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396 Views 13 Replies Latest reply: Mar 4, 2012 12:12 PM by arislaf RSS
loragland Just Startin' 6 posts since
Jan 4, 2009
Currently Being Moderated

Mar 2, 2012 9:54 AM

Humming/Noise from HD500

I have been experiencing a lot of background noise ever since I've began to use the HD500. I have an X3 Live and I have no problems with it at all. I just recently upgraded to the HD500, but every single amp model contains a background noise especially when I begin to add compression pedals. The noise is present when I gear up in the live setting at my church as well as at home through head phones. I've tried changing cables and guitars...I've also tried hooking up my X3 to all of the same configurations and it gets no noise at all. I love the tones that I'm getting with the HD500 but the noise makes it unusable in a live setting right now. I know it sounds like a ground loop issue, just can't figure out why my X3 would be experiencing no problems while the HD500 is struggling. Could it be a faulty unit...I've only had it for three days.

  • Nick_Mattocks Best of the Best 9,065 posts since
    Mar 26, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Mar 2, 2012 10:18 AM (in response to loragland)
    Re: Humming/Noise from HD500

    Hi

     

    How do you have the HD500 grounded and are you connected to a computer when you get this noise? - I know that's less likely to be the case when you are playing live, but some people dorun a computer even when live.

     

    Nick

  • meambobbo Iknowathingortwo 1,702 posts since
    Dec 13, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Mar 2, 2012 10:31 AM (in response to loragland)
    Re: Humming/Noise from HD500

    i assume you're using analog audio outputs (1/4" unbalanceds, XLR outs, headphones).  In this case, what is your Master KNOB set to?  It should be at 100% for the best SNR, because I believe it controls the output of the main analog amplifier.

      • jimsreynolds Power User 2,227 posts since
        Jun 27, 43450
        Currently Being Moderated
        Mar 2, 2012 11:40 AM (in response to loragland)
        Re: Humming/Noise from HD500

        So to be clear, if you have the following hookup you get noise ...

         

        Guitar --> HD500 --> Headphones


        With no other connections or cables you get plugged in, you still get noise? 

         

        Nothing in the FX Loop?  No FX Loop Block in the effects chain?

         

        Can you check with another guitar and cable?  I know that in theory this should not make a difference but it may be worth a try.

         

        Probably worth setting Input 1 = Guitar, Input 2 = Variax to reduce any noise coming into the HD but it should not be that dramatic.

      • Nick_Mattocks Best of the Best 9,065 posts since
        Mar 26, 2007
        Currently Being Moderated
        Mar 2, 2012 1:04 PM (in response to loragland)
        Re: Humming/Noise from HD500

        Does this occur with ALL amp models or are you predominantly using a particularly high gain amp model like Treadplate?

         

        Also, physically where is the power supply in relation to your signal cable?  I'm only thinking along the lines of where you might possibly have your POD mounted on an FX board with a power strip.  I don't think this is particularly likely, but am just ruling it out.

         

        And one final thought....  Does your POD use the correct DC-3g PSU which should have input specs of 100v AC to 240v AC at 50/60Hz and an output spec of 9v DC at 3 Amps or has someone possibly substituted the older PX2 PSU which gives out 9v AC at 2000mA? The HD500 PSU and X3 Live PSU are NOT the same! Your unit might work for a short while with the wrong PSU giving out 9v AC surprisingly, but it will end up damaging your POD and importantly it would cause an underlying hum on everything as would an underrated DC PSU.  I'm mentioning this because there have been a few instances reported where retailers have borrowed the correct PSU from an unopened boxed unit to maybe replace another user's faulty PSU and then mistakenly replaced it with the incorrect older AC PSU before sale.

         

        Nick

          • Nick_Mattocks Best of the Best 9,065 posts since
            Mar 26, 2007
            Currently Being Moderated
            Mar 3, 2012 10:36 AM (in response to loragland)
            Re: Humming/Noise from HD500

            There is a setting in System Setup to change hum between 50Hz and 60Hz, but I don't think that's your problem really.  Given that using a Gate shuts the hum off, more or less shows the cause to be external and yes it could be your guitar needs better on-board shielding and grounding.  Single coil pickup guitars are much more prone to background hum and shielding problems than humbucker models, but even they don't get off Scott free.  The higher gain the amp model used (i.e. - something like the Treadplate) you will notice background hum more, but you shouldn't really experience much noticeable hum when using say one of the cleaner Fender models.  The Hard Gate gate is the better gate to use IMO.

             

            Nick

              • Nick_Mattocks Best of the Best 9,065 posts since
                Mar 26, 2007
                Currently Being Moderated
                Mar 3, 2012 2:02 PM (in response to loragland)
                Re: Humming/Noise from HD500

                Those are pretty much all the amps I don't use a whole lot - occasionally yes, but not a lot.   Some of those amps do hum in real life, but your issue seems to be external to the POD as gating the input gets rid of the buzz for you.  What you could do to ensure your guitar gets a good ground is to connect one of the HD500's output jacks to an amp that is grounded by being plugged into the wall but not switched on, as there can be grounding issues caused by using balanced XLR cables that are wired with the cable 'shield' braid connected to the casing of the XLR plugs at both ends. Not all XLR cables have the little link connection soldered in place, but mic cables tend to because of electrical safety concerns when handling a microphone.  Having the XLR plug casings connected to the cable shield wire at both ends can defeat whatever the XLR Ground Lift switch is set to on the POD as you don't have true isolation of the balanced wiring that way and hum can occur.  I'm not encouraging you to snip any links in your XLR cables here - that's up to you as long as you keep things electrically safe at all times by other means if necessary, but rather trying to explain (and maybe not too clearly - sorry) what might be contributing to your hum/buzz issue.  Have you tried just using a standard 1/4" output to connect the POD to your PA instead of XLR? You might find that passes a better ground for your guitar than the XLR route is doing.

                • Colin2113 Just Startin' 51 posts since
                  Oct 29, 2009
                  Currently Being Moderated
                  Mar 3, 2012 3:44 PM (in response to Nick_Mattocks)
                  Re: Humming/Noise from HD500

                  What exactly are you plugging your POD HD into and what else is plugged into that circuit? I had the same problem but there is a very easy fix.

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