Computer music vs. computer noise

Colleagues,

So.

Many of you are eschewing (I've wanted to use that word for a while)
the use of instruments in lieu of the Great Box. I can't speak for
what Macs are like, even in their many formats, but those of you with
PCs will understand the following as well:

If you are doing *any* kind of live audio input via a microphone, but
even more importantly, are *mixing* digital audio, what do you do
about

THE NOISE OF THE DAMN FAN(S) IN THE COMPUTER???

Just curious.

In all seriousness, and in our ongoing efforts to share and spread
the abilities of making music, what solutions have any of you come up
with in isolating the main box, so as to not pollute either the
recording or your ears with fan noise?

Sitting here with two of my smallest fans,
Mom

In-Reply-To: <9q0huo+a4nu@...>
Jon Szanto asked:

> If you are doing *any* kind of live audio input via a microphone, but
> even more importantly, are *mixing* digital audio, what do you do
> about
>
> THE NOISE OF THE DAMN FAN(S) IN THE COMPUTER???

For pure-digital work, I have closed-back headphones, and they're good
enough for me. Sometimes that means turning the volume right up so the
noise becomes audible.

The music I recorded through a mic that's escaped so far wasn't using a
preamp, so the additional noise from the fan wasn't a problem. I've now
taken to leaving the room and closing the door after starting recording.
Symbolic Sound suggest putting your computer in the next room, and running
long cables through the wall. That's a bit drastic for me, but I can see
the wisdom of it.

You can also get low-noise fans, or fans that only cut in when they need
to, or huge heat sinks that mean you don't need a fan. I'm not sure where
you get these things from, or how you fit them, which is why I don't use
them.

Graham

--- In MakeMicroMusic@y..., "Jon Szanto" <JSZANTO@A...> wrote:
<snip>
> If you are doing *any* kind of live audio input via a microphone,
> but even more importantly, are *mixing* digital audio, what do you
> do about THE NOISE OF THE DAMN FAN(S) IN THE COMPUTER???
>
> Just curious.
>
> In all seriousness, and in our ongoing efforts to share and spread
> the abilities of making music, what solutions have any of you come
> up
> with in isolating the main box, so as to not pollute either the
> recording or your ears with fan noise?
>
> Sitting here with two of my smallest fans,
> Mom

There are a couple of companies that make ultra quiet fans and power
supplies. I just bought one and it really have to go right up to the
box and strain to hear it. Here are a couple of sites with some info.
Unfortunately, I cannot find the packing slip from my power supply or
remember the company name. It's in the bookmarks somewhere.
http://pmitros.mit.edu/silence.html
http://www.ocshoot.com/quietpc.htm

John Starrett

John,

{you wrote...}
>There are a couple of companies that make ultra quiet fans and power supplies.

...and etc. Thanks much, I'll check them out.

Cheers,
Jon

The newer Dell systems are amazingly quiet, both fan and hard drive.
You'll always need isolation for recording though.

One of the problems with homebrew and generic computers is the
inattention given to ergonomics and acoustics. I remember my first
generic 40X Cd player that sounded like a jet airplane taking off as the
speed varied. The builtin fans weren't much better.

PC Power & Cooling offers some low noise power supplies and fans.

John Loffink
microtonal@...

-----Original Message-----
From: John Starrett [mailto:jstarret@...]
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2001 10:10 AM
To: MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MMM] Re: Computer music vs. computer noise

--- In MakeMicroMusic@y..., "Jon Szanto" <JSZANTO@A...> wrote:
<snip>
> If you are doing *any* kind of live audio input via a microphone,
> but even more importantly, are *mixing* digital audio, what do you
> do about THE NOISE OF THE DAMN FAN(S) IN THE COMPUTER???
>
> Just curious.
>
> In all seriousness, and in our ongoing efforts to share and spread
> the abilities of making music, what solutions have any of you come
> up
> with in isolating the main box, so as to not pollute either the
> recording or your ears with fan noise?
>
> Sitting here with two of my smallest fans,
> Mom