Author Topic: Hums and hums...... (Read 193 times)

mattheus · « **on:** May 19, 2003, 01:27:55 AM »

Perhaps you all know that feeling. The whole day you're getting ready for a great gig at night. Finally you can leave home, and race to the club. You plug in, and you hear...... hum and possibly more hum......
Probably from the lights or so. But (almost) always on the basssignal. Why is that, and what can you do to prevent that from happening?

palembic · « **Reply #1 on:** May 19, 2003, 02:58:13 AM »

Hi Mattheus,

Een stoere jongen uit het noordn welkom hier!
Welcome indeed neighbour!
I didn't have it experienced yet excpet once and than it was a grounding problem due to a power problem on that location. My fellwo misicians had the sam problem with their amps.
Anyway I can perfectly feel your embarrassement.
I'm not a technician altough but their are people here who can help you more technically.
For what it's worth:
1. grounding problem (situated in your rack or on the location. The first you can isolate, the second, I don't think one can handle)
2. Interference pick-ups with dimmer-tables and lights. I think the SII is very sensitive for that.
I don't know if it's appropriate to do when doing a sound check but you can turm the two inner tiny screws on the back of your SII. Depending on the model it's the square brass plate on the upper half of the guitar where you cab adjust the humcancelling PU (inner 2 screws) and the output of the PU (Outer 2 screws). There is a thread on theboard where it is explained how to do.
I guess you don't have it when playing your set-up at home or in rehearsel?
Anyway, the more technical brothers and sisters will come along.
BTW: there are some other threads here handling the Humming: of DS-5R's, guitars, F1-X's etc ....etc .... (there is definitely a lot that can hum these days LOL)

Paul

mica · « **Reply #2 on:** May 19, 2003, 09:22:49 AM »

Were you using your Series or Spoiler bass? If it's the Series II, try doing the hum balance procedure described here:

http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/1726.html?1031705776

mattheus · « **Reply #3 on:** May 23, 2003, 03:17:36 AM »

Tnx, for all the answers.
Hi there, Paul; ook eens wat Nederlands op deze pagina's. Kunnen de anderen zich suf lezen, op wat hier nu staat...

To make it all clear; I generally use the Spoiler OBS live on stage. Mostly because of the fact it is a bass I can use wireless.
The band I play in, does around 140 shows each year, and it's not always a 'humming' problem. But, sometimes it does. Somehow I can hear the dimmers from our (magnificent....) lightshow on the channel of my bass. On stage we don't use any backline. I only use a line-6 bass pod pro. All goes through a stage mixer, and every bandmember get's a signal from an In Ear monitor device. This works well, except when there is that bloody hum. The main reason for my question was, why is there always a hum on the bass channel. I also see/hear that with other bands. Is the bass signal sensitiver for hum or so? If so, what would probably be the best DI to use. I now use a LA electronics DI, but in the studio I could hear a signal loss (in the deep sounds)

For Mica: The series II has indeed a great hum cancelling circuit, I've tried it out in the studio I recently was. Just a tiny hiss was all there was left. (With the bass-electronics on full speed

)

Mattheus

Ps. pictures...... you can find them on http://www.melrose.nl

adriaan · « **Reply #4 on:** May 23, 2003, 04:47:12 AM »

Ha die Mattheus,

Leuke puzzel!

If you say there is a hum on the bass channel, does that channel include the Bass Pod Pro? And the wireless receiver? Is everything grounded - as far as I know only ONE step in your signal chain should be grounded?

It could still be another part of the system, like the channel used on the stage mixer. If your band has its own PA then you're probably always playing over the same channel, so switch to one that doesn't have the hum and see if that helps. Try changing on the stage box, and/or on the mixer.

Try switching to a different frequency for your wireless. As far as I know light dimmers can act like radio transmitters, so changing the frequency might help - as long as no one else is using it.

If your connector cables run backstage, try moving them to the front. Signal cables running parallel to power cables can also pick up hum.

Veel plezier!

Adriaan

mica · « **Reply #5 on:** May 27, 2003, 10:46:57 AM »

Check your Spoiler to see if there is a small grey tube the pickup wires pass through. If you don't have this, pleae email me at mica@alembic.com with your mailing address and we'll send you this shielding part.

mattheus · « **Reply #6 on:** May 30, 2003, 06:59:51 AM »

This is what I call service! Right now, a small package is coming my way. People at Alembic are doing everything to keep the bassplayers satisfied; in the first place with the great basses, and also with a great service. Which shows their dedication.
Tnx, Tnx, tnx

mattheus · « **Reply #7 on:** June 18, 2003, 01:30:44 PM »

Message for Mica and crew;
I've installed the shielding part, and since then I've done more than 10 gigs and 10 times no Hums or whatsoever!!!!!!!!!

TNX, I'm a happy man.

Mattheus