I am looking for help in identifying low level static noise when operating X-1 Studio.  I have disabled my internet connection, but I believe the problem is related to the overall gain in my system.  In order to hear through my headphones when doing overdubs (I am using the headphone connections on my M-Audio Fast Track Ultra), I have to have the headphone output almost all the way up.   Obviously I hear the noise when I raise the level on the interface inputs.  But I was wondering, if there a rule of thumb, should the interface level on the laptop be at 100% or less to start with?   
 
Recently I was using an old ribbon mic, and I was running the signal thru a Mackie VLZ Pro mixer as a mic pre, and the noise was more pronounced.  I can describe the noise of what I call ocean noise, it seems irratic, not metrical.  Is this a problem with the interface?   It seems like the headphone level is not very loud to start with. 
 
Any advice would be appreciated.  Thanks.   

I'd be worried about having to have the headphone output almost all the way up. On my Fast Track C400, my headphone volume is never set at more than about 9 o'clock. In fact I would refrain from putting headphones on with the output set that high, because there's always the chance that when you find out what the problem is, you're going to get a blast of sound that could easily damage your hearing on a permanent basis!

The ribbon mic may need power from the VLZ. 

Ribbon mics are noisey by nature....

DO NOT add Power (phantom Power) to a ribbon mic.   John,  that is a sure way to destroy the ribbon. 

I would concur on checking the power needs on your mics.

Can you try running things with no mics?  Just to try to determine if it is something there or something else?

Also, what is your driver mode, and if ASIO, what are your interface and X1 sample rates and buffer size?

Can you setup a simple project with just an imported audio file (MP3 or WMA) and see if you still have this issue?

Does this happen outside of X1?  (just running Windows Media Player)

I'm just firing off some things to help isolate the issue - maybe one of the above might turn up something of a clue.

It certainly seems that your system should have no performance issues, although maybe some background service could be causing problems.

Oh - one more thought - can you run DPC Latency Checker for a little bit to see if there are any latency spikes?  I have had problems in the past from really stupid things like a dying laptop battery that once physically removed eliminated the weird problems.

Bob Bone

You should know ahead of time the potential for cooking a mic - I thought the poster had used that mic as an example but was having general issues beyond that particular mic (little unclear - that was just how I took the post).

Bob Bone

Jimbo 88


Ribbon mics are noisey by nature....

DO NOT add Power (phantom Power) to a ribbon mic.   John,  that is a sure way to destroy the ribbon. 

Well it wont be noisy anymore.  I just checked you are right! I'm glad you caught that. 

There are some headphones that just need more power than others. Having to turn the headphone amp in your interface all the way up is a sign that your headphones are not a good match for your interface. A ribbon mic and a headphone amp going flat out is not a low noise formula.

+1 one on the brain exploding on a pair of cranked headphones that suddenly 'awaken'.

I just about REALLY hurt myself once - it was only that they were just sort of on the top of my head when it happened that I think I can still hear anything at all.

Bob Bone

As suggested, the level of the headphones depends on the impedance. Using my AKG 770Pro's (80 ohms) I need to keep the soundcard volume about at the max, whereas with my Sonys about 10 o´clock will do. That is, having my EMU Patchmix volume set at about 50-60%.