Solving Hum and other Noises in your Guitar Effects and Signal Path

60mhz hum getting you down?

Digital or solid state"cycling sound" keeping you up at night?

The solution is herein.

(I wrote a forum post and adapted it for the blog)

1. If you think the computer/ground is the problem:
a. Ensure there is a good ground (tower computer with three prong power supply, if available)
b. Amp and computer are on same outlet
c. Boot the computer on battery, power on the amp, THEN plug in the computer.

My Furman P1800 PF Staying Vigilant

2. If you think the wall power is the problem or that the amp is interfering.
a. Buy a power conditioner. Something like the Furman rack mount for $53 or so
b. or a portable (non-rack) conditioner for $185 or so.
NOTE: USE A POWER CONDITIONER, not a freaking power STRIP. The conditioner ensures a clean, isolated power sources (keeps the analog amp away from screwing with the digital side.

3. Ground noise problem that just won't go away? Run your instrument through a Direct Box, the $40 miracle.

4. Small hum somewhere in your pedal board? Get a cheap noise gate. This doesn't need to be expensive as they all focus on a very small band of audible hum.

5. Windows Powers Settings (reduces input lag, removes silly display issues)
a. Open "power options"
b. Edit a custom plan
c. (Admin mode) Changes settings that are currently unavailable
d. Change the overall plan to "High Performance"

Hope that helps!