LED dimmers & the studio?

[jdstamper]

Has anyone had experience using LED lights with LED dimmers around the studio?

The old fashioned incandescent dimmers are famous for creating interference / humming / buzzing in studio circuitry. In my studio, I have to make sure the dimmers are off in one adjoining room, when I record vocals, guitars, or anything 'outside of the box'. The dimmers don't cause a problem until I have a mic or line running into the board for recording.

Now, as those particular incandescent bulbs are no longer available, it's time to replace those lights & dimmers with new technology, and I'd like to go with LED. Should I expect the LED dimmers to be better, worse or about the same, as far as audio interference?

Thanks, Jim

[Len911]

http://recessedlighting.com/led-buzzing/

Electronic Low Voltage (aka reverse phase or trailing edge) dimmers are designed for electronic (capacitive) loads like LEDs. In my experience, ELV dimmers have eliminated the buzz every time.

Note: ELV dimmers require a neutral wire in the box.

[joyfrost]

I have some LEDS ( or rather a string of christmas lights) on my desk but I've never encountered any interference on my monitors when they're on. My external hard drive on the other hand ALWAYS creates a small hum on my monitors when it's connected.

[Russell Landwehr]

When I built my studio, I made sure to NOT have any dimmers or fluorescent lighting or low-voltage lighting that requires a transformer. With the new LED bulbs coming out I've been worried that they will introduce RF noise or buzzing through the power lines since they have transformers in each bulb. However, I've not run into a problem yet... although, All my audio gear is on one leg and the lights on the other leg of the 220v feed to the studio.

[jdstamper]

Thanks everyone.

I just haven't found much on line about this subject yet. I figured some studios would have racked up some experience about it by now.

A lot of the info questions how well LED dimming works just for dimming Not to mention how it might impact the studio.

Joy, I haven't heard much about how LED small lighting might impact studios.

Len, yeah that would be great if moving to LEDs actually eliminates the line noise!

Russell, I'm jealous, sounds like you have a great set-up!

Jim

[mojobone]

I got nuthin', other than I don't get any perceptible interference from the LED rope lights that are part of the studio's decor. I don't have any dimmers on the studio's circuits, but interestingly, I do get a little pop through my monitors when I turn my fluorescent Ott-Lite desk lamp on or off; not so, the halogen lamp on the other side of the monitor position. Here's something freaky, though; with my old computer/interface rig every time I turned the overhead lights from the wall switch (not the lamp itself) on or off, it triggered a kick drum if I happened to have Addictive Drums open and active on a track in my DAW. After completely replacing the interface and computer...same thing. I have no earthly idea what mechanism is causing this, but so long as nobody fiddles with the wall switch during a session, I reckon it's nothing to worry about.

[Danny]

I have 8 LED cans in the ceiling of my recording studio.

Never had any buzzing, etc, when high or dimmed..

There is a can directly above this pic.. Nice white light.

Peace,

Danny

[jdstamper]

Mojo ... Sounds like you've invented a whole new midi controller, or you've got a rhythmic poltergeist ... I've never had anything like that happen. I also use Addictive Drums, with Sonar X3 Producer.

Danny ... That's encouraging, seems to be working out great for you, as it is for Len. Two thumbs up! And thanks for the pic, that's a sharp clean looking room.

Thanks, Jim

[mojobone]

It's pretty consistent, and I'm guessing it has somewhat to do with most MIDI drum maps having at least the kick and snare in common with the GeneralMIDI spec. Thinking back, it's probably induction in a wall wart power supply feeding the hybrid drums' MIDI brain, an Alesis DM5. They're plugged into a dual-output three-prong receptacle, but only one side is switched at the two wall panels located at either door to the space. Not to hijack the thread, or anything.

[jdstamper]

Mojo - sounds nice. I still have an Alesis D4 drum module in the rack. Doesn't get much use any more, like most of my rack gear, but I just can't seem to get rid of it.

Jim