Grounding problems? w/ SansAmp

[Adam P]

I wasn't sure if this belonged here or in the Guitars & Basses forum, but anyway...

I'm experiencing a ground loop (I believe) humming problem with my SansAmp Bass Driver DI. I record using an Echo Layla and a low-line Peavey mixer (its all I can afford at this point)...problem is that the mixer only has 6 XLR inputs/mic preamps. I primarily record my own band at our rehearsals...we are a three piece instrumental band (guitar, bass, drums), so we just record everything live. Presently I am using the 6 preamp channels for all three instruments (guitar mic, XLR output from SansAmp, kick mic, snare mic, and overhead mics). I want to free up the channel occupied by the SansAmp and use it for another drum channel (floor tom or snare bottom...I haven't decided).

This is where the ground problem comes into play. Like I said, we record live, and the guitarist and I monitor through our amps. For those who aren't familiar with the SansAmp, it has a balanced XLR output, and unbalanced 1/4" outputs, one affected and one unaffected. If I try to record using an unbalanced female-XLR-to-1/4" cable directly into the Layla, I get a nasty hum and the bass is barely discernable. Its possible to plug the 1/4" affected output directly into an input on the Layla, but then I'm not able to monitor the SansAmp through my amp, which is a must.

The possible solutions I've come up with are:
1) to try running the SansAmp's wall wart on the same circuit as the Layla so that they have a common ground;
2) run the SansAmp with a battery instead of a wall wart; or
3) use a balanced female-XLR-to-1/4" TRS cable to plug directly into the Layla from the SansAmp's XLR output.

I don't know if any one of these solutions would be a better choice than any other, or if any of them would do the trick. I'm hoping someone here that is more knowledgeable, or perhaps has had a similar problem, can help me out and recommend the best of those solutions, or a completely new one if none of those will work. I would like to think that option 3 would work, and if so it would be the most ideal, but I don't want to go spend the money on a cable if it won't solve my problem.

I apologize for the wordiness of this post. Thanks for your time.

[Adam P]

I hate to bump this, but 20 views and nobody even has a suggestion?

[maestro_dmc]

I do.

It's not a grounding issue.

If the Layla has balanced in's, use the female XLR to TRS. That is the source of the hum, the XLR out is expecting to "see" a balanced mic input, unbalancing it is causing the hum.

[Adam P]

The Layla does indeed have balanced ins, so it looks like I'll be purchasing that Mogami XLR-TRS cable. Thanks a lot!