Not a Bug Help with FM3 mk2 turbo high pitched sound

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EngageTheCurse

Member
Hello guys. I recently purchased a new FM3. I am using two Adam Audio t5v monitors as my output and could hear a high pitched sound in all of the presets. The noise varies with clean and hi gain presets but it’s always there. I still have not ended a computer to the chain so no usb noise. Upon days of calling electricians and have them assess the power points, even drawing a dedicated line from the DB, the noise was still the same.

I think the issue is being caused by my refrigerators. I turned the bigger one off and the noise was gone temporarily but it came back. I turned the other one off and the problem disappeared. And the smaller fridge also sits right behind the wall where my gear sits. I can’t keep turning them off/on. Will a line level isolator help in my situation?

A reputed luthier from my city suggested a pure sine wave online inverter. Would that be an overkill. Also, i have space and budget constraints at the moment.
 
I'm no expert, but maybe something like a Furman power conditioner might help?

Also, have you set the power line frequency in your FM3 correctly for your country?
 
Doogz said:
I'm no expert, but maybe something like a Furman power conditioner might help?

Also, have you set the power line frequency in your FM3 correctly for your country?
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I did change the power line frequency to align with my country’s after you suggested but that didn’t work unfortunately
 
You’re assuming the problem is power. You first need to determine whether the noise is coming through the power lime or is EMI coming through the air. If it’s EMI, there is no power device that will fix the problem.
 
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I don't know what troubleshooting you've done, but before shotgunning solutions I recommend trying to isolate the source of the noise. A few questions/steps I'd ask/try:

1. Is there noise there if you just plug the FM3 into he monitors directly, using XLR cables, and with nothing else plugged into either device other than the power cables and with the power cables both plugged into the same A/C source (such as a power bar)? If so, does the noise go away if you turn the output volume knob for output 1 down to the lowest setting?

2. If there is no noise in #1, one by one plug in other devices that you normally have connected to the FM3 (or the monitors) until the noise returns, and report back on how/when the noise returned. For example, if the noise returns only when you plug in a guitar or a particular external pedal, that helps isolate what might be causing the noise.

3. Have you tried setting up your rig in another building - for example, at a friend's house or an hourly rental rehearsal space? That can help isolate whether the source of the noise if unique to your studio or whether it's an issue with your gear.
 
Rumbletone said:
I don't know what troubleshooting you've done, but before shotgunning solutions I recommend trying to isolate the source of the noise. A few questions/steps I'd ask/try:

1. Is there noise there if you just plug the FM3 into he monitors directly, using XLR cables, and with nothing else plugged into either device other than the power cables and with the power cables both plugged into the same A/C source (such as a power bar)? If so, does the noise go away if you turn the output volume knob for output 1 down to the lowest setting?

2. If there is no noise in #1, one by one plug in other devices that you normally have connected to the FM3 (or the monitors) until the noise returns, and report back on how/when the noise returned. For example, if the noise returns only when you plug in a guitar or a particular external pedal, that helps isolate what might be causing the noise.

3. Have you tried setting up your rig in another building - for example, at a friend's house or an hourly rental rehearsal space? That can help isolate whether the source of the noise if unique to your studio or whether it's an issue with your gear.
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I should have mentioned it in my post but yes, i did all the troubleshooting beforehand and found out-

There’s no noise when just my fm3 and monitors are connected and powered on. It’s only when i connect my guitar the noise returns. When I turn the volume knob all the way down on the guitar, the noise does go away. Maybe the guitar is acting like an antenna of sorts? Or it’s an emi issue?

The problem doesn’t exist in 2 other locations i have tested with the same gear and cables.

And i have tried this several times now to confidently conclude that the refrigerators are causing the problem because once i turn them off, the noise completely disappears.

Correct me if i am wrong but the way forward to narrowing down the issue further seems like conducting a headphones test and see if the problem still persists. But that would require me to buy a pair.
 
Rex said:
You’re assuming the problem is power. You first need to determine whether the noise is coming through the power lime or is EMI coming through the air. If it’s EMI, there is no power device that will fix the problem.
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Thank you for pointing that out. I believe a headphones test will narrow it down?
 
EngageTheCurse said:
I should have mentioned it in my post but yes, i did all the troubleshooting beforehand and found out-

There’s no noise when just my fm3 and monitors are connected and powered on. It’s only when i connect my guitar the noise returns. When I turn the volume knob all the way down on the guitar, the noise does go away. Maybe the guitar is acting like an antenna of sorts? Or it’s an emi issue?

The problem doesn’t exist in 2 other locations i have tested with the same gear and cables.

And i have tried this several times now to confidently conclude that the refrigerators are causing the problem because once i turn them off, the noise completely disappears.

