Boss GT-10B

[sonicnuance]

I don't have any XLR hiss problems,
does your desk have a -20dB pad attenuation button?
I suspect the XLR output level is not mic level, but at line level (+4dB - hence the hiss if the level has to be turned down to 20).
Maybe toggle the ground lift switch on the GT-10B may help, at some point the GT-10B case and bass needs to be grounded.

How about the 1/4" main outputs, they might be more suitable for your desk.

My mixer doesn't have a -20dB pad attenuator button. I am going into the "line" input though. If I go into the "mic" input the signal is severely clipping.

The 1/4" was quieter than the XLR but still worse than just into the passive DI (Jensen transformer) at the equivalent volume.

Is there a +4dB to -10dB switch somewhere on the GT10B? The gnd lift didn't do anything and neither did using the left vs right XLR output.

I'm seriously bummed

 

[moles]

There is a level control for the DI output. I can't remember where, cuz I sold mine ages ago, but it's fairly easy to find in the manual. It runs pretty hot as I remember too, so I probably had mine turned down to around %50 IIRC.

 

[sonicnuance]

I restored factory settings and found I could do 50 on the Sub Out level before peaking was observed on the mixer. At this point the level is hotter than my standard passive DI (Jensen transformer equipped. Equivalent of a Radial JDI). However, the hiss is not acceptable (at least on my unit to my ears)

I'm open to suggestions but this ain't gonna cut it for band practice tomorrow night if I don't find a solution soon. I know I'm being hardheaded, but the XLR is a big deal to me as I am going to FOH and don't feel I should need other equipment with a unit of this price.

I can tell there are a lot of neat tones in it, but if I can't get past the fundamental "is the bypass clean via XLR", I'll have to send it back.

 

[gastric]

One thing I've learned is to never get a new piece of gear and instantly give up on it. In my experience it's user error/poor use/misunderstanding most of the time unless the piece of gear is physically defective.

The only control you have over XLR is in the System > Input/Ouput > Tab4 which as output selection and levels. There are +4/-20 for the 1/4" outs, which are also controlled with the master output knob.

For troubleshooting anything use a process of elimination: unplug everything, put the GT-10B in tuner mute, connect XLRs. There should be no noise at all. Still have no input or FX loop connected, switch to tuner bypass. There should be no noise. Continue by changing one variable and testing until you figure out what the noise is.

 

[TheBogart]

One thing I've learned is to never get a new piece of gear and instantly give up on it. In my experience it's user error/poor use/misunderstanding most of the time unless the piece of gear is physically defective.

The only control you have over XLR is in the System > Input/Ouput > Tab4 which as output selection and levels. There are +4/-20 for the 1/4" outs, which are also controlled with the master output knob.

For troubleshooting anything use a process of elimination: unplug everything, put the GT-10B in tuner mute, connect XLRs. There should be no noise at all. Still have no input or FX loop connected, switch to tuner bypass. There should be no noise. Continue by changing one variable and testing until you figure out what the noise is.

+1 never underestimate the power of "trial and error"

 

[sonicnuance]

One thing I've learned is to never get a new piece of gear and instantly give up on it. In my experience it's user error/poor use/misunderstanding most of the time unless the piece of gear is physically defective.

I appreciate your perspective on this.

The only control you have over XLR is in the System > Input/Ouput > Tab4 which as output selection and levels. There are +4/-20 for the 1/4" outs, which are also controlled with the master output knob.

Unfortunately, Tab4 has been what I have been experimenting with while in tuner bypass/mute. The signal level on the sub outs drops as the level knob is reduced, but not the noise (hiss) level.

For troubleshooting anything use a process of elimination: unplug everything, put the GT-10B in tuner mute, connect XLRs. There should be no noise at all.

I agree with your process. There is hiss at this point regardless if a bass is connected or not or if tuner mode is in bypass or not. It is gone when disconnecting the xlr. Note also that there is zero hiss for the first five seconds of the unit going through its powerup initialization.

Still have no input or FX loop connected, switch to tuner bypass. There should be no noise. Continue by changing one variable and testing until you figure out what the noise is.

I don't have anything tied to the effects loop, or actually tied to any I/O other than the input power, the input signal and the sub/out. And actually I can disconnect the input signal and/or put the volume pedal at zero with no change in the hiss level. The hiss level from my basses are extremely low.

A few of things to note:

1) Using the same channel on the mixing board and using a passive DI alone, there is no hiss.

2) Using the same channel on the mixing board and using the 1/4" outs there is much less hiss. (This is true whether I use the 1/4" directly to the mixer or going from that to a DI box and using its XLR output)

3) Phantom power is and has been off on the mixer.

