Community: Message List - POD HD500 effects loop hiss

RE: POD HD500 effects loop hiss

support@line6.com — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:57:52 GMT

Hey lpzz,

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RE: POD HD500 effects loop hiss

support@line6.com — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:05:58 GMT

Hey lpzz,

I tested this by following the instructions you provided to reproduce the added noise.

I had to turn my speakers to max to even hear the noise at all. I did hear it had some hiss when the FX block was added, but this is expected due to the added connections points and A/D D/A conversion. Combine that with putting it in front of a super high gain amp that is amplifying the noise significantly. If you remove the amp the noise disappears.

I do not feel that this will interfere with your tone due to how low the volume of the hiss is. If you were to play guitar during the sound file you attached, you will not be able to hear the hiss what so ever.

Re: POD HD500 effects loop hiss

support@line6.com — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:19:59 GMT

Well I'm not sure if analog to digital conversion should produce this much of hiss... Noise gate helps but still I want to know if this behavior is normal.

I know about signal doubling and noise when inputs are set incorrectly but, as I wrote before, the problem is present when there is no guitar connected so there is no input signal (but I also checked that). I tried connecting cables to the loop and connecting send with return but it didn't change anything. Basically the only amplified thing in my mp3 file is the effects loop return hiss.

I also tried switching every physical switch on the POD, changing options, turning knobs etc. to check if something affects this hiss but nothing did.

Re: POD HD500 effects loop hiss

support@line6.com — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 14:23:43 GMT

so, when you plug your guitar into the PODs input, the snslog signal is converted to digital. at the analog outputs, it's converted from digital back to analog.

each A to D, or D to A conversion can introduce a little noise, so having the FX loop in use adds more. so even if there's a very small ammount of extra noise, if the loop is before an amp model, then it'll boost that noise up.

if you desperately need the loop, try putting a noise gate after it, so that when you're not playing it quietens it

just a thought, are you turning on the loop with nothing connected to it, and that's noisey? what about if you put in a straight cable into the loop? also are you running with the inputs set to guitar and somehting else (like variax) as having guitar and same, may boost the input too much and cause more extra unwanted noise

just some things to think about and check.

POD HD500 effects loop hiss

support@line6.com — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 03:22:55 GMT

Hello,

I have a problem with HD500 effects loop. When loop block is introduced to the effects chain it produces white noise like hum. The problem is not caused by some other gear in the loop or my guitar because it's the same when nothing is connected to the HD500 (besides something to hear the POD sound). It is most apparent when loop is placed before an amp (virtual in the chain) and the noise is amplified or before the mixer when the signal is boosted there. The loop doesn't even need to be on (as turning it on and off only disables the send), and to eliminate the problem you have to delete the loop from the chain.

If someone wants to check if it's the same on theirs unit then simply open an empty patch, put the loop block in the chain, put the amp before the loop (best when it's a high gain amp) and listen to the noise when you delete the loop (from the chain, not turn in on and off) and then put it in again. It may not be that apparent when using headphones but when you play on rehearsal levels then it is very problematic.

I attached mp3 and a patch (links below) that I used to create the mp3. It's just the effects loop and treadplate simulation. Only usb cable and headphones were connected to the POD (no guitar). When you listen to the file it's alternating between noise and silence when I put in and remove effects loop block and later on I boost the return signal to make the problem more audible.

I understand that when you play loud then there will always be some noise but I don’t understand why effects loop introduces noises of its own even when there is nothing connected. Is this normal?

Thanks for any help

mp3 file (for some reason normal uploading didn't work): http://www.mediafire.com/?ryxcu24b5l0dyxo

patch link (unfortunately custom tone didn't want to cooperate with me): http://www.mediafire.com/?q0o37rt6yi6a9yf