Strange noises

[slipmip]

OK I running an HP dv1000 laptop as my daw. Previously i was just using
the headphone out of the onboard sound card to play audio back. While doing
this i noticed strange noises when i played back at high volumes. The noises seemed to be coming from the operation of the computer, eg minimizing and maximizing a window makes a zapping sound. I figured that the noise was a result of the crappy on board sound card not being properly grounded. But now i
just received and started using a usb interface (cheapo behringer) and I am getting the same noise. Is my computer just lame or is there a way to fix this?
thanks
dave

[scalez]

Is your behringer thingy anywhere near your laptop's display? Try to isolate it from other electronic stuff.

If it still makes little buzzy sounds it's probably just a crappy unit. behringer is known for crappiness. USB cables carry voltage for powering things, so my guess is the behringer unit isn't doing enough to protect the analog components from that power signal.

[Bops2000]

I suspect its the 'Gain' on the crappy sound card is set too high.
Turn the soundcard down to 3/4 gain in windows mixer.
Use the gains on the berhinger to dial in peak volume.
Make sure its line out from sound card to the board.
Soundblaster cards were also notorious for that, if you didn't set jumpers
on the card to bypass cards 'internal amp'

[scalez]

Actually, I've noticed this same thing on my M-Audio Delta 1010, which is a pretty highly regarded unit for its price range. It does get a small amount of power from the computer because it turns on and off with the computer, but most comes from its own power supply. I haven't really worried about it because I really don't use it any more since I got a 002. But it could also be because of cable interference on the cable that connects it to the PCI part of the interface

[Bops2000]

Just thinking...three blind men describing an elephant....

[slipmip]

I unplugged the computer and most of the sound when away. I think its just bad
grounding from the 3 prong plug.