I'm looking into the old-school non-firewire Delta-410 from M-audio. I know it's unbalanced, but it offers everything else I need at this time. In a nearly perfect world, would this take care of my issues?

Make sure your CDROM audio is muted in the Windows Volume Control app. There is probably an analog audio cable inside your computer going from the CDROM drive to the soundcard. These cables are generally not very well shielded and the inside of the computer is a very noisy place electrically speaking. In fact, make sure everything is muted except the input you happen to be using.

John

First thing is try the free and simplest thing.
Check your earthing (you're gear is earthed, right?)
Check for earth loops next.
John's advice is worth checking as well although mostly today CD drives are read using the data interface, even for audio.
What sort of sound card have you got? If it's one of those horrors built onto the mobo then just about anything has got to be an improvement. But do check, is the noise really in the recording or is it just on the line outputs feeding the monitors? Good way to check, LOOK at something you've recorded on the T/L.
Bob.

Yes, it does appear in the recording. I know because when I normalize the levels, the "static" gets louder, and is compounded with the additional noise coming over the monitors. I am afraid I am only using onboard sound. It's amazing how a decent set of monitors can make one realize how crappy the rest of his system is. I guess the next step is to purchase a decent sound card. Thanks for all the input. More would be appreciated if anyone else has had this issue and resolved it.

P.S. Farss, yes, I'm using good old U.S. 60hz 120 volt grounded wiring. No, I haven't traced it back to the breakers yet, but considering I'm in a reletively new addition and my trusty three prong ground checking thingamajig (technical term) says I'm grounded, as does my battery back-up, I'm inclined to agree with them. That doesn't mean I'm not overlooking something, though. I'm a try, try again sort, so I guess I will, and thanks for the reply.

Corey

Well as you're using an onboard 'soundcard' you have my sympathies! Been there, done that. What was really annoying in my case was there was about 20dB more noise in one channel than the other. What makes it so bad it seems is these thing have some form of AGC built in that you cannot disable, so when there's no one talking into a mic the gain is so high no wonder there's noise and the line inputs are much the same.
How did I fix this? Bought the M-Audio Firewire 410 and never been happier. It does daily service on one editing system and it gets dragged off into the field hooked up to the laptop.
I bought mine from Sweetwater over in the U.S. as the locals were trying to gouge me way too much.
Bob.