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[Matthew D Johnson]

Hi Everyone,

I have a monitor buzz that I can't figure out. It was absent the whole time I've had the system, then suddenly appeared with no modifications. The setup is as follows:

Behringer X32 > 24+4 analog snake > amp rack on stage > floor monitors.

I am also running a few hardwired stereo IEM sends through the snake.

The floor monitors all have the same buzz, regardless of cables, amp, or snake channel. The IEMs do not have a buzz.

The buzz was reduced greatly when I stopped using send B on the snake. I was running the right main send through it, and it was amplifying the buzz in the monitors significantly. The monitor buzz is also altered when moving/disconnecting other channels of the snake, but it's sporadic and the effect is minor.

I tried plugging the amps into the same circuit as the console, and it didn't help, so if a ground loop is causing the issue it is beyond my diagnostic capabilities.

I'm not savvy to snake schematics, but could it be failing to ground internally?

Thanks for any help!

[Keith Broughton]

Hi Everyone,

I have a monitor buzz that I can't figure out. It was absent the whole time I've had the system, then suddenly appeared with no modifications. The setup is as follows:

Behringer X32 > 24+4 analog snake > amp rack on stage > floor monitors.

I am also running a few hardwired stereo IEM sends through the snake.

The floor monitors all have the same buzz, regardless of cables, amp, or snake channel. The IEMs do not have a buzz.

The buzz was reduced greatly when I stopped using send B on the snake. I was running the right main send through it, and it was amplifying the buzz in the monitors significantly. The monitor buzz is also altered when moving/disconnecting other channels of the snake, but it's sporadic and the effect is minor.

I tried plugging the amps into the same circuit as the console, and it didn't help, so if a ground loop is causing the issue it is beyond my diagnostic capabilities.

I'm not savvy to snake schematics, but could it be failing to ground internally?

Thanks for any help!

Help will arrive when you post your real name (as per site rules)

[Matthew D Johnson]

Help will arrive when you post your real name (as per site rules)

Sorry about that - I actually noticed that right before your post. Updated now. Thank you!

[Cailen Waddell]

What are the monitor amps?  Are they plugged into a furman? Is there a patch panel or are you plugging to snake directly?

Some troubleshooting steps:

Place console and monitor rack next to each other, using the same power source. 

Unplug everything from monitor rack and from console.  Is there buzz?

Plug snake into monitor rack but not console. Is there buzz?

Plug one channel of snake into console.  Is there buzz?

Add additional channels and check buzz as you go?

More information is needed to diagnose....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Keith Broughton]

What are the monitor amps?  Are they plugged into a furman? Is there a patch panel or are you plugging to snake directly?

Some troubleshooting steps:

Place console and monitor rack next to each other, using the same power source. 

Unplug everything from monitor rack and from console.  Is there buzz?

Plug snake into monitor rack but not console. Is there buzz?

Plug one channel of snake into console.  Is there buzz?

Add additional channels and check buzz as you go?

More information is needed to diagnose....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

First, use a cable tester and check all the snake channels to be sure the wiring is not defective in any way.

[Jean-Pierre Coetzee]

First, use a cable tester and check all the snake channels to be sure the wiring is not defective in any way.

This right here. Also check continuity on all your power cord pins.

[Matthew D Johnson]

Thanks guys. I will go through and test all the wiring in the systems with a meter and report back. If any other ideas come to mind please let me so I can test them as well.

[Keith Broughton]

Thanks guys. I will go through and test all the wiring in the systems with a meter and report back. If any other ideas come to mind please let me so I can test them as well.

While a meter will work, a cable tester will show shorted wires easier than a meter.

[Matthew D Johnson]

Update:

I used a cable tester and all is well in the snake and other cables. The issue ended up being a TRS cable going into an unbalanced input on an older amp (kept in the rack as an extra in case additional wedges are desired). Using an unbalanced connection at that point only fixed the issue. Not sure why it was never an issue until recently. Just wanted to conclude the thread in case it helps someone in the future.

Thanks for the help!

[Dave Pluke]

Just wanted to conclude the thread in case it helps someone in the future.

Appreciate you circling back.

Dave

[Gordon Brinton]

I had a similar problem with buzz that was intermittent, every show, every venue, no matter how I set up my system. It turned out to be the mini tablet that I use to play mp3 music during band breaks. It worked fine (no buzz) until it went into screen saver mode. The music continued to play, but then it added an annoying buzz that sounded like a ground loop. It took me a while to discover it because I kept checking the entire system for ground loops and bad cables. I've since disabled the screen blanking feature and all is good now.

I love it when a technical mystery gets solved.

[Jean-Pierre Coetzee]

Check grounding to that unit. When going from balanced to unbalanced you should tie ground and ring together if I remember right.

I feel there could be a grounding fault somewhere there if not worse, make sure that all the power is still safe.

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