I have a noise coming from somewhere between motor and transmission

if anyone could give me a few suggestions as to this problem i would be much appreciated, i am fairly mechanically inclinded but this is my first subaru, and there engines are nothing to what i have ever owned in the past.

i recently picked up a 96 legacy outback with a 2.5L ej25d automatic, i got it really cheap for a fixer upper, body is in absolutly great shape and i felt i could be up to the challenge of learning a new vehicle,

i have a noise coming from somewhere between the motor and the transmission. it kind of sounds similar to a sound ive heard on other vehicles when a pulley bearing or something is going, its like a high pitch whining, the sound comes and goes, and varies with engine rpm, sound starts right when i start the car, and seems to cut in and out at random times from there, i almost thought that maybe it could of been the starter because it seems to come right from that vicinity of the motor, and the sounds is like maybe it could be small electricall motor spining, my first thinking was that maybe the starter wasnt fully disengaging from the timing wheel completly, but then my second thought was that even if it wasnt that when the sound cuts out it would probably really clan when the sound starts back up and it doesnt, so i dont know does anyone know if this could be a possibility? or should i maybe be looking around the driveplate or flywheel or torque converter? but then again this sound is present whether im in park reverse neutral or drive, the sound can come and go as i sit still and rev the motor as well as while im driving. im pretty inexperienced with auto transmissions to, ive always had a manual, but my general thinking is it really shouldnt be any of these because when its in neutral and park nothing is engaged.

could this be the starter somehow? or should i be ready to pull this in the garage and drop the transmission and start looking around? any advise before i have to pull this inside would be wonderful. thankyou