[LAU] Terrible mic ground noise

[jonetsu at teksavvy.com]

Hello,

   There is a very bad ground noise when I connect the M-Audio pulsar 
mic into a mic input of the 1010LT.  As soon as I touch the mic, the 
ground noise disappears.  Complete silence.  But then, try to play bass 
like that.  The mic goes through a Radial JDI passive direct box.  It 
has the 15dB pad on because it makes a bit less ground noise.  I tried 
various settings on the DI box, bit none gets rid of the noise.

   The electric plug has only two prongs.  I though of getting some 
copper wire and somehow run a length of wire from the electric plug 
receptacle to a nearby set of copper water pipes.  That shoudl get the 
rig grounded, would it ?

   Before getting into that or anything else, is that ground noise a 
factor of a cheap microphone ?  Or is it the quality of the 1010LT input 
that uses not-so-good decoupling capacitors (or some such) ?  Is it 
possible to have silence without getting pro hardware ?

Thanks for suggestions/ideas/hints !