troubleshooting Joemeek-help!

[Richard Monroe]

Well I just got the Joemeek twinQcs and I got a problem. I expect it is my ignorance, more likely than a defective unit. I am getting a *wicked* hum from this baby on both channels at any audible level. Now each channel has (2) 1/4" balanced outs and I'm assuming, perhaps incorrectly, that they want 1/4" stereo patch cords;am I wrong? I've tried switching mics and XLR cables (no effect) and switched patch cords and power conditioners (no effect). I've gone from the pre into a headphone amp, into an fx box (TC electronics M300) with no change, except now my hum has reverb. All I can think is that the two balanced outs on each channel want a mono 1/4" cable, but I'm afraid of shorting out a 3 contact jack with a mono cable. On the other hand, maybe the power supply in this puppy is kaput (please say it's not true!). I've tried every possible input and output gain combo, with and without compression, eq, phantom, etc. and my hum is still there. Like I said, I'll bet I am being ignorant. Somebody please try to help me before I blow up a perfectly good pre. BTW, a VC1QD A-D converter was installed by the vendor, but I've only been using the analog outs, which are not disabled by the A-D module. Alan, are you still lurking here? Come on down...-Richie

 

[MONTE]

Does the headphone amp have balanced ins? You may be using the wrong cord for your application. It won't hurt to use a mono 1/4" cable. Here's some more info that might help.

http://rane.com/note110.html

 

[Richard Monroe]

Well, thanks for trying, monte. I have to say I'm underwhelmed
by the swarms of responses. I'm sure I've violated the unwritten laws of HR.com or I need to switch deodorants. Anyway, I finally found the problem. The twinQ was in an adjacent rack space with a DBX386 and chassis's must've been touching in a bad way. I knew DBX said not to have anything in an adjacent rack space, but I thought this is because it alledgedly runs hot and wants to breath (I have not found this to be particularly true), but with a rack space between them, they are both happy. Looks like it was a Pearl Harbor style attack on the British, in a vain attempt to discredit the twinQ! I guess this is the house gold channel now, and it is good for vocals.-Richie

 

[Jeppo]

I also had a humming twin Qcs.....

But in my case there was definitely a problem with the joemeek, the humming was just in one channel. I also had a factory fitted digital out which I eventually discovered was humming too!

Having sent it away to be fixed (under guarantee) the Twin Qcs has bee returned and is now working perfectly BUT the stupid buggers have forgotten to re-fit a new digital output. So I'm now waiting for it to come back.

One more point - I also have a Dbx 386 switched on right above my Joemeek and it does not affect it. In fact it shouldn't do. My recommendation to you would be to listen carefully again to your Twin Qcs. I could only detect the humming at a high gain setting, but there shouldn't be any hum at all, even next to a DBx 386. Also check your digital out carefully. I made a comparison with the digital out on my Dbx 386 and I found the Joemeek was distorting with a brittle ringing sound especially when I spoke into a microphone.

According to the Joemeek staff (information passed on by my contact at the music store), the digital out was to blame for everything. Now I'm not technically minded - so any technical stuff is irrelevant to me - but I do expect relatively expensive gear to work faultlessly. If you find the slightest thing wrong with your Twin Qcs send it straight back. Sounds to me you've got a similar kind of thing going on, as you also have a factory fitted digital out which could be faulty.

Hope this helps.