Recording with computer microphone picks up a lot of noise?

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

I am doing narration to an instruction video.
I do all voice recording using simple microphone. Recently I moved to another
office. Everything is the same: the computer, chair desk, furnishing etc.

Now the microphone picks up a strong humming sound that I can't hear myself. I
narrowed the problem some arcane electricity problem. The humming sound comes
when any power cord is plugged in the wall outlet. I tried using a laptop
computer running on batteries and recording with my mike. All is fine if nothing
is plugged in. If I plug in a, say, printer which is off and not connected to any
computer the humming sound is picked up by the microphone.

Mind you the humming sound is not heard - only the microphone picks it up.

The humming problem was not in my old office room. It had all the same computer
peripherals plugged on with no problems with recording.

Any ideas how to fix it?

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Perhaps a power conditioner might take the edge of the buildings wiring.
Also, noise such as a buzz or hum happens under most florescent light
fixtures commonly found in office buildings. Have you tried a different
mic?

rqo

"Richard Crowley" <rcrowley7@xprt.net> wrote in message
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> "123" <bogus@mail.address.com> wrote in message
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>>I am doing narration to an instruction video.
>> I do all voice recording using simple microphone. Recently I moved to
>> another
>> office. Everything is the same: the computer, chair desk, furnishing etc.
>>
>> Now the microphone picks up a strong humming sound that I can't hear
>> myself. I
>> narrowed the problem some arcane electricity problem. The humming sound
>> comes
>> when any power cord is plugged in the wall outlet. I tried using a laptop
>> computer running on batteries and recording with my mike. All is fine if
>> nothing
>> is plugged in. If I plug in a, say, printer which is off and not
>> connected to any
>> computer the humming sound is picked up by the microphone.
>>
>> Mind you the humming sound is not heard - only the microphone picks it
>> up.
>
> You aren't recording without monitoring on headphones, are you?
>
> You can debug your setup by using a decent pair of headphones and
> move things around, plug, unplug, etc. until you find the culprit.
>
>> The humming problem was not in my old office room. It had all the same
>> computer
>> peripherals plugged on with no problems with recording.
>>
>> Any ideas how to fix it?
>
> Consider that it might be a problem with the building power wiring.
>