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Post by topshelfmg on Apr 5, 2017 23:08:29 GMT -6
I recently picked up a really killer tube driven spring verb that I am modding out with a reverb tank switcher, NOS tubes, and I am going to have my tech tweak it to bring down the noise floor as low as possible, since I am using it on vocals and things of that nature with a Radial EXTC 500.
The noise floor is pretty high currently, and I tested it and it isn't the tubes. I realize it was intended for guitar amps so normally this wouldn't be all that much of an issue, but I am trying to get close to the Little Walter TubeVerb which was whisper quiet. Even when I shut the unit off, I am getting quite a bit of noise just feeding signal through it with my Radial EXTC. It is because of this I am assuming it is either bad grounding which I will have my tech fix, or lack of shielding with my instrument cables. Do you guys have any favorite instrument cable that is incredibly resilient to interference? I didn't feel like spending time soldering, so I got some George Ls based on a recommendation. While they sound great, I don't suspect it has the best shielding. It isn't a long run (maybe 7 or 8ft), but it is passing through my rack and a lot of gear on the way that could introduce interference. I currently have a bunch of Canare Quad cable, but figured I should just get some great dedicated instrument cable, as quad cable doesn't seem to be my best bet for standard TS cables... though I may be wrong here.
Besides the obvious Mogami, I have heard fantastic things about Gotham cable that I am able to get from Redco, particularly the more expensive variety (I forget what it is called) that is 90 cents a foot. Anyone have experience with any particular type of quality cable that kept out interference in a very interference prone situation? Regardless of if this ends up being the cause or not, I will probably pick some up regardless. Both for patching situations like this (I will use the George L for the actual pedalboard), and some new guitar/bass/keyboard cables.
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Post by johneppstein on Apr 6, 2017 2:24:45 GMT -6
I recently picked up a really killer tube driven spring verb that I am modding out with a reverb tank switcher, NOS tubes, and I am going to have my tech tweak it to bring down the noise floor as low as possible, since I am using it on vocals and things of that nature with a Radial EXTC 500. The noise floor is pretty high currently, and I tested it and it isn't the tubes. I realize it was intended for guitar amps so normally this wouldn't be all that much of an issue, but I am trying to get close to the Little Walter TubeVerb which was whisper quiet. Even when I shut the unit off, I am getting quite a bit of noise just feeding signal through it with my Radial EXTC. It is because of this I am assuming it is either bad grounding which I will have my tech fix, or lack of shielding with my instrument cables. Do you guys have any favorite instrument cable that is incredibly resilient to interference? I didn't feel like spending time soldering, so I got some George Ls based on a recommendation. While they sound great, I don't suspect it has the best shielding. It isn't a long run (maybe 7 or 8ft), but it is passing through my rack and a lot of gear on the way that could introduce interference. I currently have a bunch of Canare Quad cable, but figured I should just get some great dedicated instrument cable, as quad cable doesn't seem to be my best bet for standard TS cables... though I may be wrong here. Besides the obvious Mogami, I have heard fantastic things about Gotham cable that I am able to get from Redco, particularly the more expensive variety (I forget what it is called) that is 90 cents a foot. Anyone have experience with any particular type of quality cable that kept out interference in a very interference prone situation? Regardless of if this ends up being the cause or not, I will probably pick some up regardless. Both for patching situations like this (I will use the George L for the actual pedalboard), and some new guitar/bass/keyboard cables. First, what kind of noise are you getting? Hum, buzz, hiss, white, pink, a combination, what? |
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Post by jcoutu1 on Apr 6, 2017 4:23:13 GMT -6
I would check out sinasoid.com Paging sinasoid |
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Post by jimwilliams on Apr 6, 2017 8:58:27 GMT -6
Reverb tank return coils do pick up hum, buzz and other noises. Short out that return coil and watch that noise floor go way down.
You can either wrap it in mumetal (expensive and no guarentee) or order custom reverb tanks from Accutronics. When I used to build these back in the early 1980's I used two tanks. One was ordered with a reversed charged magnet on one tank. Connect them together and you get a hum-cancelling reverb tank, essentially silent.
