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Conference napalm::commusic_v1

Title:* * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * *
Notice:Conference has been write-locked. Use new version.
Moderator:DYPSS1::SCHAFER
Created:Thu Feb 20 1986
Last Modified:Mon Aug 29 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2852
Total number of notes:33157

535.0. "Help: stop Television noise!" by COROT::CERTO () Wed Oct 08 1986 16:54

    
    Question for some of you EE's and technical types:
    
    I want to combine my audio and video into one studio so I can 
    master on my hi-fi vcr.  I also expect to do video editing
    and scoring/sweetening.  However, when a TV or video monitor
    is brought into proximity of the audio equipment, I get a lot
    of blasted Noise and/or hum (in the audio).
    
    Question: 
     Can I shield consumer grade monitors?  Do professional monitors
    with metal housings cause these problems as well?  What is "MU" 
    metal composed of, will it help, and where can I get it??
                                                  
    My audio stuff is mostly Hi-Z but has well shielded cables and
    the like so that part is covered.
                            
    Fredric Certo      DVINCI::CERTO
    
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535.1equipment?BARNUM::RHODESWed Oct 08 1986 17:016
Exactly what do you have for Audio equipment, Frederic?  My MIDIverb wipes
out my TV and the tuner section of my reciever, but my DX100 is pretty
clean...

Todd.

535.4more than just hum: like white noise too.SCOTTY::CERTOFri Oct 10 1986 19:3722
    
    re .1  Todd, my tv's screw up my music recordings; the video is
    ok, though.  Does your midiverb really mess up the tv?  I remember
    once being able to mess up reception (tv and radio) by turning the
    frequency way up on a square wave test generator.
    
    I've got the usual: reel to reels, mixers, synths, and assorted
    homemade gadgets.  It shows up in anything real close to the TV.
    
    re .2,3  Tom, thanks for the analysis of mumetal.  Are you saying
    then, that a thin sheet metal cabinet wouldn't be of significant
    help?  Even if grounded?
    
    A 1" steel box isn't quite feasable but a fairly thick shelf (~�")
    between video and audio might be.
       
    What do pro monitors have?  I've heard they're shielded better?
                             
    Fredric	DVINCI::CERTO
    
    
    
535.5Is this thing dangerous to humans?BARNUM::RHODESMon Oct 13 1986 12:2011
>    re .1  Todd, my tv's screw up my music recordings; the video is
>    ok, though.  Does your midiverb really mess up the tv?  I remember

You wouldn't believe the garbage that the thing generates, Frederic.
Thank god the neighbors have no idea.  If you know anyone that is testing
for EMI and needs a good garbage generator, let me know.  It's obvious
that the people at Alesis know that shielding with plastic is the cheapist
way out...
    
Todd.    

535.6Electro-Magnetic Compatibility is good for youANT::JANZENTom LMO2/O23 296-5421Mon Oct 13 1986 12:4226
Electro-Magnetic Compatibility is a Digital issue, by the way.  5 years
ago we ignored the FCC regulations for our type of computer equipment,
but about 3 years ago went into a panic to comply.  The strategy was 
designed to avoid shaking up the whole product line.  First, try to make
a cabinet that could attentuate radiated Radio_frequency interference made 
inside the cab and suppress conducted RFI (i.e., going into the power grid
through the power cord from the computer).  They came up with guidelines
for no bigger than 3-inch slots (a GHz attenna) on cabs, and RF gaskets,
and like that.  Next, try to redesign boxes ( box is the thing that slides
on slides in a cabinet) to suppress interference.  Strategize cable routing.
Put filters (caps to ground) on communication line bulkheads on cabinets
(comm lines aren't supposed just come straight out of the CPU box and out to
the world, but get plugged into a filtered connector mounted in a bulkhead.
Then, see if RFI could be suppressed at the board level with ferrite
beads on clock lines, and good routing of clock and counter lines,
and avoidance of Shottky TTL unless essential (obviously, almost the
whole 11/780 is Schottky, but never mind).

I don't know about Midiverb.  I'd expect it to be the consumer class,
that is the toughest, tougher than the one VAXes have to pass in the
"bubble" measurement installation at Marlboro, MA.  Maybe not.  It's
expensive to get tested.

I think we're mostly on top of it now.

Tom