Williamlavon Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 (edited) My Helix is getting what sounds like 60 cycle hum with some amp models, (US Small Tweed, US Deluxe, Fullertons) but not others. The noise occurs even with nothing plugged into the input. It can be heard thru the 1/4" outputs or thru the headphones. I've tried different cables, ground lifts, etc. but that's not the problem. The US Small Tweed is the worst. The hum gets louder when the Ch Vol is turned up but the drive level has no effect on the noise level. Other models are dead quiet: US Double, Jazz Rivet 120,Cali IV, etc. Strangely the Grammatico Jump also has a hum but it's about an octave lower than the other amps. Weird. Has anybody else had this problem? Do you have a solution? Thanks Edited October 8, 2019 by Williamlavon added info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigGT Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 There is a hum parameter as part of most of the power amps, it might need turning down. It struck me as weird at first because I'm in the UK and I am used to 50Hz hum. I don't know if it's relevant but in a tube amp, power supply hum will be 2x line current frequency (100/120Hz) whereas ground hum will be 50/60Hz. Craig 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Williamlavon Posted October 8, 2019 Author Share Posted October 8, 2019 Problem Solved! Thanks Craig for pointing me in the right direction. Turning down the HUM control didn't fix it. Turning down the Ripple made the hum go away! Further experiments reveal that the HUM control will bring in a low octave hum and the Ripple brings in a buzz like a bad connection. It effects some amps more than others. It may be authentic but who really wants buzz and hum in their sound? Thanks again Craig. Bill 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigGT Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 That makes sense, power supply noise is referred to as ripple but I didn't realise there were separate Hum and Ripple controls. I guess it depends on what the original amps were susceptible to. But you're right, who wants buzz and hum?, especially when they're the wrong frequency :-) Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codamedia Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 35 minutes ago, Williamlavon said: It may be authentic but who really wants buzz and hum in their sound? The magic of a tube amp is all of it's imperfections. If L6 didn't provide these options, there would be people complaining the amp wasn't noisy enough :) I'm with you.... just remove it completely. But... it is 1 (of many) imperfections people think they need. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 Have you ever owned a real tube amp? Most of them will hum. Some worse than others. L6 modeled real tube amps, warts and all! EDIT: I'm with ya - I coulda done without that level of realism! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
im_helix Posted December 2, 2019 Share Posted December 2, 2019 On 10/8/2019 at 2:32 PM, Williamlavon said: Problem Solved! Thanks Craig for pointing me in the right direction. Turning down the HUM control didn't fix it. Turning down the Ripple made the hum go away! Further experiments reveal that the HUM control will bring in a low octave hum and the Ripple brings in a buzz like a bad connection. It effects some amps more than others. It may be authentic but who really wants buzz and hum in their sound? Thanks again Craig. Bill Absolute genius, thank you! I ran into this same issue last night. Loud hum outta my amp cab. Turns out that Helix did have a recent update, as my dad told me. Must have updated it some days ago. Hum does not fix as you said. Turning down (or off even) Ripple was like magic! ♥. Many thanks again. I hope this solution works for everyone else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hideout Posted December 2, 2019 Share Posted December 2, 2019 On 10/8/2019 at 8:46 AM, Williamlavon said: My Helix is getting what sounds like 60 cycle hum with some amp models, (US Small Tweed, US Deluxe, Fullertons) but not others. The noise occurs even with nothing plugged into the input. It can be heard thru the 1/4" outputs or thru the headphones. I've tried different cables, ground lifts, etc. but that's not the problem. The US Small Tweed is the worst. The hum gets louder when the Ch Vol is turned up but the drive level has no effect on the noise level. Other models are dead quiet: US Double, Jazz Rivet 120,Cali IV, etc. Strangely the Grammatico Jump also has a hum but it's about an octave lower than the other amps. Weird. Has anybody else had this problem? Do you have a solution? Thanks Hey, quit copying my thread! lolol. Seriously though, we're just noticing this now? Seems a little odd. i just cannot recall ever hearing this hum prior to 2.82. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
im_helix Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 @hideout I guess it hasn't affected everyone lol. For me it was insanely annoying though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hideout Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 48 minutes ago, im_helix said: @hideout I guess it hasn't affected everyone lol. For me it was insanely annoying though. I’m just surprised that I’m only noticing it since this latest upgrade. Especially since yes, it is highly annoying. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hefonthefjords Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 This is a feature, not a bug. Amps hum. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hideout Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 1 hour ago, hefonthefjords said: This is a feature, not a bug. Amps hum. Humbug! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 This is one of those "groundhog day" discussions. As I understand it, the idea of modeling is to create an accurate model of a real world amp. If the real world amp hums, then an accurate model of that amp will hum. They aren't modeling the hum, the hum is a result of the model being an accurate model of the original amp, which hums. If you take the hum out, it has to change something about the way the amp sounds and, therefore, it is no longer an accurate model. If you provide the user with controls which modify the amp model to remove the hum (hum/ripple), the argument then becomes "but it doesn't sound like the real amp when you do that!" DOH! SHUT UP AND PLAY YER GUITAR! (but not on my lawn!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hideout Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 Meh. I don’t give a rat’s patootie about that kind of accuracy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 54 minutes ago, hideout said: Meh. I don’t give a rat’s patootie about that kind of accuracy. Nor do I. I don't care about groundhogs either, as long as they stay off my lawn! I actually like the L6 originals just fine. They're TOTALLY accurate, too! Hum and all..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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