Lots of Noise from direct out signal I think...

Mooch · #1 04-01-2010, 08:39 PM

So I bought a used Hartke 3500 amp. Its got the graphic EQ and all that jazz. On the back it has an direct out that you can use to send a signal to whatever and a post or pre switch to bypass the settings if needbe.

Anyway, I haven't tried to record with this amp until last week. Well it had tons of noise coming through. Lots of fuzz and whatnot almost like it was picking up everything electric in the room and amplifying it.

I tried both of my basses and same on both so that ruled those out for me but I'm just curious if anyone has any ideas what the real issue may be. It has a ground switch too and that did nothing. I have I little practice amp that sounds fine for this type of thing.

I'm worried when we do shows this summer my amp will not send a good signal to anything and I will be SOL. Any ideas or is it hosed?

Thanks for any imput you can give me that helps.

Mooch

Mooch · #2 04-03-2010, 08:28 PM

Anyone have any thoughts on this. I must have posted at a bad time or something usually you get some response on here or have I stumped the amp gods out there?

Rick Auricchio · #3 04-03-2010, 08:39 PM

First, are you sure you've got your levels correct? You may be overloading your recording equipment.

Borrow another amp with DI and try it. That will tell you whether the problem is the Hartke or your recording setup.

Mooch · #4 04-03-2010, 08:53 PM

Yeah that's the thing the levels are correct. We use a roland 16 track machine. The input on the machine isn't peaking and the amp is only turned to 2 volume wise. The input on the machine peaks at a very low setting as well.

We tried different channels on the machine and all the same problem. Tried different cables and still same issue. The machine and basses have been ruled out. I have been recording for years and years and never ran into an issue like this as I'm new to bass(2 years) and this amp is only been around me for 6 months and this is my first time trying to use it to record.

I guess I'm just curious as to why the amp would send this bad signal and if its something a local shop could fix or if it requires a whole new amp.

testing1two · #5 04-03-2010, 08:54 PM

Let's get some basic questions out of the way:

1. Does the amp otherwise function properly and sound good through your speaker cab?
2. Are you using a mic cable that you know works properly?
3. Can you record other instruments directly into your recording gear without noise?

The answers to these questions will help us to troubleshoot the problem.

will33 · #6 04-03-2010, 09:04 PM

Those hartke's did have a noisy DI but it shouldn't be that noisy.

I can't remember if they have a level control on the DI or not. If it does, set it lower and makeup the gain on the board. It's entirely possible it may have a short, loose wire, or burned out part that affects only the DI and not the rest of the amp, seen that plenty of times.

Pull the cover off, look at the wiring connections at the DI, try different cables etc.

In a pinch, you can get a decent bass recording with a 58 centered on a speaker. Won't get what a studio mic will get you but it'll sit in the mix and not step on the kick too much.

testing1two · #7 04-03-2010, 09:13 PM

Ok, so we can rule out the mic cable and the recording gear. So a few more questions:

1. Does the amp otherwise function properly and sound good through your speaker cab?
2. Have you tried using only the solid state preamp section to see if the noise decreases (possible bad preamp tube)
3. Is phantom power turned OFF on your Roland recorder?

If the preamp tube is bad, you would hear noise through the speaker cab although if your cab doesn't have a tweeter this noise may be difficult to hear. But it's easy enough to swap out the tube so that would be my first course of action.

There is also a possibility that damage has occurred to the DI section of the head. I've had this happen when phantom power was applied from the console. If this is the case, I would suggest using a DI box until you have time to get the head repaired.

Mooch · #8 04-03-2010, 09:57 PM

The cab sounds fine. I don't use any solid state but I didn't think of that. I however did just replace the tube and all I ever hear is the usual tube noise. The phantom power is off I do know that. I have a smaller practice amp and that sucker works fine. I'll have to pull it open and see if anything looks jacked up.