Correct me if i am wrong but the way forward to narrowing down the issue further seems like conducting a headphones test and see if the problem still persists. But that would require me to buy a pair.
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One more thing- i have tested in different rooms of the same apartment and the noise is always present. It is only when i power off the fridge does the problem go away.

Also, I have tried to face away, move around in the room and rotate my guitars only to find out that there’s no variation in noise; it’s the same throughout.
 
EngageTheCurse said:
There’s no noise when just my fm3 and monitors are connected and powered on. It’s only when i connect my guitar the noise returns. When I turn the volume knob all the way down on the guitar, the noise does go away. Maybe the guitar is acting like an antenna of sorts? Or it’s an emi issue?
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Yes to both. It’s an EMI issue, and your guitar is acting like an antenna. The troubleshooting you’ve done so far demonstrates this.

EngageTheCurse said:
Correct me if i am wrong but the way forward to narrowing down the issue further seems like conducting a headphones test and see if the problem still persists. But that would require me to buy a pair.
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There’s no need to further narrow down the issue. You’ve already identified it. :)
 
Rex said:
Yes to both. It’s an EMI issue, and your guitar is acting like an antenna. The troubleshooting you’ve done so far demonstrates this.


There’s no need to further narrow down the issue. You’ve already identified it. :)
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So what’s the solution going forward? A ferrite clamp? A power conditioner?
 
EngageTheCurse said:
So what’s the solution going forward? A ferrite clamp? A power conditioner?
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No... You need to eliminate the source.

EMI comes in "over the air".

Humbuckers can help a lot, or some "noiseless" single coils.

But even then sometimes it won't...

From your earlier post it sounds like your refrigerator(s) are the problem.
 
unix-guy said:
No... You need to eliminate the source.

EMI comes in "over the air".

Humbuckers can help a lot, or some "noiseless" single coils.

But even then sometimes it won't...

From your earlier post it sounds like your refrigerator(s) are the problem.
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I am using a humbucker Suhr SSH+ . However, it’s impossible to get rid of my refrigerators as the whole family uses it and it is a necessity. This is such a tricky situation to be in.
 
EngageTheCurse said:
I am using a humbucker Suhr SSH+ . However, it’s impossible to get rid of my refrigerators as the whole family uses it and it is a necessity. This is such a tricky situation to be in.
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And you're hearing it with the Humbucker, too?

If this problem happened with all refrigerators you would see a lot of people complaining... You might have to get new ones but of course you won't know that it actually fixes anything until you do.

I used to have this problem when our dishwasher was running. Eventually we replaced it for other reasons and the problem went away.

I recently discovered that this is happening with our new washing machine. I'm not going to replace it - I just have to deal with it.

Unfortunately refrigerators are always running so that's a bigger challenge.
 
unix-guy said:
And you're hearing it with the Humbucker, too?

If this problem happened with all refrigerators you would see a lot of people complaining... You might have to get new ones but of course you won't know that it actually fixes anything until you do.

I used to have this problem when our dishwasher was running. Eventually we replaced it for other reasons and the problem went away.

I recently discovered that this is happening with our new washing machine. I'm not going to replace it - I just have to deal with it.

Unfortunately refrigerators are always running so that's a bigger challenge.
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Yes, even with the humbuckers :/ So did you ever try using a power conditioner to see if the problem went away?
 
Have you tried a different instrument cable?

Also, if you plug the instrument cable into the FM3 but NOT into the guitar, do you hear it then?
 
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EMI issues can be frustrating and tough to resolve. For a fridge, I'd guess it's probably the compressor motor. I think they run in the 3000ish RPM range which could explain the higher pitch to the noise compared to something like mains hum. They're usually shielded pretty well, but who knows.
 
mr_fender said:
EMI issues can be frustrating and tough to resolve. For a fridge, I'd guess it's probably the compressor motor. I think they run in the 3000ish RPM range which could explain the higher pitch to the noise compared to something like mains hum. They're usually shielded pretty well, but who knows.
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I know. When I switch them off everything is perfect and fm3 sounds like a dream. I am guessing it could also be due to faulty wiring somewhere in the apartment that is causing the compressor to inject noise in the electrical line.
 
Looks like you have actually "engaged the curse" as your forum alias suggests ;)
I think what members on this forum are suggesting is that its not your house wiring transmitting the EMI/RFI to your guitar. The interference is being transmitted from your fridge's motor, electrical/electronic speed control circuit through the air like a radio in transmit mode. Your guitar equipment is acting like the radio receiver and is suffering the resulting RFI. Modern fridges use inverter technology to vary the speed of the compressor motor to provide more or less cooling as required. Inverter circuits can and do cause the kind of interference you are experiencing.
You can test for RFI and perhaps you may know someone who has a spectrum analyser like in the video below?

 
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