Slightly OT: HumX noise eliminator

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mr. Moon
  • Start date Start date
Mr. Moon

Mr. Moon

Force of Naked
I hope someone will find this helpful:

After testing the EBTECH HumX on my recording setup, it appears to have *completely* cleared up the ground loop problem I was experiencing! My "El Cheapo Supremo" Furman Rack-Rider power "conditioner" is plugged into the HumX (which is plugged directly into the wall outlet), and all my preamps (SafeSoundAudio P1, SP VTB-1, and ART TPS) and outboard effects (FMR Audio RNC, etc.) plugged into the Furman. Even with everything powered up and simultaneously plugged into my Aardvark DP 2496 breakout box, there is *NO* 60 cycle hum, or *any* noise whatsoever. There's no noise when I monitor through the P1 or through the Aardvark's headphone monitor. Best part is that this device is *not* in the signal path at all, it sits on the power line, so there's no signal loss or distortion. (Note: My computer is not plugged into the Furman for its power)

For further testing, I also ran my Marshall DSL 100 amp through the Furman, with all the preamps and such still up and running on the same Furman unit, which is connected to the wall power outlet through the HumX. At the same time, I mic'd the amp cab with a SM58 through the SafeSound Audio P1 preamp, just to try to force some noise out of it...

...and guess what?!! *NO* noise!!

The amp used to hum like..., ...well, like a big loud humming amp, even at low volumes, but now it has lost the 60-cycle hum it once had!! Sure, it still makes that standard low-level "hissing" kind of noise, but *no* 60-cycle hum!!

SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!

This little ~$70.00 (street price) device has saved me tons of money and work, as I will not have to either run an external isolated ground into my studio or have to purchase a more expensive isolation transformer. It is also small enough for me to carry down to band practice to plug my amp into to get rid of the 60 cycle hum I get there.

I'll be doing some more testing and such while I resume tweaking around on the P1, which is what lead to the discovery of the nasty ground loop issue.

-mr moon
 
HumX update!!

My band (Highdroplain) recorded drum tracks for 17 new tunes on Saturday. We had bad@ss 60-cycle hum through all the gear until I pulled out my trusty HumX and routed all power through it. After that, *NO* noise, except for the CRT that would cause some buzzing if you got a guitar/bass too close to it!

Gear used:
* Tascam M-520 20-channel analog mixing board
* PC with M-Audio Delta 1010 interface & CRT
* Trademark 10 guitar amp
* DBX gate for snare
* Event monitors
* Behringer mixing board for play-along mix
* lavalamp
* ? headphone amp
* interior lights
* other forgotten things....

Hope this helps!

-mr moon
 
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