Noise in my chain...

Chris V. · #1 06-22-2008, 05:25 PM

Hello all,

Lately I've been experiencing some noise (hum or hiss, I'm not so sure) in my chain. I'm running an effects loop through a looper pedal, true bypass. Inside that loop I've got a VB-jr. where I have some Boss pedals.

I have a mixture of Hosa patch cables, George L. cables and EBS interconnection plugs. I have a feeling it's the Hosa patch cables, since they are the cheapest 'beginner' cables you can get.

I have quite a few pedals in the chain, including an XP-100.

When I've not engaged the looper, there is no noise. When I do, I get a lot of noise. So, I was wondering what I can do about this..?

I've been leaning towards an ISP Decimator - is that what I'm looking for?

Thanks.
Chris.

bongomania · #2 06-22-2008, 05:40 PM

The question of hum versus hiss is important, it will help us diagnose the problem. "Hum" is sort of like a background note, like a person going "mmmmmm" or a low rumble or other semi-pitched sound. "Hiss" is less pitched, often like a person going "sssssss" or a sort of static-y crackly noise. Each has a different cause.

Bassman316 · #3 06-22-2008, 05:49 PM

I'm getting the same type of noise within my chain (it's all "hiss", don't really have the "hum" problem), and I'm using Hosa patch cables. I don't really know about a noise supressor because what I've heard about those is that they have a tendency to take away from your tone. I'd like to know what can be done as well.

Chris V. · #4 06-22-2008, 06:03 PM

When I get up in 6½ hours I'll check. So far, thanks.

RickenBoogie · #5 06-22-2008, 07:04 PM

Replacing the suspect cables is a good first step. I use a Decimator in my chain, and it does work on all kinds of hissy stuff. And, as advertised, super clean. It's not a bad idea to have one if you have the room, but it does take up 1 full space on the board.

Smurf-o-Deth · #6 06-22-2008, 08:41 PM

I'll back up the decimator 100%.

Chris V. · #7 06-23-2008, 01:49 AM

Now that I'm sitting with my bass, it seems like it's more of a hiss. Could it be the amp? I'm playing through a really shoddy Behringer BX108 combo...

RickenBoogie · #8 06-23-2008, 07:49 AM

There's your culprit. You need an amp upgrade more than another pedal. Work on that, you'll be glad you did.

bongomania · #9 06-23-2008, 08:20 AM

That would be an easy answer (and not a bad idea in general), but he says there's no noise when the loop is bypassed.

If you remove the looper and run the exact same chain of pedals to the amp, do you get the same noise? Then try removing one pedal at a time (leaving the rest of the chain together), to see if any one pedal is the culprit.

Note that some hiss is caused by an interaction between two pedals- there are some pedal combinations out there that just can't work with each other without hiss or similar issues. So if pulling one pedal out at a time doesn't produce useful information, try pulling two at a time.

Another very common cause of hiss is when the ground common leaks into the signal path via a bad solder point, a loose wire, or using pedals that have - tip power plugs and ones that have + tip power plugs in the same chain.

Both of these points are particularly an issue if your power supply outlets are not isolated (e.g. a daisy chain or Brick), but even isolated outlets are not proof against other types of bad connection such as the common through the patch cables connecting through the metal jacks and housings of the stompboxes.