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PaulH
Gold Member
535 Posts |
 Posted - 03/30/2008 : 16:39:52
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If I connect guitar via my pedals, with an amp simulator, direct to my mixer/soundcard I get no hum.
So, recording is as it should be (nice & quiet).
If I connect my guitar direct into my amp I also get no hum.
If I connect my guitar via an effect pedal powered by batteries I get no hum.
However...
If I use AC power instead of batteries with any effect pedal... I get a constant buzzy hum.
I've tried different power supply adaptors... but I still get the buzzy hum.
Suggestions please.
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 03/30/2008 : 17:01:37
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G'day PaulH and welcome to the forum!!
Can't tell from your post, but when you "get no hum connecting guitar via pedals, with an amp simulator, direct to mixer/soundcard" does this happen for batteries only, or AC adapter as well?
Can you tell us what sort of AC adapter you are using? Most Boss pedals like a regulated adapter (the Boss PSA) and the garden variety 9VDC adapter you might have laying around will make some Boss pedals hum like crazy.
A picture of your rig/pedal board would also be most helpful to let us see what you are running.
Laurie.
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Edited by - Laurie on 03/30/2008 17:03:21 |
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PaulH
Gold Member
535 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2008 : 01:22:17
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This my pedal board...
I use the Boss power supply that came with the BCB60.
If connecting my guitar via my board into my Soundcard (an Edirol FA66) then into Sonar, everything is dead silent, until I play.
Then all I hear is the appropriate string noise.
No buzz/hum.
If I connect direct (no effects) through my practice amp (a Roland Micro-Cube), it's dead silent until I play.
Put an effect between the guitar & Micro Cube and there is an annoying buzz.
I tried just my trusty CE5 on it's own. Batteries... no hum/buzz.
Put the CE5 on AC power... I get hum/buzz without playing any strings or having the effect switched on!
Play a note and I still get the hum/buzz.
I tried every effect on it's own between guitar & amp and get the same result... an electrical Buzz/hum
I also tried some other AC adapters (Boss & non-Boss) and the same occurs.
I even tried different electrical sockets in the house.
Oh and being a hifi nut as well, everything (computer/Souncard/Monitors/Triton/Bass/Guitar etc...) goes through a Russ Andrews 8-way Silencer Block.
Obviously recording (which is what I mainly do nowadays) is fine, but it's the effects direct into the practice amp that concerns me.
Why is it only silent with no effects between it and the guitar.
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2008 : 03:56:40
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So, logically, it's not the power supply - "I also tried some other AC adapters (Boss & non-Boss) and the same occurs".
But logically, it is the power supply - "I tried just my trusty CE5 on it's own. Batteries... no hum/buzz. Put the CE5 on AC power... I get hum/buzz"
Interesting.
What can sometimes happen is that if there is an earthing problem it's not apparent until you plug in an AC adapter. I've had that happen to me and it turned out to be earhting on the metal cabinet that housed the custom pedal power supply - which won't be the case here with the BCB-60.
If you have a multi-meter, I'd go through the chain from the guitar to the pedal board's output cord and ensure the ground is continuous all the way though. I'd then check the metalwork on hte BCB-60 is connected to ground.
"I get hum/buzz without playing any strings or having the effect switched on" tells me it probably grounding, but I don't know what more to suggest.
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zentropa
Gold Member
USA
837 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2008 : 04:11:44
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have you tried power supplies that claim to be noise cancelling or hum free?
i had a weird problem of only picking up hum when going AC/pedal through my effects loop but hum free with AC/pedal into the amp.
bought a danelectro 9v ps because it was cheap and claimed to cancel hum and that cleaned up my effects loop.
i know the one spots are supposed to be hum free as well.
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PaulH
Gold Member
535 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2008 : 17:05:51
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I'm strippig everything back and puuting the cables & effects back one by one.
I'll let you know what I find... |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2008 : 21:28:03
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quote:
Originally posted by PaulH
I'm strippig everything back and puuting the cables & effects back one by one.
I'll let you know what I find...
Look forward to hearing how you make out... |
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PaulH
Gold Member
535 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2008 : 18:41:49
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The GP20 seems to be the problem.
I've put my Sansamp DI box in it's place and now get zero hum. |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2008 : 19:06:14
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quote:
Originally posted by PaulH
The GP20 seems to be the problem.
I've put my Sansamp DI box in it's place and now get zero hum.
Congrats on finding the problem!
Now... can we help you fix the GP-20? |
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PaulH
Gold Member
535 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2008 : 21:43:01
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I'll open it up at some point and have a poke around.
In the meantime though, the Sansamp Acoustic DI (and my ancient OS2) are sounding very nice with my hollowbody Archtop... might not need to go back to the GP20! |
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2008 : 08:22:55
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Hi PaulH
Try running the DD-20 of an other & separate regulated adapter.
The Dual pedals draw a lot of current & can drag down a single adapter, especially if there are other pedals connected to it drawing current as well.
From my experience & from info I have read on the tech forums, the dual pedals really should be run off separate supplies.
They have digital clocks in them that can interact with one another, & cause all sorts of strange whistles & buzzing.
It will be interesting to know if another separate supply fixes your problem.
It could also be something as simple as an earth loop.
How many milliamps can the power adapter in BCB-60 deliver?
Regards Dr. Bob |
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Topic |
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Hum with any Power Supply
