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The Musician Forums => Guitar Central => Topic started by: dubista on September 09, 2014, 06:59:56 PM

Title: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: dubista on September 09, 2014, 06:59:56 PM
Any recommendations/steps to pinpoint source of OR remedy rig noise is welcome in this thread. Thank you.
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: paul_sigua on September 09, 2014, 07:21:33 PM
Noise can come from a lot of different things. It can be from the guitar(pickups, shoddy wiring), radio interference, cables, pedals, power supply,  and the amp.

As for the pedalboard, I believe that having an isolated power supply really minimizes noise.  Some pedals, especially the digital ones, don't like being daisy chained or sharing a power source which tend to add extra noise to the signal. An isolated power supply helps against those kinds of problems.

For a tube amp, having fresh tubes helps. If it's an old amp, get the filter capacitors checked as these caps tend to induce hum as they get older.

To pinpoint noise, you can start with just your guitar straight into the amp. Then slowly add pedals, cables, power supplies, etc.   so you'll see which ones are noisy.
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: lolwat on September 09, 2014, 07:30:54 PM
Noise can come from a lot of different things. It can be from the guitar(pickups, shoddy wiring), radio interference, cables, pedals, power supply,  and the amp.

As for the pedalboard, I believe that having an isolated power supply really minimizes noise.  Some pedals, especially the digital ones, don't like being daisy chained or sharing a power source which tend to add extra noise to the signal. An isolated power supply helps against those kinds of problems.

For a tube amp, having fresh tubes helps. If it's an old amp, get the filter capacitors checked as these caps tend to induce hum as they get older.

To pinpoint noise, you can start with just your guitar straight into the amp. Then slowly add pedals, cables, power supplies, etc.   so you'll see which ones are noisy.

+1 to all of these. To diagnose problems with pedals without needing to buy a brand new isolated power supply, buy all of your battery-powerable pedals their respective batteries, and connect those that can only be powered through an adaptor to their own wall wart only - no sharing with other PSUs.
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: inexperience on September 09, 2014, 07:34:52 PM
Nice, you can have the cavity of your guitar shielded (by a copper/aluminum tape or shielding paint) o use your body as a shield by keeping in contact with the harware.
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: dubista on September 09, 2014, 07:41:46 PM
so here are what i've done so far (guitar using bridge humbucker pickup; pedals below are powered by godlyke; amp and godlyke in different sockets):

1. GUITAR -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP (via each patch cable) = NO NOISE

2. GUITAR -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP (via each main cable) = NO NOISE

3. GUITAR -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP = NO NOISE

4. GUITAR -> ON OR OFF DELAY PEDAL -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP = NO NOISE

5. GUITAR -> OFF OVERDRIVE PEDAL -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP  = NOISE!

6. GUITAR -> OFF WAH PEDAL -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP  = NO NOISE

7. GUITAR -> OFF WAH PEDAL -> OFF DELAY PEDAL -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP = NOISE!

So, sino ang saralin?
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: lolwat on September 09, 2014, 07:51:08 PM
so here are what i've done so far (guitar using bridge humbucker pickup; pedals below are powered by godlyke; amp and godlyke in different sockets):

1. GUITAR -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP (via each patch cable) = NO NOISE

2. GUITAR -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP (via each main cable) = NO NOISE

3. GUITAR -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP = NO NOISE

4. GUITAR -> ON OR OFF DELAY PEDAL -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP = NO NOISE

5. GUITAR -> OFF OVERDRIVE PEDAL -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP  = NOISE!

6. GUITAR -> OFF WAH PEDAL -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP  = NO NOISE

7. GUITAR -> OFF WAH PEDAL -> OFF DELAY PEDAL = NOISE!

So, sino ang saralin?

What particular brand/s and models are the overdrive and wah pedals?
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: analog.matt on September 09, 2014, 08:43:41 PM
alam ko may pantanggal ng 60 cycle hum.

you just have to add it to your chain before it enters the amp. i just can't remember the name.
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: lolwat on September 09, 2014, 08:58:55 PM
EHX Hum Debugger I think. http://www.ehx.com/products/hum-debugger

I think a more thorough inspection of the signal chain would help the OP determine the cause of the noise.
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: rapunzalan on September 09, 2014, 09:08:19 PM
so here are what i've done so far (guitar using bridge humbucker pickup; pedals below are powered by godlyke; amp and godlyke in different sockets):

