Noisy recording via line-in (5101AWLMi)

When I record from line-in when running the laptop from mains there is a definite buzzing or crackling sound that gets picked up. This almost disappears when using battery provided I unplug the mains brick, it is still there with the power cable connected but switched off at the wall - I have reproduced this several times at different locations. Anyone ever come across this?

 

Yes, definately. I have the same exact problem. I thought it was the mic i bought, but then realized that this happened with or without the mic. I have an Aspire 3000-or-so-WLMi.

 

Have done a bit of work overnight and updated the BIOS to 2.60 (it was shipped in December with BIOS 2.0) and installed the latest sound drivers from the Realtek website which seem to have helped, I will do some more tests at the weekend when I am next recording from a live feed.

 

I insalled the newest drivers (A3.98, I believe). I still have the noise. I've isolated the problem, though. Even when my mic is turned off, audacity picks up internal noise. Becasue of this, I assume that the problem is with the line in/mic jack (they both have a problem). On other people's computers (not acer), i get a slight buzz, but thats probably the mics cheap sound. What's interesting is that I don't get any problems with Windows' Sound recorder. Let me know if we're still talking about the same noise.

 

I have an Acer Aspire 5601 AWLMi (or 5601awlmi) and I get the same exact thing. I get those annoying little noises (like you can hear little buzzings that only happen when the mouse moves, for example) and they go away when you take out the power adapter and just run the laptop off the batteries.

It doesn't matter if it's the Line In or if I'm recording or if I'm using a microphone or whatever. The sound is always there if I just turn up the speakers and listen.

This problem has been bugging me for years with both laptops AND desktops (I've heard it on several Dell laptops, on a Dell desktop, and a Shuttle desktop - both of the latter had professional quality sound cards). I've posted everywhere about this and I always hear the same thing: "it's a ground loop". So I tried plugging in my notebook power adapter into one of those little plug adapters that gets rid of the grounding pin and only listening to audio on my headphones. The sound is still there.

Finally somewhere I read that the problem is a poorly made power adapter. Not just mine, but they're all poorly made. I've seen it said in regards to IBM and Dell power adapters. I'm guessing that our Acer ones are just as crappy if not worse.

So that's probably what it is, man. If you can find a really high quality power adapter that would work with my laptop, I would be very very happy to hear about it.

 

Have you raised this as a warranty issue with Acer? I have been given a support ref and instructions on how to return the power supply for testing and possible replacement - it is annoying I will be without it as I don't think the battery will hold out for long enough until they return it.