kur7 Posted April 20, 2019 Share Posted April 20, 2019 Hello, I just bought my first Line 6 product: the HX stomp. I am having an issue and I'd like to know if I am doing something wrong or if it's a defect of my unit so I could eventually return it. I connected the HX stomp through my Apogee Duet input in order to record to my DAW (and also to play through my speakers using the amp simulations and the IR's I bought). As soon as I connect the USB of my HX stomp to my Mac (because I want to edit presets with HX editor) I get an annoying ground noise. If I unplug the power cable of my Mac the noise it's reduced a bit but not entirely which makes it impossible to record high quality sounds. This only happens as soon as I connect the USB (included in the HX stomp) to my Mac. On the other hand, If I select on my DAW the HX stomp as input (other than the apogee duet) the noise is gone. I would like to use the Apogee Duet sound quality for recording, rather than the HX stomp internal audio card. The only solution seems to disconnect the USB cable to get rid of the gnd noise. Anyone is experiencing the same problem? Thanks a lot for your help! Simone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil_m Posted April 20, 2019 Share Posted April 20, 2019 It’s just a ground loop. It’s quite common when you multiple ground paths running between two pieces of equipment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted April 20, 2019 Share Posted April 20, 2019 Make sure both devices and the computer are connected through an EMI filtered power strip, to the same house circuit. One that doesn't share with appliances, fluorescent or rheostat controlled lights. If that doesn't do it, try different USB cables. According to Frank Richotte (L6 boss, over on TGP) the Helix is very sensitive to USB cable quality. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kur7 Posted April 23, 2019 Author Share Posted April 23, 2019 Do you guys experience the same? Because I could also just use the internal HX soundcard to record which seems to be good quality. However there is a huge difference in volume when I use my Apogee Duet preamps compared to the HX stomp internal ones. The input signal is really low making the recordings not optimal. On the other hand when I use the Apogee Duet and the USB connection of the stomp there is always this small incoming signal which is definitely not good for a perfect rec session. I tried to use a different USB cable but nothing changes. Just wanted to make sure that the problem is not of the HX itself otherwise I have to return it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil_m Posted April 23, 2019 Share Posted April 23, 2019 5 hours ago, kur7 said: Do you guys experience the same? Because I could also just use the internal HX soundcard to record which seems to be good quality. However there is a huge difference in volume when I use my Apogee Duet preamps compared to the HX stomp internal ones. The input signal is really low making the recordings not optimal. On the other hand when I use the Apogee Duet and the USB connection of the stomp there is always this small incoming signal which is definitely not good for a perfect rec session. I tried to use a different USB cable but nothing changes. Just wanted to make sure that the problem is not of the HX itself otherwise I have to return it. The fact the signal low from the Stomp's USB output isn't necessarily a bad thing... How low is it? If you need to increase it, you can use the level parameter at the output block. If you're running the output from the Stomp through your Duet's preamp, it stands to reason that the recorded signal is going to be hotter. Your also going to be getting some amount of color from the preamps themselves. The signal from the Stomp's USB is going to be the pure, unaltered signal from the Stomp itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kur7 Posted April 24, 2019 Author Share Posted April 24, 2019 I have the level knob all the way up on my hx stomp and the input signal I receive in my DAW is very low, which requires me to increase it by 15 db to reach a decent waveform. I think it's really a lot to increase a recordings by more than 3-4 db's. I just found out that the power adaptor of the HX stomp is not grounded. Could be that the reason of my annoying ground noise? If so, (apart from wondering why Line 6 engineers did not thought of a grounded power adapter) which power adapter I could buy to solve the issue? Furthermore, could I solve the problem by buying a filtered power strip? