Is the "humbuster" concept all in the cable?

sprint

sprint

Axe-Master
is there anything different about the balanced 1/4" outputs on the Axefx3 as compared to balanced 1/4" outputs on other devices?

I ask this because I route out to all my amplification from my audio interface which has 1/4" balanced outputs. From the audio interface (connected to Axefx by spdif) I can go out to:
1-Studio Monitors (balanced Inputs).
2-Matrix Stereo SS Amp (balanced inputs) / Mesa Csbs .
3-Magnum 44 pedal amps (unbalaned inputs) / FR Cabs.
4-Combo Amp Fx Return (unbalanced).

For 1 and 2 I use balanced cables but for 3 and 4 I am thinking of making up some humbuster type cables to minimize noise - not 100% sure they will work though with the balanced outputs of the audio interface (do these outputs need to contain some sort of specialized humbuster technology?).
 
chris said:
Humbuster works due to how the output jacks on the fractal gear are designed.
Click to expand...
Not sure what that means
precisely - a balanced output design that is specialized to enable the humbuster cable to do what it does? - or does any balanced 1/4" output design enable the possiblilty of using humbuster cables to an unbalanced input at the other end (which would mean a humbuster cable between the balanced 1/4" trs output of my interface and the unbalanced 1/4" input of my pedal power amp could provide some benefit)
 
From the Axe III manual:

Legal Notices
Fractal Audio Systems Axe-Fx III Owner’s Manual. Contents Copyright © 2018. All Rights Reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of Fractal Audio Systems.

Fractal Audio, the Fractal Audio Systems logo, Axe-Fx, Humbuster, UltraRes, FASLINK are trademarks of Fractal Audio Systems. Manufacturer names and product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners, which are in no way associated with or affiliated with Fractal Audio Systems, LLC. The names are used only to illustrate sonic and performance characteristics.

Humbuster is a proprietary design to reduce noise. It is not a typical TRS connection & is only on Fractal gear.
 
notalemming said:
From the Axe III manual:

Legal Notices
Fractal Audio Systems Axe-Fx III Owner’s Manual. Contents Copyright © 2018. All Rights Reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of Fractal Audio Systems.

Fractal Audio, the Fractal Audio Systems logo, Axe-Fx, Humbuster, UltraRes, FASLINK are trademarks of Fractal Audio Systems. Manufacturer names and product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners, which are in no way associated with or affiliated with Fractal Audio Systems, LLC. The names are used only to illustrate sonic and performance characteristics.

Humbuster is a proprietary design to reduce noise. It is not a typical TRS connection & is only on Fractal gear.
Click to expand...
Thanks - that answers it - did not notice the last part in manual - so a trs to ts from my balanced interface output to unbalanced inpit won't buy me anything
 
just an fyi here on some testing that I did in relation to this topic:

- humbuster like cable from audio interface TRS Output to TS unbalanced input of my noisy (ground loop like noise which I have never been able to resolve) EHX 44 Magnum pedal amp - results - no change - still just as noisy as compared to a standard cable.

- humbuster like cable from Axefx3 1/4" Output 1 (TRS Humbuster) to TS unbalanced input of my noisy (ground loop like noise which I have never been able to resolve) EHX 44 Magnum pedal amp - results - drastic change - hum almost eliminated completely compared to a standard cable.

So - conclusion - as expected given the notes in that manual, whatever tech is going on in the Axefx humbuster TRS outputs is definitely not going on in the TRS outputs of my audio interface (or probably any interface since I think humbuster is a Fractal only thing).

Re the cables - I made my own quasi humbuster like cable by shorting the ring / sleeve at one end of a standard TRS/TRS cable. This worked fine, once I finally got the cable made, HOWEVER, after not being able to use the stock right angle TRS plug (not re-wireable), and running to the store to get another more easily wireable TS plug, then ruining one cable by shortening it too many times due to too many redos, then burning my hand twice on the soldering iron, and finally burning a small hole in the sleeve of my shirt due to dropped drop of hot solder; I recommend, if you are soldering averse like me, save yourself a the trouble and just buy some nice ones from Fractal.
 
In typical balanced I/O, you need both a balanced output on the sending device and a balanced input in the receiving device. If either device is not balanced, you don't get any noise cancellation. The balanced output creates a duplicate copy of the signal that is phase inverted and sends it along side the normal output through a second conductor. That's why balanced cables use TRS jacks and dual conductor shielded cables. The balanced input of the receiving device then takes those two copies of the signal, inverts the phase on one of the conductors again and combines them. That does two things: reinforces the original signal and cancels out any noise that was picked up by the cable along the way.

Humbuster outputs do a very similar noise cancelation, but in a very different way. Humbuster outputs do all the work and a balanced input is not required at all. It uses the second conductor in the humbuster cable, which is grounded on the receiving device end only, as a sort of noise antenna. It takes that noise signal, reverses the phase on it and adds it to the normal signal as it's sent over the cable. This has the same effect of cancelling out the noise that gets picked up by the cable, but has the advantage of working with un-balanced inputs, like on amps, pedals, etc.
 
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