Odd vibration / hum noise

[dnegrey]

Greetings!

I hope this is the right place to post this topic

I would really value some feedback . . .

A low, vibration / hum noise started here during the first week of July. It can be heard throughout the entire house, and in other houses in the neighborhood. I've had all the utility companies over, who hear the sound, but are at a loss to identify what it is, or where it's coming from. The electric company actually disconnected the house from the grid, and the sound persisted.

There are no over head power lines and no new transmission towers that I know of. Although, there are cellular towers in the area. I've lived in this neighborhood for 10 years, being in this house for almost 4 years, and have not experienced anything like this before.

I've recorded the sound in my studio, where oddly enough, the sound is very loud. It plays back as a low rumble. I've used a spectrum analyzer plug-in to have a look at what's going on, and there's a lot of activity in the 10 Hz - 70 Hz range.

When I record, I normally use the 75 Hz low cut, and that takes care of most of the noise, but not all. I'm thinking that I'm likely going to have to use a 100 Hz line filter on my mic cable (suggestions welcome!). However, trying to sit and focus on a good book after a long session is challenging with this constant hum in the house! I'd really like to be able to track it down and eliminate it. At the very least, I'd like to see if there are any short term solutions I might be able to use both in and out of the studio while this gets figured out. For instance, I wonder if there is a device out there that can automatically identify a sound and 'phase it out' with a contrasting one?

Thoughts, questions and suggestions are very welcome!

[Colin Campbell]

This is fascinating. Can you hear the noise outside?

[dnegrey]

Hi Colin,

Thanks for your message. Yes, sometimes it is possible to hear it outside. Particularly at night when the air is cooler and there's less ambient sound to contend with.

[Colin Campbell]

That's kind of creepy. Adobe Audition will analyse a noise sample and try to get rid of it but I've found the results to be less than desirable.

Since it seems to be a more general nuisance in every day life, I'd want to get to the bottom of it. Is it the same both day and night?

[dnegrey]

It is creepy, and frustrating!

It is the same sound both day and night. It seems to be louder/more intense (not sure what the right word would be) at night. If there'd just be a reprieve once in awhile until we get it figured out, I would be a happy guy. I'm going to have a look at some noise canceling headphones & see if that might work as a short term solution. I'd be curious as to whether there is technology for a room, or even house, along the lines of the technology used for the noise canceling headphones.

Good suggestion for trying to phase it out in stereo, too.

[Lee Gordon]

Originally Posted by Colin Campbell

That's kind of creepy. Adobe Audition will analyse a noise sample and try to get rid of it but I've found the results to be less then desirable.

I find the similar feature in Audacity 1.3 works better.

[dnegrey]

Good suggestion - thanks Lee.

I use a Pro Tools LE Mac set-up & have to admit only a passing familiarity with Audacity.

Does anyone know how to measure radio frequencies? One suggestion made to me is that perhaps the house is being 'saturated' with RF waves causing vibrations in the hosue.

[Lee Gordon]

If your house is being subjected to excessive levels of RF, it is up to the offending party (radio or TV station, etc.) to correct the situation. My advice is to determine which radio or TV station in your area has their transmitting tower nearest to your house. Call that station and ask to speak to the Chief Engineer. He will most likely be willing to come to your home (or send one of his staff) with a signal strength meter in the hope of proving that some station other than his is responsible for the interference. Either way, you should be able to get your answer. If that doesn't work, contact the engineering section of the FCC.

[Colin Campbell]

I don't think he would hear RF just "in the air." It could very well get into the equipment but you wouldn't hear anything just walking around.

[Lee Gordon]

You're right, RF doesn't make an audible noise itself, but maybe it's having some wierd influence on something in the building.
I was just trying to answer the question, "Does anyone know how to meaure radio frequencies?"