Compact Power Conditioner/Hum Eliminator

[bassboysam]

Not sure if this is in the right forum or not so feel free to move it.

I am having some noise/ground issues with some of my amps at some venues and was wondering what are some good recommendations for a small, hum eliminator? While I'm at it I would like to also protect my amps from surges and uneven power supplies, so are there any products out there that can do all this? Any suggestions? The only one that i have been able to find is the Furman AC-215A, but I am not sure if it will eliminate the hum.

I am really trying to avoid the Furman rack mount products as I don't have a rack and I really don't want to carry something that big.

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by bassboysam

what are some good recommendations for a small, hum eliminator?

Hum is caused by ground loops or EMI/RFI. Ground loop causes and cures are explained here:
http://www.rane.com/note110.html

EMI and RFI can't be effectively filtered out with a simple plug in device; they must be eliminated at the source, something venue operators tend not to be inclined to do.

[bassboysam]

Good to know thanks. I guess then the goal is to minimize the hum? And does this also apply when an amp picks up radio signals?

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by bassboysam

Good to know thanks. I guess then the goal is to minimize the hum? And does this also apply when an amp picks up radio signals?

Yes to both. Hum-bucking and/or actives, proper shielding and system wiring will take care of 90% of issues. The other 10% you pretty much have to live with, being beyond your control.

[bassboysam]

Are there any compact "solutions" that you would recommend Bill?

[Boot Soul]

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

EMI and RFI can't be effectively filtered out with a simple plug in device; they must be eliminated at the source, something venue operators tend not to be inclined to do.

http://www.furmansound.com/product.p...01&id=P-1800PF

The Furman P-1800 PF will not help at all with EMI/RFI noise? I was planning to get one because I often get a slight but annoying hum through my tube powered heads. This hum is constant and independent of input gain or master volume. I don't seem to hear this when using a preamp (ART Tube Channel) with a Crest CA9 power amp, so maybe this hum is just the nature of amps with tube power?

It is not really a problem when playing loud, rehearsing or live, but when recording and practicing, there is more hum there than I would like (in my home, anyway). But considering that the refrigerator is running a compressor, and all the lightbulbs are neon, I would think my home wiring could be quite noisy. I wonder if the latest LED lights would produce less noise in my home circuit.

[tdub0199]

this is what I use... It has a EMI/RFI noise attenuation.... hope this helps

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...ck-?sku=181297

[bassboysam]

Originally Posted by tdub0199

this is what I use... It has a EMI/RFI noise attenuation.... hope this helps

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...ck-?sku=181297

Thanks, do you find it reduces noise?

[jnewmark]

Originally Posted by bassboysam

Thanks, do you find it reduces noise?

If you are talking about neon beer signs, the best way to eliminate that noise is to turn them off.

[bassboysam]

No more classic rock radio through the speakers kind of noise

[bgmww]

Originally Posted by tdub0199

this is what I use... It has a EMI/RFI noise attenuation.... hope this helps

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...ck-?sku=181297

here´s the same.. on amazon.. 22 bucks (39 on MF)

http://www.amazon.com/Furman-SS-6B-P...rd_add_1_dp_T2

[tdub0199]

Originally Posted by bassboysam

Thanks, do you find it reduces noise?

I had alot of noise coming through my amp at our rehersal space and bought this and haven't had any issues since.....

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by Boot Soul

http://www.furmansound.com/product.p...01&id=P-1800PF

The Furman P-1800 PF will not help at all with EMI/RFI noise? I was planning to get one because I often get a slight but annoying hum through my tube powered heads.

The vast majority of EMI/RFI is received through the air by your pickups. Line filtering can't prevent it any more than putting one on your radio will stop the radio from receiving radio transmissions.

I had alot of noise coming through my amp at our rehersal space and bought this and haven't had any issues since.....

That only means that using it fixed bad grounding of your rig. Any power strip would accomplish the same thing. This, or something similar, is what's inside of it for 'noise filtering':
http://www.mcmelectronics.com/produc...Y-MCM-/31-1610

Your amp and everything else that plugs into the wall contain the same already, if not something even better, like this:
http://www.excesssolutions.com/cgi-bin/item/ES5338

As for its level of surge protection, it's provided by one of these, also contained in most electronic gear manufactured in the last 20 years:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...tId=2062574&cp

[staccatogrowl]

Gee, Bill, you take all the fun out of the magic (made using smoke and mirrors in marketing departments, and perpetuated thread after thread in forums, music stores, etc).

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

What Bill said.

Plug-in hum- and noise-eliminating devices are sold right next to the pills that will make you thin without dieting and exercise.

Find out where the noise is getting in. (With buzz problems, it's often through your instrument's pickups.)

[bassboysam]

So how does one correct noisy pickups?

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by staccatogrowl

Gee, Bill, you take all the fun out of the magic (made using smoke and mirrors in marketing departments, and perpetuated thread after thread in forums, music stores, etc).

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by bassboysam

So how does one correct noisy pickups?

Humbucking, not single coil. Or actives. The exception is PBass, which is actually humbucking, and reverse-wired JBass, which are a humbucking pair when both are run at full volume.