Hello everyone,
I solved a big mystery today...i have a Helix LT as some of you may know from my previous posts. I also have a rack of preamps and a pedal board that i use as well as the LT depending on what sound i am after. I have been chasing this really nasty hum / signal noise problem when i was using my rack preamps in Lead CH overdrive mode in particular. I went though all kinds of hoops to check for ground noise, ground loop, bad signal / power cables, noisy pedals, patch cords, etc...this has been going on for several months...in fact, ever since i got my Helix LT...hmmmm....well, i don't turn on the LT when i use the other preamps....so i did not suspect that it was part of the problem...not to mention it is not in the guitar signal path when i use the external preamps.
But the LT unit does sit next to my external pedal board.....so after exhausting everything else...i had to consider that i may have an X-File case here.... :) So i first i unplugged the USB cable on the LT....the noise level dropped significantly....then i unplugged the output cables on the LT...noise gone!! ....or at least back to normal acceptable levels. Wow! this really had me going for several months...so glad i solved this killer noise problem finally...the Helix LT is a digital noise blasting machine....so i just leave it unplugged unless i plan to use it.
The funny part is that the LT does not seem to be susceptible to the noise it creates...that is the good news for those of you that don't have any other gear you are interfacing with. I am amazed that this thing passed EMC certification testing (radiated electrical emissions testing to ensure that it does not do things like this).
Enjoy...Dan