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil_m Posted April 24, 2019 Share Posted April 24, 2019 23 minutes ago, kur7 said: I have the level knob all the way up on my hx stomp and the input signal I receive in my DAW is very low, which requires me to increase it by 15 db to reach a decent waveform. I think it's really a lot to increase a recordings by more than 3-4 db's. I just found out that the power adaptor of the HX stomp is not grounded. Could be that the reason of my annoying ground noise? If so, (apart from wondering why Line 6 engineers did not thought of a grounded power adapter) which power adapter I could buy to solve the issue? Furthermore, could I solve the problem by buying a filtered power strip? When you say the level knob, are you talking about the physical volume knob on the unit? That has no effect on the USB audio. Only the level in the preset will affect that. It sounds like you just have your presets created at a relatively low volume. Again, it's not really that big of a deal if the level going into your DAW is sort of low. With 24 bit digital audio, you really don't lose any fidelity by recording at lower levels. It actually gives you more flexibility while mixing. But if you want things louder, go to the output block, and increase the level parameter there. You can increase the preset volume by up to 20dB there. As far as the power supply, that's not really the issue. If it were grounded, it could actually be more problematic. The ground on a power supply isn't there for noise reason, but simply for safety issues. The Stomp falls below the threshold, load-wise, where a grounded power supply is required. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kur7 Posted April 24, 2019 Author Share Posted April 24, 2019 The level in the preset is on 0 db. I definitely don't want to increase it as the noise exponentially increase also. Unfortunately apart from the low volume I have this constant ground noise that is clearly hearable in the recording. I'll send you a screenshot of my DAW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil_m Posted April 24, 2019 Share Posted April 24, 2019 4 minutes ago, kur7 said: The level in the preset is on 0 db. I definitely don't want to increase it as the noise exponentially increase also. Unfortunately apart from the low volume I have this constant ground noise that is clearly hearable in the recording. I'll send you a screenshot of my DAW. So are you still talking about recording through your Duet here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kur7 Posted April 24, 2019 Author Share Posted April 24, 2019 Yes that's the line level when the Duet is selected as input and output and also when the USB is connected from the HX stompt to my Mac. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kur7 Posted April 24, 2019 Author Share Posted April 24, 2019 This is the difference in levels when I select the HX stomp as input and the Duet as input. In both cases, the noise is present. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil_m Posted April 24, 2019 Share Posted April 24, 2019 18 minutes ago, kur7 said: This is the difference in levels when I select the HX stomp as input and the Duet as input. In both cases, the noise is present. Earlier you said the noise was gone when using the Stomp as the interface... Was your Stomp still connected to the Duet wen you made the first recording? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted April 24, 2019 Share Posted April 24, 2019 3 hours ago, kur7 said: Furthermore, could I solve the problem by buying a filtered power strip? On 4/20/2019 at 9:49 AM, rd2rk said: Make sure both devices and the computer are connected through an EMI filtered power strip, to the same house circuit. One that doesn't share with appliances, fluorescent or rheostat controlled lights. If that doesn't do it, try different USB cables. According to Frank Richotte (L6 boss, over on TGP) the Helix is very sensitive to USB cable quality. Like I said...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kur7 Posted April 24, 2019 Author Share Posted April 24, 2019 Sorry I express myself uncorrectly. The noise is always there, it's just lower because it's lower the overall input signal. Yes in both cases the stomp is connected to the Duet. In the following screenshots there is the noise generated when I use the HX stomp as input (-66.4 db) and then the noise generated using the Duet as input (-51 db). There is a decrease of 15.6 db from the Duet to the HX but still the nosie is there in both cases! I added another screenshot avoiding the HX stomp and connecting my pedalboard (with the overdrive, reverb and booster on) straight to the Apogee. As you can see there is barely noise even with all the effects turned on (-72.3 db). Therefore I won't attribute the cause to my electrical implants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kur7 Posted April 29, 2019 Author Share Posted April 29, 2019 On 4/24/2019 at 6:57 PM, rd2rk said: Like I said...... Unfortunately this didn't solve my issue. The HX stomp adds a big amount of noise when connected through the USB to my Mac. Makes it impossible to record high quality audio. Had to return it, sadly... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frednat Posted March 12, 2021 Share Posted March 12, 2021 Two years later, I'm having the same problem, was wondering if anyone had found an easy fix! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fernandezjw Posted April 1, 2021 Share Posted April 1, 2021 I have the same issue, but haven't get any fix on the forums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted April 1, 2021 Share Posted April 1, 2021 19 minutes ago, fernandezjw said: I have the same issue, but haven't get any fix on the forums. Can you record the noise you're talking about? That might provide us a clue. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fernandezjw Posted April 1, 2021 Share Posted April 1, 2021 Sure, the noise you hear was recorded with only hx stomp and my amp, with an empty preset. One sound is analog bypass and the next is not. Noise.m4a Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimkopp Posted June 17, 2021 Share Posted June 17, 2021 Same issue and it's horrible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted June 18, 2021 Share Posted June 18, 2021 On 4/1/2021 at 7:55 AM, fernandezjw said: Sure, the noise you hear was recorded with only hx stomp and my amp, with an empty preset. One sound is analog bypass and the next is not. Noise.m4a 172.38 kB · 3 downloads 19 hours ago, jimkopp said: Same issue and it's horrible. Don't know what to tell you. My HXS is my "desktop" noodling device. It runs balanced cables out to a Behringer Xenyx502 mixer, then that runs out to a Sony 3pc bookshelf system (2x6 + 1x10 sub) 540 watts. It's loud and very clean. In either bypass mode the HXS is dead silent. Running it direct to the Sony (unbalanced simple INSERT cable bypassing the mixer) it's dead silent. My USB is direct connected to an ancient Gateway i5 laptop via the stock(?) cable with the ferrite barrel. If that's NOT the stock USB cable, then maybe getting a USB cable with integrated ferrite barrel might help? Otherwise, the problem would seem to be elsewhere in your system. What I CAN tell you is that the hiss in the recording is probably NOT a USB ground loop, as it is missing the high-frequency whine that's characteristic of that condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datacommando Posted June 18, 2021 Share Posted June 18, 2021 On 4/1/2021 at 2:55 PM, fernandezjw said: Sure, the noise you hear was recorded with only hx stomp and my amp, with an empty preset. One sound is analog bypass and the next is not. Noise.m4a 172.38 kB · 3 downloads If this sample audio files recorded with only your HX Stomp and Amp, I'm going to guess that you captured the audio on your phone, which is fine, but can you please advise what amp you're using. There is apparently a huge SciFi reverb (as if in a large tunnel or warehouse) which kicks in, when I assume you are switching the bypass. Is the reverb in your amp? I ask because the rest of this thread seems to be discussing noise via the USB while recording. I'm with "rd2rk" on this one - I have no idea what is causing that. I have never had any issues with noise while using my Helix floor for recording into Logic Pro X. Suffice to say, if I was encountering that sort of racket every time I turned it on, it would have been thrown on the bench for a serious examination by the technicians. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitarboy_02451 Posted June 19, 2021 Share Posted June 19, 2021 I've been cutting tracks for almost a year now 2020 iMac and Pro Tools in various ways using my HX Stomp and no issues. If you are going to the Pre of your DAW with 1/4 cables and using USB, you will get noise. Unplug the USB and learn how to use the interface on the Stomp itself. That's the first thing I learned, and it was recommended by Scott of Scott's Digital Guitar YouTube Chanel. Always learn how to do things from the interface. It's one or the other, USB or 1/4" cables. If I am going to record direct using the HX as my interface, I use USB. If I'm going to use the HX (for effects only) in front of an amp, I unplug the USB, as it creates a very nasty ground loop issue. Also I'm not so concerned at the recording levels from the USB. I'm assuming you are recording to digital not tape? If digital, the levels don't matter. You make that up with compression in the mix. I record somewhere between -22 to -16 db. I leave room for make-up gain, sends and busses before hitting the master fader. Start tracking cables, and swiping cables out. You may have a bad USB cable, you may have a bad 1/4" cable. Have yo tried a balanced 1/4" cable? Are you using a USB hub, or a USB extender? Line 6 does not recommend either, hubs or extenders. Will they work? Yes, but it's not recommend. If it's none of the above, then obviously something is wrong and contact Line 6. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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