 

[gastric]

Hiss is usually a signal noise issue but without any input and/or the unit in tuner MUTE mode there should literally be 0 output from the GT-10B. So I'd start to blame the mixer, maybe it simply has noisey preamps? Most mixers bypass the channel preamp when running 1/4" instead of XLR. You can also just plug an unconnected XLR into the mixer on that same channel to see if the mixer channel has some inherent noise.

If none of that pans out eliminate the MIXER from the equation and try a different source to send the GT-10B to. Run 1/4" into a FX RETURN or POWER AMP IN on a bass amp. Run the XLR straight into the XLR input on a PA power amp.

Some other ideas would be to try some of the other outputs from the GT-10B just purely for troubleshooting.

* Use the FX SEND. Try placing it at the beginning and end of the signal chain just to see if that has any bearing.
* Install the USB driver and run USB to your computer and into some recording app. Now try with the DGT block at the beginning and end of the signal chain just to see if that has any bearing.
* Check the headphone output which should be the same thing coming out of the 1/4" and XLR but pushed through a headphone amp so that should theoretically be the noisiest possible output on the unit.

Trying the FX SEND theoretically eliminates the final D/A conversion so you're isolating that portion of the unit. Note that it's sending instrument level signal not line level to my knowledge, though you have control over the FX SEND LEVEL to compensate.

Beyond that I'd phone Roland support. Their phone support is pretty good, they often bust out a unit while on the phone. Totally skip their email support though, it's very poor due to their horrible helpdesk interface. You get like 220 characters to enter your text, they send a short reply and instantly close the ticket, you cannot reply directly to the ticket and have to start a totally new ticket. Then they usually just tell you to phone support because it's impossible to have a detailed conversation via their crappy helpdesk system. It'd madness.

 

[Darknut]

Well I broke down & bought a GT10b .... The GT6B has been all I needed but I ran across a deal I couldn't pass up so the 6B is out & the 10b is in.

The 10b really is a amazing piece of gear

 

[TheBogart]

Well I broke down & bought a GT10b .... The GT6B has been all I needed but I ran across a deal I couldn't pass up so the 6B is out & the 10b is in.

The 10b really is a amazing piece of gear

Welcome to the club

 

[JtheJazzMan]

My pedal is currently with a authorised Roland/Boss service agent because I am also experiencing the considerable hiss on the XLR. Always there, regardless of the sub out level, with no instruments plugged in, while the 1/4 output is silent.

So am I right in thinking you have had this problem as soon as you purchased the unit?

My technician may be interested in this revelation...maybe there is a known fault that roland just ignored.

I will update when I have some reports on it. If he finds anything.

I appreciate your perspective on this.


Unfortunately, Tab4 has been what I have been experimenting with while in tuner bypass/mute. The signal level on the sub outs drops as the level knob is reduced, but not the noise (hiss) level.


I agree with your process. There is hiss at this point regardless if a bass is connected or not or if tuner mode is in bypass or not. It is gone when disconnecting the xlr. Note also that there is zero hiss for the first five seconds of the unit going through its powerup initialization.


I don't have anything tied to the effects loop, or actually tied to any I/O other than the input power, the input signal and the sub/out. And actually I can disconnect the input signal and/or put the volume pedal at zero with no change in the hiss level. The hiss level from my basses are extremely low.

A few of things to note:

1) Using the same channel on the mixing board and using a passive DI alone, there is no hiss.

2) Using the same channel on the mixing board and using the 1/4" outs there is much less hiss. (This is true whether I use the 1/4" directly to the mixer or going from that to a DI box and using its XLR output)

3) Phantom power is and has been off on the mixer.

 

[sonicnuance]

My pedal is currently with a authorised Roland/Boss service agent because I am also experiencing the considerable hiss on the XLR. Always there, regardless of the sub out level, with no instruments plugged in, while the 1/4 output is silent.

So am I right in thinking you have had this problem as soon as you purchased the unit?

My technician may be interested in this revelation...maybe there is a known fault that roland just ignored.

I will update when I have some reports on it. If he finds anything.

Yes, I noticed the hiss immediately when I got the unit in the mail brand new. All attempts to reduce it via the controls on the unit have failed, thus I am returning it. Others on this forum say GT10Bs are silent, so perhaps there is a batch of bad units. Of course, it depends on the quality of the sound system the GT10B is plugged into is to hear its hiss (if the noise floor is above the GT10B's, one wouldn't perceive any noise from it for example).

I wish you luck.

 

[dug dog]

It sucks when people have problems with gear (especially when it's new), but it's sadly comforting to know that others are having the same issues.

