• Techniques
  • Hum issues on Guitar into Audio interface
2014/12/09 23:39:18
Scoot
I recently upgraded TH2 Producer to the full version and playing my guitar the Hum was really bothering me, so I started to investigate (not know anything really)
 
I have an Epiphone 335, so humbuckers, and use this cable from Thomann http://www.thomann.de/gb/cordial_cci_3_pr.htm

plugged direct into my Roland Quad capture, into my new laptop.
 
I noticed that if I touch the metal part of the jack casing, the hum dropped. I tried the ground lift switch on the Quad Capture and nothing. I feared electrical issues with the Guitar (the selector knob for the pick ups has failed, so I just have a choice of either, but not both). Then realised to rule out the guitar, I just unplug it, but leave the cable in. It's not the guitar, seemed the cable, so investigated the soldering, but it's fine. 
 
Then it dawned on me, the laptop is new. I pulled the power cable out of the laptop, and bingo the noise llevel dropped massively. not completely, but nearly all of it. So that's a workaround.
 
Now on some noise still remains, but I am wondering if I can get it cleaner.
 
Will a cable make a difference?
Should the ground lift of made a difference on the quad capture?
When I hold my fingers against the strings there is small improvement, does this indicate and guitar issue?
Should I just put up with it?
 
 
2014/12/09 23:52:58
Jablowmi19
if it's not bad, use a gate. 
 
I was having a problem with a loud hiss on my recordings when performing live? Unfortunately, I learned it was coming from the audience.
2014/12/10 00:08:33
mettelus
Is all of your hardware set to the electrical voltage there (I am not sure if they are 50Hz/220VAC there)? If you are picking up the hum from power supplies/environment, you may have to deal with it using an instrument cable (a TRS cable can help, but most guitars cannot use them).
 
In addition to the gate mentioned above, another option is to put the steepest high-pass EQ filter you can at 80Hz to remove as much noise as possible below the Low E before sending it into the signal chain (and even a notch filter at 50Hz for good measure). Some insight that may help you is to actually record this noise and see what/where it is on the spectrum.
 
If touching the strings helps when you ground it, also consider playing with your hand touching the bridge.
2014/12/10 00:22:59
Scoot
Only hardware plugged into the mains is the laptop. PSU says
Input 100-240V 1.6A 50-60Hz
Wide range input
So I think that's fine
 
It also says,
Connect only to grounded outlet
but we don't have those, so may explain the Hum when the laptop is plugged in. When the laptop isn't plugged in, I'm on headphones and the Quad runs off USB, so disconnected from the grid entirely
2014/12/10 01:03:23
sharke
I find that if you move around with the guitar there's usually a sweet spot with minimal buzz. For me, unfortunately, it's facing the other way from my DAW with the guitar tilted a little to the floor 
2014/12/10 08:32:51
dwardzala
He's got humbuckers so the pickups shouldn't be picking up noise.
 
My guess is that he has a loose/broken wire in his guitar wiring.  I had a similar issue, one of the solder joints in my guitar failed and I would get intermittent/poor/no contact which resulted in noise issues.  A 15 minute repair later, and I was back in business.
 
Regarding, just having the cable plugged in, your guitar cable can pick up electrical noise (touch the open end of it and see how the noise changes).  If you really want to rule out the guitar, you need to plug another guitar in that you *know* is not noisy.
2014/12/10 08:51:55
gswitz
I'm th2 use the high input setting for humbuckers.
2014/12/10 09:57:02
Scoot
Unfortunately I do not have access to any other electric guitar shops, and as far as I am aware, no one sells brand new ones in any of the shops in this city.
 
I'm using both the High-Z selector on the Quad and the TH2, but thanks for checking, because on the TH2, it's hidden away a little.
2014/12/10 09:59:09
DeeringAmps
issue #1
"the selector knob for the pick ups has failed, so I just have a choice of either, but not both"
We know there are wiring issues
issue #2
"Connect only to grounded outlet, but we don't have those"
"I pulled the power cable out of the laptop, and bingo the noise level dropped massively"
need I say more there?
issue #3
"He's got humbuckers so the pickups shouldn't be picking up noise"
Buckers are NOT totally quiet, especially in an electronically charged environment.
And this IS an Epiphone. These are not hand wound "boutique" pickups; which are NOT dead quiet anyway.
best answer
"I find that if you move around with the guitar there's usually a sweet spot with minimal buzz"
Correct the wiring issues. (I would NOT invest in more expensive pickups)
Record when disconnected from your "noisy" power grid.
Find the "Sweet Spot" as described by Sharke.
And "gate" the low level noise out as suggested by Jablowmi.
I think that's about all that can be done.
Tom
2014/12/10 10:04:52
Scoot
So you don't think a different quality cable would make a difference, assuming their is no shield breakage and it's been well soldered.
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