Noise Issue Please Help!

Quote from HELL-G

jvmes13

This sounds like interference from a computer or monitor.

Is the noise present when you do not connect a cable to the Input of the Profiler? Does the noise change when the guitar is connected to the Profiler, and you move the guitar (in front of the monitor or computer)?

That's a good point, didn't really think about the monitors.. does that only happen with certain types of them? I can't imagine this happens in the average pro studio.

I don't hear the noise when there is no cable connected to the input of the profiler.

It doesn't seem to change at all whether I face the guitar towards to the computer/monitor or I turn around from them, or if I move further away.

The noise is there with any of the 6 guitars I have, 4 are high quality guitars, 2 are cheap guitars, and the issue is the same on all of them. Bass too.

Quote from GCNC8068

I'd agree it sounds like RFI. What country are you in? Is your Kemper power aligned with your country (i.e., you're not using an adapter to make a US kemper plug into European outlets or vice versa)?

In addition to the great advice others have stated, that sound would have me (1) checking the Kemper input and output jacks to make sure they are tight, and I might clean them (w/ Deoxit); (2) as mentioned, look everywhere for fluorescent lights, wifi enable bulbs, smart speakers (eg., Alexa), routers, etc. in the room with the Kemper; and (3) see if you can determine what is on the circuit you are plugging into (is there a refrigerator, heater, other appliance?).

Also, make sure you are not laying your cell phone on top of the rack.

Did I understand you do not get this noise with low gain (clean) rigs? It may be harder to hear, but if its RFI you should hear something (you may have to turn up the volume on a clean rig to hear it).

Display More

I'm in the US, no adapters being used. it's plugged into a furman power conditioner too. The jacks are all tight on the Kemper.

I have no lights plugged in at all in the room where my set up is. No ceiling fan either. Cell phone is in the other room, no change.

I didn't think it was happening on low gain or clean rigs, but I tested it again and turned the volume up and I can hear the same noise but quieter. So it is happening on any type of profile.

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone that took the time to offer help here.

Though the issue is not resolved yet, I really appreciate it!

- Update here -

I've been slowly working on this issue for the last few months and it's still unresolved. However, I'm 99% sure the issue is not with my Kemper or my guitars.

I took my amp out of storage and tried playing each one of my guitars through it.. NO NOISE ISSUE AT ALL. It's in the same room as my studio set up.

I also recently purchased a few Neural DSP plug ins and the issue DOES happen while using them as well.

Other things I have tried/tested are:

1. I shut off the power to every room/device except the room my studio is in, and with my computer and monitors powered off I played through just my Kemper and the issue is the same as when all of those things are powered on.

2. I replaced my instrument cables with Mogami cables, replaced my Furman power conditioner, and tried isolating each monitor by plugging them directly in to the wall outlet using a Morely Hum Exterminator to make sure there was no ground issue with the monitors. No change in the noise issue.

Just to give as much info as possible..

I have my 2 Yamaha HS8s, my Kemper, and my Scarlett 18i20 interface all plugged in to the Furman Power Conditioner. Then I have my M2 Mac mini and 2 external monitors plugged in to another Furman Power conditioner. Both Furman's are plugged in the same 2 port wall outlet.

At this point I feel confident saying the issue is not from the guitar picking up noise and hearing it through the monitors while playing, if that was the case I would have the same issue when playing through my standalone amp, and there is no noise at all when doing that. Also, the fact that this issue happens when using the Neural DSP plug ins too. I would happily call an electrician to come look at this but at this point it doesn't seem like that would resolve anything, unless I'm missing something.

So the issue must lie somewhere my recording/computer set up, and this is where I am currently stuck. I have tried using the ground lift switches on the back of the Kemper as well and nothing changes.

I asked a rep from Sweetwater about this issue when I inquired about the Morley Hum X and he told me I should plug the Hum X into the wall outlet and then my power conditioner (that has all of my gear connected to it) into the Hum X. However, when I got the Hum X in the mail, it says right on the box "Do not use on surge protectors, power conditioners, or multi power supplies"

I saw some videos on Youtube about the Ifi Defender+ and the USB version that you plug your audio interface in to before your computer, but some of the reviews have given me pause about trying that as some have said they have destroyed their equipment.

I'm feeling hopeless at this point lol.

Quote from RosboneMako

The noise 100% sounds like PC noise. My gaming PC has a full glass side and this is all I hear with any gain at all.

As others have said, you need to strip down to the Kemper and the speakers only. Everything else turned off.

Electrical devices are radio transmitters. The only way to stop it is to encase the device in a metal box (Faraday cage). That is why computers are usually a full metal box. My PC has a glass side so it does not stop ANY of the Radio Frequency noise coming out of it. That is also why a guitars pickup cavity is sometimes taped off with copper/metal tape to create a faraday cage around the pickups and wires.

If you still have noise issues with only the Kemper and speakers turned on, you need to turn off the noise gate and walk around the room with the guitar. RF energy is a distance squared function so you should hear the noise volume rise and fall as you move towards and away from the actual noise source in the area.

The noise could simply be coming from the powered speakers themselves. Especially if you have done things to remove the ground from them by using hum eliminators, etc.

You may also want to turn off any lights in the area especially if you have dimmers involved. LED lights and Dimmers chop up the low frequency power and turn it into RF energy that can be transmitted to your guitar (antenna).

Apple is usually good about noise. That mini may have a plastic case that is not stopping the noise coming out of it. Or it may have an external power supply that is noisy especially if its ground is being removed by hum eliminators.

TOO LONG DIDNT READ

1) Everything is capable of putting out noise. Most likely a computer of some kind. PC, mouse, keyboard, other computing device (Alexa, phone, etc).

2) Walk around with no noise gate to locate the actual noise source.

Display More

I turned off the computer/monitors, turned off every single light, shut off the power to every room expect the one the studio is in, no cell phone in the room and played the Kemper (through the interface into the studio monitors), the noise is still there.

The Mac mini has a metal case on it, but I don't even have it powered on when testing this.

When I move the guitar around the room I'm in, change directions etc, the noise doesn't change.

The only thing I didn't do is remove the interface from the equation by plugging the studio monitors directly into the Kemper as suggested, I can try that next.

Like I said, I don't think the issue is the Kemper anymore, when I plug the guitar directly into the interface and use the Neural DSP plug in the noise is the same. And when using my standalone amp (even with the power back on and everything turned on) there is no noise at all.

The only thing I can think of is that the combination of all the gear being used is creating the noise somewhere, maybe a ground loop.

I guess I would need to get multiple Hum X's to plug each piece of gear into and see what happens then?

I forgot to add, the noise is also present when using headphones. Both when connected to the headphone jack on the Kemper and the jack on the interface.