1. GUITAR -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP (via each patch cable) = NO NOISE

2. GUITAR -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP (via each main cable) = NO NOISE

3. GUITAR -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP = NO NOISE

4. GUITAR -> ON OR OFF DELAY PEDAL -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP = NO NOISE

5. GUITAR -> OFF OVERDRIVE PEDAL -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP  = NOISE!

6. GUITAR -> OFF WAH PEDAL -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP  = NO NOISE

7. GUITAR -> OFF WAH PEDAL -> OFF DELAY PEDAL = NOISE!

So, sino ang saralin?
in no. 7 is -> Distorted tube amp? Need also brands of your pedals. Do you have ACA powered pedals? like vintage boss stuff?
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: dubista on September 09, 2014, 09:14:41 PM
crybaby classic wah
hbe powerscreamer
mooer echolizer
blackstar ht5r
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: rapunzalan on September 09, 2014, 09:45:15 PM
crybaby classic wah
hbe powerscreamer
mooer echolizer
blackstar ht5r
Ask lang bro, have you checked the daisy chains per line? :?
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: dubista on September 09, 2014, 09:46:55 PM
so here are what i've done so far (guitar using bridge humbucker pickup; pedals below are powered by godlyke; amp and godlyke in different sockets):

1. GUITAR -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP (via each patch cable) = NO NOISE

2. GUITAR -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP (via each main cable) = NO NOISE

3. GUITAR -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP = NO NOISE

4. GUITAR -> ON OR OFF DELAY PEDAL -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP = NO NOISE

5. GUITAR -> OFF OVERDRIVE PEDAL -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP  = NOISE!

6. GUITAR -> OFF WAH PEDAL -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP  = NO NOISE

7. GUITAR -> OFF WAH PEDAL -> OFF DELAY PEDAL -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP = NOISE!

So, sino ang saralin?
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: rapunzalan on September 09, 2014, 09:55:01 PM

hi bro, the daisy chains

1.)(Godlyke->DC wire 1->pedal-> amp=?)
2.)(Godlyke->DC wire 2->same pedal-> amp=?)
3.)(Godlyke->DC wire 3->same pedal-> amp=?)
4.)(Godlyke->DC wire 4->same pedal-> amp=?)
 :)
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: dubista on September 09, 2014, 09:58:38 PM
tried each daisy chain too. the godlyke is actually brand new. just got it awhile ago from the mail. i thought my 1 spot was the problem.
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: lolwat on September 09, 2014, 10:01:49 PM
Try switching around the patch cables with only two pedals at a time? It seems all of your pedals are true bypass (with the mooer being a possible exception) so it might be the links connecting the pedals.
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: rapunzalan on September 09, 2014, 10:10:25 PM
tried each daisy chain too. the godlyke is actually brand new. just got it awhile ago from the mail. i thought my 1 spot was the problem.


Oh...I see, is your arrangement like this :

Godlyke wall wart--------->DC1---------->DC2------->DC3----->DC4
                                        Power            Power         Power
Guitar----------------------->Wah---------->OD--------->Echo-------?--------->Amp   

 :?
1.)Does your DC1 (First DC out nearest to the power supply) power your wah?
2.)How many "DC out" in the daisy chain do you have?



 
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: rapunzalan on September 09, 2014, 10:11:18 PM
Try switching around the patch cables with only two pedals at a time? It seems all of your pedals are true bypass (with the mooer being a possible exception) so it might be the links connecting the pedals.
Mooer is TBP also  :)
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: dubista on September 09, 2014, 10:38:57 PM

Oh...I see, is your arrangement like this :

Godlyke wall wart--------->DC1---------->DC2------->DC3----->DC4
                                        Power            Power         Power
Guitar----------------------->Wah---------->OD--------->Echo-------?--------->Amp   

 :?
1.)Does your DC1 (First DC out nearest to the power supply) power your wah?
2.)How many "DC out" in the daisy chain do you have?

Yes, dc 1 powers the wah. There are 5.

 
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: rapunzalan on September 09, 2014, 10:52:36 PM


Try lang bro if :

1.)
            DC5<-----DC4<----DC3<----------DC2<-------DC1<------Godlyke wall wart<-------220v
                                        Power            Power         Power
Guitar----------------------->Wah---------->OD--------->Echo-------?--------->Amp   

2.)
                                         DC5<-----------DC4<---------DC3<----------DC2<-------DC1<------Godlyke wall wart<-------220v
                                        Power            Power         Power
Guitar----------------------->Wah---------->OD--------->Echo----------------->Amp   

3.)
                                        DC5<-----------DC4<---------DC3<----------DC2<-------DC1<------Godlyke wall wart<-------220v
                                        Power                              Power                              Power
Guitar----------------------->Wah-------------------------->OD------------------------->Echo----------------->Amp   

 :?