I hope you both get things sorted easily.

 

[Arr MiHardies]

Yes, I noticed the hiss immediately when I got the unit in the mail brand new. All attempts to reduce it via the controls on the unit have failed, thus I am returning it. Others on this forum say GT10Bs are silent, so perhaps there is a batch of bad units. Of course, it depends on the quality of the sound system the GT10B is plugged into is to hear its hiss (if the noise floor is above the GT10B's, one wouldn't perceive any noise from it for example).

I wish you luck.

Not to mention high end boards could just turn up the gate a tad and dial it out.

 

[gastric]

At least we now know the hiss isn't caused by someone blowing it up with 48V phantom power. Sounds like manufacturing defect, I'd have returned it as well. I've owned a ton of BOSS and Roland gear and have never had an issue other than an OC-2 with a flakey footswitch. But otherwise I've had BOSS gear that's almost 20 years old that still worked like a champ. There's something to be said about heavy, metal chassis and jacks and well secured PCBs.

 

[crusie]

I checked my unit for the same mistake. And there is no hiss in mine at all. It's completely silent as the grave. So I guess we can conclude it's not a design flaw either

 

[gumtown]

My mixer doesn't have a -20dB pad attenuator button.
If I go into the "mic" input the signal is severely clipping.

I think this is the problem with a signal level mismatch. The GT-10B XLR's output a very high line level - with the level turned down to almost nothing (at the noise floor) to stop clipping, and that is going into a mic preamp to get boosted.
I think two of these would help.

Amazon.com: Dayton Audio XATT30 In-Line XLR Attenuator Pad 20dB: Electronics

EDIT:With the output level attenuated, you can turn up the XLR Sub-output level at least to '100~150' to escape the noise floor hiss and not overload the mic input on the desk.

 

[Altitude]

At least we now know the hiss isn't caused by someone blowing it up with 48V phantom power. Sounds like manufacturing defect, I'd have returned it as well. I've owned a ton of BOSS and Roland gear and have never had an issue other than an OC-2 with a flakey footswitch. But otherwise I've had BOSS gear that's almost 20 years old that still worked like a champ. There's something to be said about heavy, metal chassis and jacks and well secured PCBs.

Mine does have the XLR hiss, although it either showed up one day (in the midst of a studio session; see my post above) or it's intermittent. I got mine from the classifieds here a year or two ago, so there's no returning it for me.

99% of what I do with it uses the 1/4" outputs, so I will probably leave well enough alone. Frankly it might be cheaper to pick up one or two basic DI boxes to use with the 1/4" outputs than to have the unit serviced. Defeatist? Practical?

 

[Darknut]

Well I've had my GT10b for a little while now & here is my observations so far ...
1st mine does not have the XLR hiss!

As far as GT6b vs GT10B goes IMHO the effects they both share are mostly neck & neck as far as sound quality goes, there are a few exceptions. Preamp & Cab emulation is GT10B all the way though.

Configuration possibilities ... The GT10b wins this hands down as well .... its totally amazing in the configuration area.

As I said before I was completely happy with my GT6B & wasn't even looking to upgrade & I think the GT6B is still a lot of bang for the buck for what you can get one for now but the GT10B is really amazing & I'm glad I made the switch.

 

[TheBogart]

Well I've had my GT10b for a little while now & here is my observations so far ...
1st mine does not have the XLR hiss!

As far as GT6b vs GT10B goes IMHO the effects they both share are mostly neck & neck as far as sound quality goes, there are a few exceptions. Preamp & Cab emulation is GT10B all the way though.

Configuration possibilities ... The GT10b wins this hands down as well .... its totally amazing in the configuration area.

As I said before I was completely happy with my GT6B & wasn't even looking to upgrade & I think the GT6B is still a lot of bang for the buck for what you can get one for now but the GT10B is really amazing & I'm glad I made the switch.

Ehehe. Now let's start to have fun!!

 

[Darknut]

I can't get the bank pedals to advance to the next set of user banks while in manual mode all it does is cycle thru -1 thru 4 in U01 instead of advancing to U02 1-4 & so on & so forth.
I know I can do it with the wheel but that seems ridiculous to have to do that especially at a gig where I usually have a couple seconds to change things.

I like to set things up like I have a bunch of stomp boxes so I leave it in manual mode all the time since that seems to be the only way to achieve that.
So far I don't care at all for the patch system in the GT10b ... I liked the GT6B way of doing it better but I hope I'm just missing this somehow ....

EDIT: OK I figured out how to get it to change banks ... but I loose the sub banks ....