FarleyUK Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 Help! I've got a very odd noise coming out of the amp when The Helix is used. Have ensured all other powered pedals are off, tried different cables, different wall sockets, different extension cables etc. Anyone any idea what it is and how to stop it? Using 4cm to the amp. Guitar > Helix Guitar In > Helix SEND1 to JVM in > JVM Fx send to Helix RETURN1 > 1/4in out to JVM FX return Oddly enough, I have a talk box as well and even with the Helix and amp off, that makes the same noise. Also, if I bypass the FX LOOP block on the Helix, the sound is still there, so maybe it's not the FX loop..... If I plug direct into the amp, it's fine (I.e. Guitar -> amp input, no fx loop). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricksteruk Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 You say the talk box makes exactly the same noise as this? It sounds like dirty electricity to me - you should try to get a power conditioner. The upstairs room in my house sometimes has an awful very loud hum that affects pretty much anything you plug in there.. I tried everything I could thing of - using different sockets - isolated power supplies. They helped a little. A power conditioner cured it for me. I got one of these for about £15 used - an ETA PD8L IEC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HonestOpinion Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 Help! I've got a very odd noise coming out of the amp when The Helix is used. Have ensured all other powered pedals are off, tried different cables, different wall sockets, different extension cables etc. Anyone any idea what it is and how to stop it? Using 4cm to the amp. Guitar > Helix Guitar In > Helix SEND1 to JVM in > JVM Fx send to Helix RETURN1 > 1/4in out to JVM FX return Oddly enough, I have a talk box as well and even with the Helix and amp off, that makes the same noise. Also, if I bypass the FX LOOP block on the Helix, the sound is still there, so maybe it's not the FX loop..... If I plug direct into the amp, it's fine (I.e. Guitar -> amp input, no fx loop). This could be electrical but it almost sounds mechanical, like a fan sound being picked up by a microphonic tube that has gone bad although you say it makes the same sound with the amp off. If it happens when the amp is on I would try lightly tapping the Marshall's tubes with a pencil to see if any of them are microphonic. What is it making the sound through when the amp is off, the headphones on the Helix? Does it happen on several or many of the factory presets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricksteruk Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 The reason I think it's a noisy electrical supply is that Farley says that his talk box makes the same noise.... .....even when the Helix and the Amp are off!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HonestOpinion Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 The reason I think it's a noisy electrical supply is that Farley says that his talk box makes the same noise.... .....even when the Helix and the Amp are off!! You are correct, that makes sense. He does mention it makes the noise even with the Helix and the amp off. Just not sure I understand what he is hearing the noise through when the amp is off unless it is the tube/hose on the talkbox. Electrical noise generally requires some sort of amplification and a speaker to hear (with some exceptions like fluorescent lights). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DunedinDragon Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 I'm in agreement with the dirty power. It sounds to me like there's something else plugged into that electrical circuit somewhere that causing transient spikes. Maybe try a plug that's on a different circuit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hefonthefjords Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 yup, this is noise in the power line. probably from all the cheap lollipop switching power supplies in basically everything ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarleyUK Posted June 18, 2016 Author Share Posted June 18, 2016 Cheers guys - I actually have a power conditioner I always use - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tacima-6-Way-Mains-Conditioner/dp/B00UB0G4DQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1466211196&sr=8-1&keywords=power+conditioner Played the first gig with it tonight and all seemed OK, so a bit odd...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricksteruk Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 Cheers guys - I actually have a power conditioner I always use - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tacima-6-Way-Mains-Conditioner/dp/B00UB0G4DQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1466211196&sr=8-1&keywords=power+conditioner Played the first gig with it tonight and all seemed OK, so a bit odd...! I don't think that's up to the job really. It's more of a surge protector than a power conditioner - it doesn't say it's got filters in it. You want both RFI and EMI filters to get rid of that sort of noise. Something like this: - http://www.atlasied.com/ap-c15d When you run into a venue that has really nasty power you won't regret it. The power at your gig tonight was ok luckily! Most venues are fine.. it's just good to have the conditioner just in case. As I say my upstairs room has a continual recurring buzzing in the mains (caused by interference from a neighbour I think) so I need to use the conditioner in there any time music happens there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarleyUK Posted June 18, 2016 Author Share Posted June 18, 2016 OK, thanks. How about this? http://www.cattylink.com/page220.html I don't have a rack so would rather have a non rack conditioner! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fukuri Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 Before you do that I would try putting a lehle psplit or a gigrig humdinger in the loop 4cm can introduce a ground loop so you can break it by having an isolated output in place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricksteruk Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 Yes, it is likely ground loops are involved but the noise is probably caused by the dirty electricity - that is why it didn't make that noise at your gig. You might get results removing the noise with a ground isolator / hum buster - but a power conditioner (like the one you linked) is probably the best bet - and a good thing to use always anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.