Blackbox Noisy when powered by USB

[chronopolis]

I am getting a high frequency hum whenever BB is powered via USB. I have tried two ports on my computer and a USB port on my modular. If I plug it directly into a power supply it's quiet. I am using the factory supplied cable. Any suggestions?

[NoParades]

I have basically given up on finding a quiet alternative and just use the included wall wart and cable. Really the only differences would be shorter/smaller/right angle, but everything I have tried has made humming or what I'd call "digital jitter" on some outputs (weirdly not all of them, and no single output consistently.

I'm just happy the original supplied pieces work well.

[Suspect Frequencies]

That’s just the nature of this box. If you power it from another piece of gear, a ground loop is created resulting in the noise. I power mine off a power strip at home, off a battery pack when mobile.

[benguerrette]

Same. The wall wart is the way to go. Running it on the same USB hub as other gear is always problematic. I'm finding this is the case with some of my other gear as well.

[IgsterKicks]

I also tried a bunch of USB power solutions in this thread with no great success, and went back to individual USB power adapters. One thing that helped with the buzz was those cheap audio noise isolators with 3.5mm jacks.

[jayneural]

Personally I gave up on the utopia of trying to power everything centrally. I just use the devices with their own power supply.

Unless you’re into making music for bees

[underwood]

I think the blackbox doesn't like to run together with other usb devices on the same supply. I tried a modified myVolts Ripcord 5V and it only reduced the noise a little. Only a isolated DC/DC would do the job but I haven't found one, that has enough power and doesn't cost a fortune.

Isolated DC/DC did the job with my Zoom H6 recorder, that had the same "issue" as the blackbox. The Zoom only need a little more than 200mA, so a 2W DCDC works fine.

[daffydeck]

A ground loop isolator solved my problem

[LLT_LLT]

daffydeck
Hello, do you have a reference for your ground loop insulator?
thank you in advance

[visionmusic]

Yeah, I had dreams of running off the Intellijel's USB 1U but sooo not happening.

[Aaron]

We feel you. This is my current solution for my road case:

[underwood]

For USB-Devices with less then 400mA, search for ADUM4160

[jsilence]

One quiet combo I recently found was by powering then BB off of the USB port of a Synthstrom Deluge. The Deli is powered via 12V Barrel. Audio out of the BB into line in of the Deli and monitoring with an Audio track on the D. Also connecting Midi. A true power duo!!