read on the net that the carpet in the room can reduce the sensitivity due to isolation of the user from the ground. Will try alternatives for this as well.

 
Standard voltage here is 230V, your X-Touch will work (like mine).
But I can't help you with your grounding problem, sorry.
 

Klaus
 
Standard voltage here is 230V, your X-Touch will work (like mine).
But I can't help you with your grounding problem, sorry.
 

Klaus...the cable that came with the XTouch (imported from the US) has a sticker on it that says electrical rating : 125V, 10A. And the XTouch box had a tick on the 125V. So i am skeptical if I can use this cable on a 220v socket.

Passive Drift
What you seem to be saying to me is you are having power issues. (Ground loop)
If this is the problem, (I don't know where you are in the world) I live the US in a fairly new house and for some reason I have lots of ground loop issues. What I have discovered in my case it that I have to have everything plugged in to one power outlet and I have use a power conditioner to power everything. That's just the way it is for me. I use two power conditioner systems and they will not work together. Only (one) select outlet will work in each space. Non of the other outlet will work, they all create ground loop issue. 
 
Well that my 2 cents. maybe something will help...  
 
Peace

Thanks Drift...Im in India...and yes, I have the PC and the XTouch connected to 2 different spike buster strips. I will try connecting them to the same one. However, like I mentioned earlier, the issue exists even when i connect the xtouch to a laptop running on batteries, though to a lesser extent !

Btw..touching the bottom or side of the device with the other hand, makes it work normal. There are a lot of people facing fader issues with different touch sensitive devices out there, but there does'nt seem to be a standard answer to the issue.

RishiS
Btw..touching the bottom or side of the device with the other hand, makes it work normal. There are a lot of people facing fader issues with different touch sensitive devices out there, but there does'nt seem to be a standard answer to the issue.

are you saying that if your body provides the grouding, the device works OK???? if that's the case you better call the electrician before someone has to call the ambulance.

Rob[atSound-Rehab]

RishiS
are you saying that if your body provides the grouding, the device works OK???? if that's the case you better call the electrician before someone has to call the ambulance.

Well,someone suggested that was one of the ways to confirm this is related to grounding. I believe touch sensitive faders rely on the human body capacitance and need a solid electrical grounding to function. The link below has some trouble shooting tips for such issues:
http://avid.force.com/pkb...compatibility/en210819