Feedback ring produced by plugging M-audio into USB-input

Electrons

Setup:

Traktor Z1 mk2 (USB) and M-Audio M-track Solo (USB)
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro (rebuilt after SSD failure)

Feedback ring produced by merely plugging the M-audio into the USB-input.

I'm assuming its some form of static-electricit build-up within the M-audio itself.

I'd go straight to NI but I figured I'd check see if anyone else has run into the issue when running two USB-powered Audio interfaces

Uwe303

Hello,

do you have anything connected to the interface and if what have you connected. Is the output set to USB or direct monitor. Do you have the windows driver installed. Does the feedback loop only happen if traktor is open, and what is your audio setting there. Normally on windows you can only set one interface per application. Normally the Z1 is enough for sending audio out for the audience and to monitor via headphones, what do you want to achieve with the second interface.

Electrons

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/213235#Comment_213235

do you have anything connected to the interface and if what have you connected. 

At one point, I tried running Traktor outputs 1+2 into the M-Audio inputs 1 + 2

Traktor settings:

Audio Interface Traktor Z1 (Exclusive)
Outputs: Monitor off; Main 1 + 2

Ableton 12 Settings:

Audio Interface M-Audio
Outputs: Main 1 + 2
Output: USB

Result: audio played fine through NFMs, but with a hearty feedback ringing

I began cutting cords at that point, and shifting inputs and settings around to pin down the ringing to having both audio interfaces plugged in simultaneously

Is the output set to USB or direct monitor

USB

Do you have the windows driver installed

Drivers up-to-date for both

Does the feedback loop only happen if traktor is open, and what is your audio setting there

I tracked it to the presence of the second interface- i.e. unplug the Z1 and the feedback ceases and, conversely, unplug the Solo and the feedback ceases

Normally on windows you can only set one interface per application. Normally the Z1 is enough for sending audio out for the audience and to monitor via headphones, what do you want to achieve with the second interface.

I used to run Apple so I'm familiar with Soundcloud at, at some points, would run one app through to another for a synth or effect, but I'm on Windows now- or at least for the present. Essentially, I'm aiming for a hybrid set-up that'll forgive me the Z1 for dj mixing and live remix and mashup and the Solo for live elements. Nothing too complicated, nothing too spectacular.

Uwe303

So you try to run traktor through the Z1 and ableton through the M Track. And you also run the Z1 through the M Track and ableton cause you have set monitor to USB, so you have to run the inputs through ableton. Then you have both, traktor and ableton coming out of the M Track, and the M Track is connected to speakers??? Then I unfortunately have no idea where this loop can come from. Have you tried to use asio drivers for both interfaces?

Electrons

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/213283#Comment_213283

Have you tried to use asio drivers for both interfaces?

Technically, the M-Audio runs in Asio, and I have but it defeats the purpose of the audio interface's superiority- in terms of processing capability- at which point the whole set-up is a glitch-avant music amplifier because neither traktor nor ableton runs particularly well on the asio drivers

Yes, the first run-through was as described- traktor→Z1 outputs→M-Audio Solo inputs→Ableton inputs→M-audio Solo outputs = EEEEEeeeeeEEEEeeeEEEEEeeeeeeeEEEeeeEEeEEeeEeEEEEeeeeeE

Unplug Z1 and feedback is gone
Unplug M-audio and feedback is gone
Close Traktor and/or Ableton and feedback with both audio interfaces plugged in and feedback remains

As I mentioned, I thought it might originally be some kind of 60hz static-hum kind of thing but in the upper kHz ranges but I haven't the slightest idea of how to clear a hurdle like that.

As I originally checked in with, I was checking to see if the problem has been confronted before and what the possible solutions might be.

Thanks for checking up on it and if anything comes to mind, feel free to send over a link

Uwe303

If asio driver do not work correctly then maybe the buffer size is too short, you could try to set higher values and ty again. On the m track solo do you have input 2 set to line and you use cinch to ts cables I'm sure. And you set phantom power also off. Have you tried different USB ports maybe use 2 ports next to each other.

Uwe303

Ohh and have you maybe another line source you can connect to the m track input to see what happens if you use it with another device. Sounds to me like some kind of ground issue, maybe a defective cable, the one from the Z1 to the m track. Or just try to plug in one side of the cable from the Z1 to the m audio, then unplug it and connect the other side.