Nextech Headset hum

I’ve had this headset for years, and while it rarely “behaves itself”, I usually have to touch the top of my tower to buck the hum by a fraction (it doesn’t go away completely). How do I stop this hum?

Also: I’ve tried buying two professional mics, along with a few other headsets and all were tinny. I also bought a gaming headset, it doesn’t work at all, on Audacity.

I’ve had this headset for years

Which headset might this be? We can’t see your machine or environment, so all the detail you give is important.

Windows 10 running on a what? Pretend I want to buy one. Which three-number version of Audacity do you have?

Koz

This one?

http://www.thesource.ca/en-ca/computers-and-tablets/computer-accessories/headsets-and-microphones/nexxtech-slim-stereo-headset-with-boom-mic/p/108017402

It doesn’t say how it’s connected but it doesn’t say USB or BlueTooth, so it’s analog connection like this?

Can you reverse the power plug in the wall? If it’s a laptop, can you run on batteries long enough to tell if it helps?

Koz

Oh, you need specifics. I have a desktop, here is a picture of my headset:

Oh, and Audacity, 2.1.2

The hum is a grounding issue, particularly if you can touch things and make it go away.

This is an extreme example (120 Hz in the US).

http://kozco.com/tech/audacity/clips/OpenShieldHum.mp3

Are you plugging into the front of the computer? Is it any better if you plug in the back? The desperation method is a conductive wristband you wear during the show, so you’re always touching the case. Do you have an old house? I’ve lived in three older houses so far and all of them have had at least one wall outlet wired wrong.

You may be just doing it wrong. This is a badly coordinated engineering test with a stand-alone entertainment grade headset microphone and separate stereo headphones. I’m using a small sound mixer instead of trying to force the computer to do everything.

http://kozco.com/tech/audacity/clips/DenisePodcastHeavilyCut.mp3

I have two USB gaming headsets and the voice quality is terrible.

Audacity has no good way to split up microphone and headphone in a USB headset. You live and die by the driver software and sound management tools. It’s actually worse in Windows 10. Your microphones, headsets and software have to say they work with Windows 10. Just “Windows” isn’t going to do it. Win10 is a new system and software has to be written for it.

Koz

Ok, I didn’t receive a notification for this reply.

"This is an extreme example (120 Hz in the US).

http://kozco.com/tech/audacity/clips/OpenShieldHum.mp3"

-Yes, this is exactly what I’m dealing with. So, any idea on how to ground my mic? I’ve also found out recently that placing my hand near the mic helps.

“Is it any better if you plug in the back?”

-Yeah, I did try this actually. No difference.

“The desperation method is a conductive wristband you wear during the show, so you’re always touching the case. Do you have an old house? I’ve lived in three older houses so far and all of them have had at least one wall outlet wired wrong.”

-This house is forty years old, as for the wiring, I’d have to ask my dad.

Make sure that you are subscribed to the topic (bottom left of the page).


Gale