Volca FM - background hum

SimonSays · Post by **SimonSays** » Mon Jun 06, 2016 7:53 pm

Mine arrived today - which is nice... Except for a medium-high pitch background hum.

It's quiet but noticeable, and is not affected by any parameter, including master volume. It oscillates fairly quickly and sounds like a noise a motor would make.

Do 'they all do this' or do I have a duff unit?

Any thoughts from other Volca FM owners?

Thanks, SS

jpeg · Post by **jpeg** » Wed Jun 08, 2016 3:50 pm

the volca fm seems somewhat noisy in comparison to the reface dx and even the dx7

Spheric El · Post by **Spheric El** » Wed Jun 08, 2016 4:57 pm

Noise a motor makes?
Doesnt sound good.
My Vkeys doesnt have such levels of noise.
Are you sure you are not inspecting microscopic noise levels with high amp volumes, that dont really effect everyday use.
I would travel to a seller to test one out if unsure.

tsutek · Post by **tsutek** » Thu Jun 09, 2016 10:11 am

Are you running it with batteries? That's the powering option that is the quietest AFAIK.

Spheric El · Post by **Spheric El** » Thu Jun 09, 2016 10:53 am

Interesting tsutek .My Vkeys is on batteries.

effemm · Post by **effemm** » Tue Jun 21, 2016 5:50 pm

Same here...

The Volca FM arrived today. I noticed the background noise right after I turned it on. The pitch is 'b' and it moves with amplitude modulation (like a fast tremolo).

I am thinking about returning it.

two505s · Post by **two505s** » Thu Jun 30, 2016 5:56 pm

Is this with the speaker or on the headphone out?

And I suppose any hum affected by the LFO is from earlier in the signal path.

effemm · Post by **effemm** » Thu Jun 30, 2016 6:05 pm

Headphone out.

two505s · Post by **two505s** » Thu Jun 30, 2016 8:45 pm

If the speaker doesn't have the problem, that's good news. The problem is somewhere at the end. If it persists when you use batteries, it's not a grounding problem, and you probably have tried different headphones, but-
maybe the noise is only on the left or right channel? In that case use one side of a stereo cable

effemm · Post by **effemm** » Fri Jul 01, 2016 8:47 am

No, I don't think so. I think it is kind of sloppy engineering and construction also given to the fact that this unit is so small that there is probably some interference going on. Maybe some cables are too close to others.

I know this from for example the DX 100 or the CZ-101, which both had a very noisy headphone output, but different to the Volcas they had proper line outs which were clean, so you could work on sounds with the headphones and when it came to recording you just change to line out.

And I had some extra noise coming from a Microbrute. I just had to open the unit and shift one of the cables a bit and it was gone.

The noise is on both channels. Headphones don't matter. I also hear it if it's plugged into an RME fireface. The Volca is on batteries...

two505s · Post by **two505s** » Fri Jul 01, 2016 11:31 am

Couldn't you tap the speaker output and make it into a line signal?

spirit68 · Post by **spirit68** » Fri Jul 01, 2016 12:30 pm

my volca fm is by far the most quiet of all my volcas. you might try to send it back.

mjustind77 · Post by **mjustind77** » Sun Jul 03, 2016 9:09 pm

also consider your interface. If it's a USB powered interface I'd bet your left nut that is the issue. I am dealing with it too.

effemm · Post by **effemm** » Mon Jul 04, 2016 9:18 am

Nope. It is firewire powered.

Spheric El · Post by **Spheric El** » Tue Jul 05, 2016 12:23 pm

Mjustind77 - you just bet someone else's left nut haha.
Sorry ,back on topic- I use a mixer as my preamp or all hardware.
I have found computer audio interfaces to generate noise very often ,FWIW . Arh,but you said headphones too. Sorry ignore me,thinking out loud.
Maybe return if possible.