Dirty power

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creep66

Well-known member
Hey, I have a static/crackle issue in all my rigs at home. I record here so it's a huge problem. Like an overtone thing that isnt always there, just on certain frequencies.

I've eliminated everything aside from power so I'm looking at power conditioners. Will this help and what do you guys use?

Thanks for any suggestions this is driving me nuts.
 
House current is nasty stuff. Just grounding and input voltage regulation could help, but I still always hear my neighbors table saw come through the monitors.
 
I’ve had similar issues, having moved around quite a bit - you never know what kind of electric supply you’ll get. I run a Variac into a Furman P1800 AR conditioner and have been very happy with the results, but it comes with a price tag. Most power conditioners / regulators have a tolerance of how much they allow before adjusting the voltage (In this case +/- 5W). Throwing a Variac from the wall into the conditioner allows me to dial-down what is normally 123-127V to a steady 117V and the Furman can do its clean-up of any dirt. Cleaner juice and less stress on amps, tubes, etc.
 
I had one of the Furman units, but sold it as I didn't notice any difference whether in use or not.

I now own a variable transformer, "Amp Maniac" which regulates my incoming voltage to whatever I set it to. Nice that you can't mistakenly set it past wall voltage.

My wall voltage jumps around upper 123 to 125+
 

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If the grounding in your house sucks or is nonexistent a conditioner probably won't help
 
creep66 said:
Hey, I have a static/crackle issue in all my rigs at home. I record here so it's a huge problem. Like an overtone thing that isnt always there, just on certain frequencies.

I've eliminated everything aside from power so I'm looking at power conditioners. Will this help and what do you guys use?

Thanks for any suggestions this is driving me nuts.
Click to expand...

Do you hear it coming out of the amps directly, or only on recordings?

Try unplugging everything nearby except the amp, and try. If it goes away, plug-in one thing at a time, retest.
 
psychodave said:
I specifically ran electric lines from the service panel directly to my music room. I’ve never had any issue. My comment may not help.
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ditto.. Home runs to the panel for every outlet in the studio.

It's the only way to be sure.

besides taking off and nuking the entire sire from orbit.
 
Devin said:
If the grounding in your house sucks or is nonexistent a conditioner probably won't help
Click to expand...
Yeah my house was built in the 60s, old 2 strand wire. So conditioner wont help?
 
CrazyNutz said:
Do you hear it coming out of the amps directly, or only on recordings?

Try unplugging everything nearby except the amp, and try. If it goes away, plug-in one thing at a time, retest.
Click to expand...
It is out of my amps. All of em with any combo of guitars,cables, speakers, pedals. I've tried everything. Been at it for months, driving me crazy.
 
creep66 said:
Yeah my house was built in the 60s, old 2 strand wire. So conditioner wont help?
Click to expand...

Doesn't help at my place at least (house was built in like the 40's and wiring never updated)

My PC is connected to a UPS as well

I just learned to live with heavy gating and/or deleting noise between notes when I'm recording high gain stuff
 
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I have irregular power issues, voltage fluctuations. I got tired of my amps sounding great one day, sounding dull the next. So I pulled an isolated circuit for the outlet in my studio. Bought an AmpRx Brown Box (a Variac), and a Furman P-1800 AR.

Not cheap, but it got rid of a problem that’s been plaguing me for over three years in this house. I have amps I sold that I now regret because im pretty sure I never heard them properly.
 
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