shortcircuit48:
Also any ideas why I am getting musical noises?
The frequencies used to control stepper motors tend to be in the audible. So you'll hear the coils in the motor resonoate.
shortcircuit48:
when I apply 12 volts to either shield the steppers just freeze
The starting point would be what kind of protection circuits did you use for the motors. They throw off a lot of EMI. It is possible something was damaged.