Check also the open ended DC chains, baka tumatama sa metal. Try to cover with electric tape  :)

Hope mag work   :idea:
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: paul_sigua on September 09, 2014, 11:36:34 PM
What kind of noise are you hearing? Hiss or hum? Is it loud?
Also, what are your patch cables? Are you using the plastic molded ones?
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: ryechua on September 10, 2014, 11:08:06 AM
so here are what i've done so far (guitar using bridge humbucker pickup; pedals below are powered by godlyke; amp and godlyke in different sockets):

1. GUITAR -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP (via each patch cable) = NO NOISE

2. GUITAR -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP (via each main cable) = NO NOISE

3. GUITAR -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP = NO NOISE

4. GUITAR -> ON OR OFF DELAY PEDAL -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP = NO NOISE

5. GUITAR -> OFF OVERDRIVE PEDAL -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP  = NOISE!

6. GUITAR -> OFF WAH PEDAL -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP  = NO NOISE

7. GUITAR -> OFF WAH PEDAL -> OFF DELAY PEDAL -> DISTORTED TUBE AMP = NOISE!

So, sino ang saralin?

how did you connect the pedals? everything in a single chain or 4 cable method (using effects loop)? If you are using the effects loop then  you need to have a separate power supply for the pedals connected to the effects loop or else you will have a ground loop.
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: curiousdcat on September 10, 2014, 11:17:35 AM
how did you connect the pedals? everything in a single chain or 4 cable method (using effects loop)? If you are using the effects loop then  you need to have a separate power supply for the pedals connected to the effects loop or else you will have a ground loop.

Will using an isolated PSU (i.e. PP2+) on an entire pedalboard wired for the 4 cable connection still create ground loop when using the effects loop?
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: Ralph_Petrucci on September 10, 2014, 11:22:15 AM
Noise can come from a lot of different things. It can be from the guitar(pickups, shoddy wiring), radio interference, cables, pedals, power supply,  and the amp.

As for the pedalboard, I believe that having an isolated power supply really minimizes noise.  Some pedals, especially the digital ones, don't like being daisy chained or sharing a power source which tend to add extra noise to the signal. An isolated power supply helps against those kinds of problems.

For a tube amp, having fresh tubes helps. If it's an old amp, get the filter capacitors checked as these caps tend to induce hum as they get older.

To pinpoint noise, you can start with just your guitar straight into the amp. Then slowly add pedals, cables, power supplies, etc.   so you'll see which ones are noisy.


+1 on everything he said.

looking at the situations you've posted, you might want to check your patch cables. low quality patch cables tend to be really noisy.
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: ryechua on September 10, 2014, 11:39:44 AM
Will using an isolated PSU (i.e. PP2+) on an entire pedalboard wired for the 4 cable connection still create ground loop when using the effects loop?

nope. that's one of the purpose of an isolated PSU - to avoid ground loops.
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: curiousdcat on September 10, 2014, 12:58:52 PM
nope. that's one of the purpose of an isolated PSU - to avoid ground loops.

Thanks!

BTT:

Am just wondering why the OD and wah are not considered by most as the source of the noise as described by TS.

Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: Ralph_Petrucci on September 10, 2014, 01:45:17 PM
Thanks!

BTT:

Am just wondering why the OD and wah are not considered by most as the source of the noise as described by TS.


pwede yung OD pedal. especially kung mejo luma na hahahaha pero kasi bypassed daw, so im guessing its a patch cable issue.
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: dubista on September 10, 2014, 08:57:14 PM
Tried using the patch cable between my guitar and distorted amp. No noise at all.
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: Ralph_Petrucci on September 11, 2014, 10:20:16 AM
Tried using the patch cable between my guitar and distorted amp. No noise at all.

its not about that sir, it might be because the patch cable cannot resist EMF hence the noise. have you tried your rig with better patch cables sir?
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: dubista on September 12, 2014, 06:58:48 AM
where can i buy those good quality patch cables? mine are like almost a decade old from audiophile.
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: Ralph_Petrucci on September 12, 2014, 10:40:14 AM
where can i buy those good quality patch cables? mine are like almost a decade old from audiophile.


Depends on your price range. You can get Planet Waves Patch Cables from JB. Ther are decent cables. but if you're going for gold, might as well get the LAVA or the George L's. our Forum Sellers have them :)
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: lolwat on September 12, 2014, 01:39:32 PM
And if you're handy with a soldering iron, you can make your own. Just head to the nearest music store that sells good cables (Klotz are pretty good and very flexible) and then buy right angle connectors from a local electronics shop that sells those generic pancake plugs.  :-)
Title: Re: HOW TO DEAL WITH RIG "HISS"/NOISE/HUM?
Post by: rad_12 on October 20, 2014, 12:11:03 PM
opppsss sorry wrong thread haha!! pabura na lang