UberGuitarDude
Member
Hey folks,
Relatively new Axe Fx 3 user here (had an Axe 2 XL+ for 2 years and loved it). Anyway, I seem to be having some serious issues with a hum that's occurring on all of my guitars. I think I've isolated it to something with the PC emitting EMI/RF (could be wrong on terminology, been trying to research this) and causing an issue with the hum? But the fact that it's happening on every guitar seems weird.
Tried posting a dropbox link to the m4a (recorded from my iPhone in Voice Memos) but the site wouldn't let me post it? I tried converting to an mp3,but that didn't work either. I have no way to show the sound I'm trying to show.
Basically if I'm just sitting at my PC where I normally play, I'm getting an insane hum, a noticeable pitch even, almost a ring? I notice the closer I get to my PC, the worse and louder it gets, whereas stepping away makes it quite a bit less noticeable - this however isn't conducive to sitting down, writing, recording, and jamming. I've also noticed that if I scroll through any programs (used Steam as an example), I think I was able to hear my PC actually working through the guitar hum. I am on a higher gain preset, but I'm not sure where the hum is coming into play.
My setup is:
Guitar (tried 4 different guitars, all the same hum) -> Axe FX 3 -> XLR output 1 (L & R) -> input 11 & 12 of my Antelope Audio Orion Studio -> USB into PC -> Pro Tools Input 11/12 for recording.
This is the setup I've used for years with the Axe II XL+ and I don't know if getting the 3 made me notice it more because I'm experimenting with new tones or if it just showed up. Any ideas, input, feedback, or educational advice is welcome as I have plenty to learn and this hum is driving me crazy. I've taken to just gating it out for now, but I know it's a bigger issue than that. That being said, for what I do I prefer not using my axe as an interface as my Antelope Audio Orion Studio is used for all my PC output/mic input, so running the axe through it, like a DI, makes more sense for me - though I don't know if that's still the best way to do it for this instance. Any help is appreciated!
Things I've tried to nullify the hum so far:
-Checking I/O to make sure it's set to 60Hz (I'm in the US)
-Plugging Axe FX into a different outlet than the interface
-Unplugging USB from the Axe FX
-Monitoring through my headphones on the Axe FX 3 unit itself instead of through the interface
-Different cables (swapped from XLR both ends to a 1/4" XLR in the humbuster outputs).
-Unplugging both the interface and the Axe FX from the Furman power conditioner.
-Pressing the Ground/Lift button (again I'm clueless with wiring stuff, so I'm just throwing shots in the dark).
-Different instrument cable and pedal/FASLINK cables.
-Different USB ports with both the interface and the Axe FX.
If anyone has any ideas feel free to throw them my way. Or again, if there's any suggestions I'm always open to those too. Thanks for the help in advance. I never post on forums so I apologize if this is in the wrong spot or if I didn't follow proper etiquette with anything.
UPDATE 11/26/19:
I'm assuming my guitars are properly shielded, but I'm not sure? I have a pretty trusty tech that I take my guitars to and he's done pup swaps on most of them aside from a Schecter with some active EMGs in it.
A cellphone near any of my guitars (active and passive pups) causes some gnarly noise, very similar sound though a bit more crackly maybe?
According to the nice power strip I've got as well, my outlet isn't grounded.
Wrapping PC in foil to cover the windows (as best I could without blocking ventilation) solved nothing, bought some ferrite(?) cores as well and placed them on almost everything I could just as a spitball attempt, also solved nothing.
Aside from moving to the other side of the room, which isn't plausible or practical, I don't know how to fix it.
Relatively new Axe Fx 3 user here (had an Axe 2 XL+ for 2 years and loved it). Anyway, I seem to be having some serious issues with a hum that's occurring on all of my guitars. I think I've isolated it to something with the PC emitting EMI/RF (could be wrong on terminology, been trying to research this) and causing an issue with the hum? But the fact that it's happening on every guitar seems weird.
Tried posting a dropbox link to the m4a (recorded from my iPhone in Voice Memos) but the site wouldn't let me post it? I tried converting to an mp3,but that didn't work either. I have no way to show the sound I'm trying to show.
Basically if I'm just sitting at my PC where I normally play, I'm getting an insane hum, a noticeable pitch even, almost a ring? I notice the closer I get to my PC, the worse and louder it gets, whereas stepping away makes it quite a bit less noticeable - this however isn't conducive to sitting down, writing, recording, and jamming. I've also noticed that if I scroll through any programs (used Steam as an example), I think I was able to hear my PC actually working through the guitar hum. I am on a higher gain preset, but I'm not sure where the hum is coming into play.
My setup is:
Guitar (tried 4 different guitars, all the same hum) -> Axe FX 3 -> XLR output 1 (L & R) -> input 11 & 12 of my Antelope Audio Orion Studio -> USB into PC -> Pro Tools Input 11/12 for recording.
This is the setup I've used for years with the Axe II XL+ and I don't know if getting the 3 made me notice it more because I'm experimenting with new tones or if it just showed up. Any ideas, input, feedback, or educational advice is welcome as I have plenty to learn and this hum is driving me crazy. I've taken to just gating it out for now, but I know it's a bigger issue than that. That being said, for what I do I prefer not using my axe as an interface as my Antelope Audio Orion Studio is used for all my PC output/mic input, so running the axe through it, like a DI, makes more sense for me - though I don't know if that's still the best way to do it for this instance. Any help is appreciated!
Things I've tried to nullify the hum so far:
-Checking I/O to make sure it's set to 60Hz (I'm in the US)
-Plugging Axe FX into a different outlet than the interface
-Unplugging USB from the Axe FX
-Monitoring through my headphones on the Axe FX 3 unit itself instead of through the interface
-Different cables (swapped from XLR both ends to a 1/4" XLR in the humbuster outputs).
-Unplugging both the interface and the Axe FX from the Furman power conditioner.
-Pressing the Ground/Lift button (again I'm clueless with wiring stuff, so I'm just throwing shots in the dark).
-Different instrument cable and pedal/FASLINK cables.
-Different USB ports with both the interface and the Axe FX.
If anyone has any ideas feel free to throw them my way. Or again, if there's any suggestions I'm always open to those too. Thanks for the help in advance. I never post on forums so I apologize if this is in the wrong spot or if I didn't follow proper etiquette with anything.
UPDATE 11/26/19:
I'm assuming my guitars are properly shielded, but I'm not sure? I have a pretty trusty tech that I take my guitars to and he's done pup swaps on most of them aside from a Schecter with some active EMGs in it.
A cellphone near any of my guitars (active and passive pups) causes some gnarly noise, very similar sound though a bit more crackly maybe?
According to the nice power strip I've got as well, my outlet isn't grounded.
Wrapping PC in foil to cover the windows (as best I could without blocking ventilation) solved nothing, bought some ferrite(?) cores as well and placed them on almost everything I could just as a spitball attempt, also solved nothing.
Aside from moving to the other side of the room, which isn't plausible or practical, I don't know how to fix it.
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