Hi gain hum

[5mafre5br]

I use the Helix LT for gigging direct to PA, and use presets for different sounds.  Clean sounds are fine, but when using a Hi gain amp model there is very loud hum/buzzing when not playing anything.  (It seems the model is so good it also models the hum!)  Even with the guitar turned down it is still there.  I tested one patch - I put a hard gate on the input before any inserts or modeling at around -50 dB and that seems to work.  I have 20-30 presets that I use and dont want to edit each of them this way.  Here are my questions:

 

How can I get rid of the loud background hum on some of the models?

 

If I use a gate, should it be on the input end, or output?

 

Is there a global setting that I can apply a gate to, so I dont have to edit each preset?

 

Do some amp models have a setting that eliminates this feature?

 

thanks,

Joel

Helix LT, HX Edit with PC 

 

[rd2rk]

Most of the amp models have a HUM setting. You can dial that down to zero, but it sounds like you have some other problem.

Attach a preset that has the problem and I'll have a look at it.

[datacommando]

On 12/11/2025 at 9:42 PM, 5mafre5br said:

It seems the model is so good it also models the hum!

Hi,

 

Correct - they did model the Hum (and Ripple), and it is mentioned in the Helix LT Owner’s Manual 3.80, on page 37.

 

“Hum - Ripple: Controls how much heater hum and AC ripple interacts with your tone. At higher settings, things get freaky.”

 

There could be many reasons why you are experiencing “hum”, but it’s helpful to have an example preset to check the settings you have. If you’re happy with your clean tones, it may be simply a question of controlling the “hum” with a noise gate.

 

Also you didn’t mention what guitar(s) and pickup type(s) you are using. It’s good to know as it’s all part of the audio signal path.
 

Hope this helps/makes sense.

[5mafre5br]

I tried changing the hum setting and it didnt do much. Here I've added a hard gate at the beginning of the chain.  That seems to work.

This is with a PRS swamp ash special - 58/15 LT humbuckers. 

Crunch1.hlx

[rd2rk]

You need to check your guitar and cables.

Most of what little noise I hear is coming from the Red Squeeze.

That compressor into a distortion, even a Timmy, is guaranteed to be noisy.

The Helix versions are actually pretty quiet relative to the RW analog versions.

I bypassed your Hard Gate and used the Input Gate (default settings) and it went dead silent even with both the Red Squeeze and Teemah ON.

That was with both a PRS S2 CU24 and my funky old Affinity Tele.

 

[5mafre5br]

I'll check some cables and try my 1980 LP custom.  I plugged my PRS into my other guitarists amp using his distortion board (dont recall what it was), and it had no hum.  Is the input gate you refer to the "multi(guitar)" input? (I didnt realize that was there) It seems to work better than the hard gate.  It seems to have a smooth volume adjust rather than a hard (chattering) cutoff.  This wont have any effect on the volume or sound of the preset, right?

thanks

[5mafre5br]

1980 LP custom humbuck pickups had about the same hum, as did good planet waves and other cables.   This gate on the "multi(guitar)" input seems to be the best solution, at around -50 dB.  I'm thinking instead of having to edit each preset, is there a master input gate that happens before all presets? 

thanks

[silverhead]

On 12/15/2025 at 5:35 PM, 5mafre5br said:

…, is there a master input gate that happens before all presets? 

…

No, there’s not. You need to edit each preset.