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Post by Calvin on Apr 6, 2017 12:04:06 GMT -6
Not sure how much of your problem lies in the cabling, but I second the Gotham recommendation. Can't beat their double-shielded cables for noise rejection. The gac-1 ultra pro instrument cable would be as quiet as you can find, I imagine. Nice low capacitance specs, as well. I have gotham cabling all over my little studio here. However, I'm sure that there are any number of competently engineered cables that would work for your situation.
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Post by c0rtland on Apr 6, 2017 12:32:32 GMT -6
As said above. Doubt it's the cableing, but GOTHAM kills. They have a new thicker brown cable I made 16 microphone cables out of. They wrap up real nice.
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Post by topshelfmg on Apr 6, 2017 20:34:22 GMT -6
I recently picked up a really killer tube driven spring verb that I am modding out with a reverb tank switcher, NOS tubes, and I am going to have my tech tweak it to bring down the noise floor as low as possible, since I am using it on vocals and things of that nature with a Radial EXTC 500. The noise floor is pretty high currently, and I tested it and it isn't the tubes. I realize it was intended for guitar amps so normally this wouldn't be all that much of an issue, but I am trying to get close to the Little Walter TubeVerb which was whisper quiet. Even when I shut the unit off, I am getting quite a bit of noise just feeding signal through it with my Radial EXTC. It is because of this I am assuming it is either bad grounding which I will have my tech fix, or lack of shielding with my instrument cables. Do you guys have any favorite instrument cable that is incredibly resilient to interference? I didn't feel like spending time soldering, so I got some George Ls based on a recommendation. While they sound great, I don't suspect it has the best shielding. It isn't a long run (maybe 7 or 8ft), but it is passing through my rack and a lot of gear on the way that could introduce interference. I currently have a bunch of Canare Quad cable, but figured I should just get some great dedicated instrument cable, as quad cable doesn't seem to be my best bet for standard TS cables... though I may be wrong here. Besides the obvious Mogami, I have heard fantastic things about Gotham cable that I am able to get from Redco, particularly the more expensive variety (I forget what it is called) that is 90 cents a foot. Anyone have experience with any particular type of quality cable that kept out interference in a very interference prone situation? Regardless of if this ends up being the cause or not, I will probably pick some up regardless. Both for patching situations like this (I will use the George L for the actual pedalboard), and some new guitar/bass/keyboard cables. First, what kind of noise are you getting? Hum, buzz, hiss, white, pink, a combination, what? I just attached a picture of the frequencies of it all. When the unit is turned off, it all persists minus some of the 60Hz, and is just reduced by maybe 10dB-15dB or so, but is still too prominent. It is a good bit of 60Hz hum with a broadband buzz that has another peak around 12K. Attachments:
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Post by topshelfmg on Apr 6, 2017 20:36:35 GMT -6
Not sure how much of your problem lies in the cabling, but I second the Gotham recommendation. Can't beat their double-shielded cables for noise rejection. The gac-1 ultra pro instrument cable would be as quiet as you can find, I imagine. Nice low capacitance specs, as well. I have gotham cabling all over my little studio here. However, I'm sure that there are any number of competently engineered cables that would work for your situation. Awesome! Yep, the gac-1 ultra pro is what I was looking at. Good to hear from you all that it is indeed as great as some friends of mine have made it out to be. Will still definitely pick some up to make instrument cables even if cabling isn't the culprit. |
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Post by topshelfmg on Apr 6, 2017 20:40:18 GMT -6
Reverb tank return coils do pick up hum, buzz and other noises. Short out that return coil and watch that noise floor go way down. You can either wrap it in mumetal (expensive and no guarentee) or order custom reverb tanks from Accutronics. When I used to build these back in the early 1980's I used two tanks. One was ordered with a reversed charged magnet on one tank. Connect them together and you get a hum-cancelling reverb tank, essentially silent. Good to know! I will relay this to my tech. Just got two more tanks in the mail from the seller, and he told me the one is grounded much better, and the other (long 3 spring medium decay Accutronics) will be much quieter wired in reverse. So, when it came with this stock tank, the RCA cables were white connector to red input, and red connector to white input. Does this mean it was accidently wired in reverse from the get go? This stock tank is set up so there is no benefit in doing that, and I always thought it was supposed to be red to red, and white to white.... at least in all of the other applications I've used RCA cables in. I also attached a picture of the noise in a comment I posted right before this one. Lots of 60Hz hum with some broadband buzz that has a weird peak around 12K. Thanks for the suggestions! |
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