Mini Rec & TC Nova System Loop Noise

[paulg2uk]

Hey guys,

So I finally got my mini rec the other day which I really love. I decided to buy a nova system also as its quite a good little fx unit and thought it might compliment the mini rec well. I'm running thru the fx loop and noticed quite a lot of hiss coming thru the loop. Its fine with the loop bypassed but as soon as you switch it on the hiss is there and can be fairly annoying. I did try and just run my phase 90 thru the fx loop with the same pedal snake and that doesn't appear to be as noisy. There's a slight noise when the pedal is switch on but I think that's to be expected.

Do you guys think it could be the nova sys causing the problem?

Thanks

Paul

 

[ken361]

You could always switch the v4 tube with a diff one to see whats up. Did you reset up the nova to the mesa?

 

[paulg2uk]

You could always switch the v4 tube with a diff one to see whats up. Did you reset up the nova to the mesa?

Yep I did I complete reset on the nova. I don't think its a tube cause it still works when nothing is plug into the fx loop and is switch on. I did just try and turn the input range down on the nova and it has worked a little. I'm thinking the signal might have been too hot for the mini rec

 

[elvis]

First, is there noise with nothing plugged into the MR loop, but with the loop turned on? That will rule out tube issues.

Second, are you connecting the FX send to DRIVE or LINE input? Should be LINE.

Third, is the noise more high frequency hiss, or low frequency buzz (like 60Hz)? This could be ground loop. Are you plugging the Nova into the same outlet as the amp? You should. Better, they should be on the same outlet strip. You may need to use an isolation transformer like Ebtech HE-2 between the FX and amp to stop this sort of thing.

 

[paulg2uk]

First, is there noise with nothing plugged into the MR loop, but with the loop turned on? That will rule out tube issues.

Second, are you connecting the FX send to DRIVE or LINE input? Should be LINE.

Third, is the noise more high frequency hiss, or low frequency buzz (like 60Hz)? This could be ground loop. Are you plugging the Nova into the same outlet as the amp? You should. Better, they should be on the same outlet strip. You may need to use an isolation transformer like Ebtech HE-2 between the FX and amp to stop this sort of thing.

It's definitely not a tube cause there's no noise when the loop is turned on and nothing is plugged into it. I'm plugged into the line input of the nova. The one thing I didn't do was run the nova off of the same outlet which I normally do and it is a high frequency hiss. Do you reckon it could be that?

I'll give it another go tonight when I get in from work. I did reduce the inout range on the nova and it did work a little reducing the hiss. Could the signal just be too hot for the mini rec's loop running the input range to maximum?

 

[elvis]

If it was due to input level, I would expect some very harsh distortion, not noise. If there is noise when the guitar volume is off, it's not from the level. Lowering the level may have just attenuated both the signal and the noise.

It could certainly be ground loop, though I would expect it to be more of a buzzzzzz than a "shhhhhhhhhhhh".

Could also be a cable. Turn the loop on, but take each of the cables you are using to connect to the Nova and run from FX send to FX ret on the mini rec. shake them around a bit. One may be noisy.

You can try raising the signal level in the loop by turning the Master up. The Master is pre-loop, so it is an FX send level control as well. I suspect you will get the best results if you optimize the level by adjusting the Master and the Nova's input level, and then use the Nova's output level control as the amp Master.

 

[paulg2uk]

Ok so I've plugged everything into the same outlet and it seems to have worked the hum is pretty minimal now and the amp sounds awesome with the nova. One thing I just noticed though on the clean channel when switching from 25 watts to 10 watts I get a weird high pitched noise or squeal. Could this be a preamp tube messing about?

 

[ken361]

prb most likely

 

[paulg2uk]

Kind of odd it seems to have disappeared now. Could it be a few gremlins in the works maybe? I never had this problem before with my mark v. I suppose there's a first time for everything.

 

[elvis]

Is it just when you're switching, or is it a sustained squeal after switching?

With a mechanical switch, you get some "bounce", and the circuit may not like that. I don't know if it was debounced in Mesa's design. Could also be that the switch was dirty or (more likely) oxidized, and switching back and forth cleaned it up.

Anyway, happy you're getting better results.

Now that you know the MR with the Nova is susceptible to ground loops, you should get an ebtech HE-2 and put it in between the amp and Nova. That way you'll probably never get that ground loop again. Otherwise, you may find it comes back if you move your setup to another venue.

 

[paulg2uk]

Is it just when you're switching, or is it a sustained squeal after switching?

With a mechanical switch, you get some "bounce", and the circuit may not like that. I don't know if it was debounced in Mesa's design. Could also be that the switch was dirty or (more likely) oxidized, and switching back and forth cleaned it up.

Anyway, happy you're getting better results.

Now that you know the MR with the Nova is susceptible to ground loops, you should get an ebtech HE-2 and put it in between the amp and Nova. That way you'll probably never get that ground loop again. Otherwise, you may find it comes back if you move your setup to another venue.

It was a sustained squeal after switching and then when switched back to 25 watts it would go away. Seems fine now, as you say could have been the switch. I'll definitely think about getting the ebtech sounds like its a must have piece of gear.

Thanks for your help by the way you've been a great help.

 

[elvis]

You're welcome. Play loud :shock: