Korg Forums

Gin2 · Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 15 Location: London

i have the hiss also. quite audible even with the volume at zero
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2 x 1210s, CDJ 200, KorgZero8, Ableton, Remote Zero SL, Trigger Finger

psyshaman · Joined: 11 Dec 2007 Posts: 1

Is this hissing problem a fault on both the zer04 and zero8?

I find more reports on the zero8 having the hiss problem and only one guy saying he has t on the zero4.

would love to hear some feedback from zero 4 users.

Thanks.

jayo · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 8

Comparatively speaking... Between my Denon X1500 and my Korg.. (the denon was the only thing I had off hand just now to compare it to)

Test A)

Korg all channels down, Channels set to midi, Master maxed, very little hiss, more less floor noise (only can hear it when the amps are turned way up beyond where they would normally be set..)

Denon all channels down, master maxed, had less floor noise than the korg..

Once again this is having the amps gain set at levels where they would not normally be set at...

Test B) Three tests, Korg with all channels set to midi, audio midi and audio, master maxed, channel faders maxed, channel fader gains at "middle" and amp's gain set much higher than it would not normally be set..

No difference here... Same result against the Denon...

Test C)Korg channels set at CD/line, channel faders maxed, Channel gain "middle", Master Maxed, amp gain at same higher setting than normal:

Result Slight increase in hiss, (more less normal floor noise)

Denon Channel faders set to CD/Line, channel faders maxed, Channel gains in the "middle", Master Maxed, same amp gain setting as above...

Result, the hiss (floor noise) is about 3 times louder than the Korgs..

Don't know if this helps or not, I don't know what to make of it... I am not complaining because once again I had to turn the amp gains up to levels that I never use them at to make these comparisons...

screaminkeys · Joined: 30 Aug 2004 Posts: 33

Hello Again Everyone,

I have an update regarding the hiss mod. I've been informed by Korg Japan that the modification will be completed and become available in March.

Here in the US, we will offer the kit and repair at no cost to our users through our Authorized Service Centers.

Thanks once again for all of your input on the matter. It does help.

Regards,

James Sajeva
Product Manager for DJ, Dance and Computer Products @ Korg USA Inc.
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screaminkeys

jmctag · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 3

@ screaminkeys : I am in the UK and experience this problem. What action should I take? Thanks.

-J

screaminkeys · Joined: 30 Aug 2004 Posts: 33

Hello,

I'm the US Product Manager, so I don't have an immediate answer to that question.

What I'd suggest is that we let some time pass and get to the point where Japan is close to releasing the mod. By that time local Korg Support centers - yours being Korg UK - should have a course of action in place.

Best,

James
Korg
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screaminkeys

jurij.es.a.szakkor · Joined: 10 Nov 2005 Posts: 33

screaminkeys · Joined: 30 Aug 2004 Posts: 33

Hi,

Version 1.5 addresses the VU movement in addition to other things.

James
Korg
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screaminkeys

jurij.es.a.szakkor · Joined: 10 Nov 2005 Posts: 33

firstaudio · Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 13

subterFUSE · Full Member Joined: 15 Sep 2007 Posts: 116

audiovoid · Joined: 20 Sep 2007 Posts: 2 Location: sf, ca

Proof · Joined: 18 Sep 2007 Posts: 22

grrrant · Joined: 19 Sep 2007 Posts: 8

and so, we all continue to wait and see whether or not Korg tries to let this fade into a bitter memory that goes unresolved...

honestly, this issue could become a serious thorn in Korg's side if it isn't corrected. I'm know some very influential artists that would speak unfavorably about Korg on several industry lists and news groups.

subterFUSE · Full Member Joined: 15 Sep 2007 Posts: 116

I believe they are trying to work on it..... but that it will require a hardware change, so this isn't a simple fix.

I have found a way to work around this hiss and VU issues. To be honest, I think that if we just run the mixer the way I am running it.... it actually works fine. It's not ideal, or anything similar to the rules we all know about running levels, but it seems to me the Zero 8 was not designed correctly so it may be that I'm just running it the way it was designed to be run.

Try this out and see if it works. I use self-powered monitors which have their own volume controls on them, so I will give the prcedure for them. If your setup is different, then you'll just need to modify these instructions for your situation:

1. Turn volume all the way down on your monitors.
2. Turn Zero 8 master volume all the way up.
3. Play an audio source on one of your channels.
4. Turn the channel gain up until you get VU meters moving. Keep turning up until you get red clipping indicator lights flashing inside the VU meters, and then turn down the channel gain slightly to stop the flashing. At this point, the mixer should be outputing a strong signal without clipping.
5. Now turn up your monitors until they get as loud as possible without distorting. Then turn them back down just a bit.

When I do this, the level of the hiss is reduced because my monitors are turned down so low. The mixer is still hissing, it's just that I have the volume so low on the monitors that I don't hear it as bad. It's the old signal/noise ratio concept.

Essentially, I think the problem with the Zero 8 is that the master bus output is WAY too hot under normal conditions. While the master says it has a +4 dBu output, I believe the levels are actually much higher. I had an Allen & Heath mixer with +4 dBu output on the master, and it was never this loud. I could use my Mackie speakers at the 50% volume detent setting, which is equal to +4 dBu sensitivity. The Zero 8 is putting out a much higher signal than +4 dBu, and so I must turn down the volume on the Mackies to compensate.