How to connect a hum destroyer to my preamp?

[frank1985]

I have been advised to purchase a hum destroyer to eliminate static while recording my guitar through Amplitube.

Any idea how I should go about connecting it to my preamp...assuming that is the correct part in the chain? Would it be more sensible to go from guitar > hum destroyer > preamp > laptop?

Either way, please advise on what cables to use, which connections etc. Also, should the cables be balanced or unbalanced?

Hum Destroyer....


Preamp (NI Komplete 6)

 

[Tim Gillett]

Two months ago I bought a cheap used Fender Squier Strat just for playing at home. It had a fair bit of hum and buzz when you plugged it in. I opened it up and was amazed the pickup wiring to the socket was unshielded! I replaced the unshielded with shielded wire and now it's a lot better.

What sort of electric guitar are you using? Is the guitar lead OK? Always best to destroy the hum at the source. Trying to remove it later is usually not very successful.


Tim

 

[frank1985]

I'm using a pretty high end guitar.....Fender Tele Vintage 72 Custom. I don't want to have to mess around with circuitry as it's not really my speciality...I've tried about 3 different guitar leads
EDIT
As an alternative, how would i go about connecting my amp to my laptop? My blackstar ht1r has an emulated output...i assume i can connect this to my preamp input? Or would that bugger it up?

So, guitar > amp > emulated output via guitar cable > preamp > laptop

 

[Tim Gillett]

If I lived near you I could have helped. If it's a high end guitar it might be worth spending a little money having it checked out to see if there's something simple that could fix it.


Sometimes just not sitting on the amp while you're playing fixes it.

Massive compression from guitar FX amplifies any hum and buzz hugely.

Cheers Tim

 

[Armistice]

Your "preamp" is an "audio interface" which contains preamps. Different thing.

Who recommended you buy the hum destroyer? What do you mean by "static"...?

 

[frank1985]

I see, thanks for clarifying.

Someone on another forum advised me...but I've decided to try the emulated output from my blackstar amp as an alternative method of recording direct...have you had experience with this?

I assume the amp needs a dummy load, i.e. a speaker cab?? should i connect an instrument or speaker cable to the interface? I'm using a blackstar ht1r btw

 

[Tim Gillett]

If the Blackstar emulated output is a line out signal, you could plug that into a USB interface and into your laptop via USB cable.

 

[frank1985]

ah ok, thanks.

should I use a speaker or instrument cable from the amp to the interface? balanced (trs) or unbalanced?

also, i take it the line level inputs on the image above are numbers 3/4, and that i should avoid using the XLR combo sockets?

thanks for your help.

 

[PRHunt]

Two months ago I bought a cheap used Fender Squier Strat just for playing at home. It had a fair bit of hum and buzz when you plugged it in. I opened it up and was amazed the pickup wiring to the socket was unshielded! I replaced the unshielded with shielded wire and now it's a lot better.

Maybe not relevant to OP, but...

I took a look at a mate's Squier because of hum and a dodgy selector switch. I installed shielded cable and I also lined the cavity and underside of the pick guard with adhesive copper foil. That reduced the hum significantly.

Paul

 

[Tim Gillett]

Maybe not relevant to OP, but...

I took a look at a mate's Squier because of hum and a dodgy selector switch. I installed shielded cable and I also lined the cavity and underside of the pick guard with adhesive copper foil. That reduced the hum significantly.

Paul

Thanks Paul for your comments. My experience with the Squier got me wondering how many other lower priced electric guitars have the same hum/buzz problem which is so easily fixed with shielding when you know how.

The Squier had three things wrong with it when I bought it from the hock shop. The jack socket was very loose, the shielding of course, and the truss rod needed an adjustment to bring the neck down straight again. Now it's a pleasure to play.

Regards Tim

 

[Tim Gillett]

ah ok, thanks.

should I use a speaker or instrument cable from the amp to the interface? balanced (trs) or unbalanced?

also, i take it the line level inputs on the image above are numbers 3/4, and that i should avoid using the XLR combo sockets?

thanks for your help.

I'd use shielded instrument cable, unbalanced. But might be worth it to check the Blackstar owner's manual to see if it might be balanced TRS output. If unbalanced go to the front combo input and start with it switched to the "line" position. If balanced, you could try the balanced TRS inputs with a suitable shielded cable. Always start with the volume low!

Cheers Tim

 

[Blue Jinn]

Just a side note for clarity sake. The hum eliminators are effective against hum caused by ground loops, by having a 1 to 1 ratio transformer to isolate and break the connection for the ground loop. A ground lift switch on a particular piece of gear may also provide the necessary isolation. They won't work (and I know from experience) if hte hum is caused for some other reason, and in my case that was (or is until I get around to fixing it) (and I'm assuming here until I fix it, although there's significant RFI as well) caused by unshielded wiring from a reverb tank. So +1 on the wiring recommendations above, if that is the cause.