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Static noise / hum, when touching footswitches on my HELIX FLOOR


TimEnke
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Hey everybody, I'm new here. Recently purchased a shortly preowned but brand new HELIX floor with two years of warranty left. I discovered something which i'd like to know, if anybody else did too. Whenever I use higher gain amps or overall a loud signal chain in the helix, a noticable hum is hearable, when I touch one of the footswitches (especially the PRESET / STOMP switch). However it goes away as soon as I let go of the guitar strings. Tried with multiple guitars (humbucker and sc) didn't change anything. It's not dramatic, but I just wanted to make sure my Unit is ok since it was a big investment for me. 

 

Also it didn't change, when i put the footswitches to "press" instead of "touch" via global settings. Therefore i think it doesn't have to do with the capacitive switches but instead the entire grounding scheme of the unit.

Should I be worried? Is there something broken? Or is it something you guys have enccountered too?

 

Thanks y'all.  

 

 

 

 

 

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On 5/8/2025 at 11:29 PM, TimEnke said:

Hey everybody, I'm new here. Recently purchased a shortly preowned but brand new HELIX floor with two years of warranty left. I discovered something which i'd like to know, if anybody else did too. Whenever I use higher gain amps or overall a loud signal chain in the helix, a noticable hum is hearable, when I touch one of the footswitches (especially the PRESET / STOMP switch). However it goes away as soon as I let go of the guitar strings. Tried with multiple guitars (humbucker and sc) didn't change anything. It's not dramatic, but I just wanted to make sure my Unit is ok since it was a big investment for me. 

 

Also it didn't change, when i put the footswitches to "press" instead of "touch" via global settings. Therefore i think it doesn't have to do with the capacitive switches but instead the entire grounding scheme of the unit.

Should I be worried? Is there something broken? Or is it something you guys have enccountered too?

 

Thanks y'all.  

 

 

 

 

IMG_4700 2.mov 180 B · 7 downloads  

 

 

 

 

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Can't really hear it over the ambient noise. 

Unless it's what I'm hearing as ambient noise?

Attach the preset and I'll test it on mine.

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On 5/9/2025 at 4:32 PM, rd2rk said:

Can't really hear it over the ambient noise. 

Unless it's what I'm hearing as ambient noise?

Attach the preset and I'll test it on mine.

Have a look at the preset. In the Video if I lift my foot from the switch you can here the sizziling go away.

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Try the attached preset.

If we're hearing the same thing, it may be caused by having your amps in series.

Putting them in parallel paths with an A/B split solves what I'm hearing.

You'll probably need to rethink your Snapshots.

PRACTICE Mod.hlx

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This doens't change anythin since its independet from the prest I use. If ill use a cranked JCM800 (Brit 2203) or basically any other high gain preset even with only one amp, there is the same noise. Have a listen at the revording I made. Via DAW.

 

 

 

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On 5/9/2025 at 3:32 PM, TimEnke said:

This doens't change anythin since its independet from the prest I use.

 

It's the sample preset you sent me, modded to fix what I heard.

Does that preset (the modded version) still have the problem that YOU hear in the sample preset that you sent me?

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I'm not hearing the "crackling" going away when you lift your foot. Is the preset in the video the same one you sent me?

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On 5/10/2025 at 1:16 AM, rd2rk said:

I'm not hearing the "crackling" going away when you lift your foot. Is the preset in the video the same one you sent me?

Yes, what you hearing is your modified preset. This isn't anything about the preset its about the unit. Since the crackling is louder, when touching the STOMP / PRESET switch compared to touching one of the other footswitches. Have a listen at the audio, you can hear it clearly there.

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OK then, we're hearing different things.

This is not a problem on mine.

 

Things I can think of off the top of my head:

 

Does the Ground Switch do anything?

Can you hear it through the HP Out?

What are you monitoring through? Is it on the same AC circuit as Helix?

Are both connected to an EMI/RFI Surge Arrestor Power Strip? *** If not, GET ONE NOW!!!

Are there florescent lights, dimmers or large appliances like HVAC or refrigerators on that circuit?

Does it go away if you disconnect the USB?

 

If none of the above, open a support ticket.

 

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Gorund switch doesn't change a thing (makes sense, since it only lifts the XLR's ground, as far as i know). Hearing it through HP out too. I took the board upstiars. Used a different power an guitar cable, different outlet and only headphones, still no difference. Even on my KRKs. No they are just straight in to the outlet. There are non of the mentioned utilities anywhere nearby. Disconnecting the USB doesn't change a thing either. 


Just to make sure, if you have a highgain preset and touch the PRESET / STOMP knob, while letting go of your guitar strings, there is complete silence in your helix? I will open a support ticket now. Thx so far.

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I cranked up my Catalyst to 100db and was able to detect a TINY bit of static when touching a switch with bare fingers.

We humans are, after all, electrically charged creatures and even moving through the air generates static, so I'm not surprised.

I don't play barefoot, or even with socks only, and hardly ever at those kind of SPLs, so maybe why I never noticed?

Nothing when pressing switches with shoes on.

As for hum, apart from the normal amount that you should expect from ANY really high gain preset, there's nothing I wouldn't otherwise expect.

Without being in the room with you and your gear I can't say for sure, but based solely on your recordings I don't think you have a problem.

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