Buzzzzzz

[OME]

Can anyone give me advice on how to keep that annoying buzz/humm
from coming through my effects board. The hum is only present when
my distortion is on.
I use an digitech RP3 and sometimes use a DS-1 external, I still get the buzz when the gate is on and off, any help is appreciated....

[ScottB]

You could try coating your guitar's control cavity with shielding paint if it hasn't already been done.

What type guitars / pickups are you using?

[mike777]

Check thes efactors out. These factors generate a lot of noise......

Single coil pickups

Improper grounding-electric circuit or equipment

Old, beat-up cables-DON'T wrap the cables around your arm from your hand and around the elbow like many do-it kills the life of the cable and stretches out the sheilding.

Dimmer knobs in the circuit in which your equipment is also connected.

Fluoroescent and/or neon lighting.

Motorized appliances (drills, vaccuums, blenders, electric massagers) even if being used in another part of the house.

A nearby computer monitor

Atmospheric conditions. (you can't always work around this one)

Hope this helps. Some problems are often just location and placement. Some times they aren't.

Mike 777 Haug

[OME]

PU's---Paf Pro in the neck, Evo in the bridge and stock single coil in mid.
This is a Fender Stagemster souped-up.
However, I am using a computer in the same room, but I was thinking
it may be the effects combo I was using.
Grunge distortion makes more noise, and the od's have little if no noise.
Noise increases when the amp sim is used too.
Thanks for all replies.

[Gabe Nickelson]

Originally Posted by mike777

Check thes efactors out. These factors generate a lot of noise......

A nearby computer monitor

My computer monitor released SO much freakin' noise it was unbearable. I bought a flat panel monitor just to help with this. The buzz is now almost gone. Flat panels rock!

Gabe

[Frankie]

Gabe: i know what you mean - its anoying when trying to record using your computer - when ever you get close to the monitor, and you are using a distorted sound, it produces a hell of a lot of noise!! I always have to make sure i sit/stand at least a couple of metres back!! Also the same with some lighting.......

Neon/ Fluoroescent lighting is a big problem for me........ when ever i am in a certain room practicing, i can always tell when the Fluoroescent light outside is on - it produces a huge amount of buzz through my amp!! But its funny cos i have that type of lighting in my bathroom also and it does not cause the same problem when it is turned on! It must be the way the house is wired?...........

[Kremlin]

Neon lights, fluorescent lights, cathode ray tubes (monitor, tv), and radios all put out EMR which will cause buzzzzzz. Try turning off everything in the room you don't need.

[mike777]

I never heard that about there being such a difference between flat and traditional screens. Interesting.

ALSO: how are the distortions being used? What I mean is that many people forget or don't realize how distortion does what it does. Increasing the input stage sensitivity will create distortion because you are basically feeding a circuit more than it can handle to reproduce the signal cleanly. So, basically, you are magnifying the incoming signal. So, barely audible signals become more easily heard (like noise). If you want more distortion, you basically have to make a circuit more sensitive. Typically, the higher the distortion amount, the more prone you'll be to noise. Using two distortion units (amp dist. and dist. pedal or two dist .pedals) simultaneously can sometimes reek a lot of havoc.

Hey, did you ever pick up radio stations yet? I picked up a local in the past and a couple other times I picked up something that seemed apparantly european.

Mike 777 Haug