Aeroic, Did You Wire Up The AxeFx/M4 yet?

I had a little time over the weekend to remove all the audio interconnects from my rack. Then I unplugged all the AC and MIDI. I removed one of the 2 Furmans I had in it. Then one component at a time, I replaced the flat washer with 2 shoulder washers: One between the screw and the component and one between the component and the rail. I also spread the components out a little. Only the Furman and Axe Fx are in consecutive spaces. I have 18 spaces to play with so I used it.

Every time I replaced the washers in a component, I'd check ground continuity from the component's ground to all the other component grounds. Since nothing was plugged in, if the gear was really isolated from the rack, there would be no continuity. The only time there was continuity was when the units were plugged into the Furman. So now, everything is isolated from the rails.

I also found that none of my gear has conductive outer shells. I couldn't get any continuity when touching probes to any 2 faces or chassis'. So in that sense, I really didn't need to worry about any 2 components touching each other in the rack. Still I separated them. I thought that might help with any potential interference. And, each piece of gear has some number of screws holding the face plate to the chassis is a contact point for ground as the screw touches the chassis and therefore the AC ground. I used these screws as contact points for the continuity tests. My power amps are at the bottom of the rack and everything else is in the top half of the rack.

So far, I've only plugged audio cables between the axe and DCM150. I played that yesterday and there's no hum. No surprise though. Tomorrow, I should have time to start plugging in audio cables to other components. I'll deal with those loops as they occur.

Dave
 
I worked from home yesterday and had some more time to work some more inter-connects into the rig. I ran the Axe to each amp one at a time with no ground loops. Then I put the Axe in Loop 3 of the GCX out to the VHT and I still have no ground loops. So far my path is:

Guitar -> GCX front panel input -> Guitar Through on back of GCX -> Loop 1 In -> Loop 1 Out -> Loop 2 In -> Loop 2 Out -> Loop 3 In -> Loop 3 Send -> Axe Fx Input 1 L (back panel) -> Axe Fx Output 1 L -> Loop 3 Return -> Loop 3 Out -> VHT Channel A Input -> Bogner OS 2x12.

I've also got the Ground Control Pro connected to the GCX so I can turn Loop 3 on and off. With Loop 3 off, the signal is fed straight through to the VHT.

I've yet to lift any grounds or cable shields but I know as soon as I add the Egnater to the equation, I'll likely have a ground loop. Going to the Ranger/Flyer game tonight so it won't be till tomorrow or Friday before I have more time to play with it.

PS

The Axe Fx sounds great through either an SS amp or tube amp.

Dave
 
dfrattaroli":rlyaknmw said:
I worked from home yesterday and had some more time to work some more inter-connects into the rig. I ran the Axe to each amp one at a time with no ground loops. Then I put the Axe in Loop 3 of the GCX out to the VHT and I still have no ground loops. So far my path is:

Guitar -> GCX front panel input -> Guitar Through on back of GCX -> Loop 1 In -> Loop 1 Out -> Loop 2 In -> Loop 2 Out -> Loop 3 In -> Loop 3 Send -> Axe Fx Input 1 L (back panel) -> Axe Fx Output 1 L -> Loop 3 Return -> Loop 3 Out -> VHT Channel A Input -> Bogner OS 2x12.

I've also got the Ground Control Pro connected to the GCX so I can turn Loop 3 on and off. With Loop 3 off, the signal is fed straight through to the VHT.

I've yet to lift any grounds or cable shields but I know as soon as I add the Egnater to the equation, I'll likely have a ground loop. Going to the Ranger/Flyer game tonight so it won't be till tomorrow or Friday before I have more time to play with it.

PS

The Axe Fx sounds great through either an SS amp or tube amp.

Dave
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Dave F.

This is the classic empirical approach to rig building - step by step. Alternately, you could use an ohm meter to measure your connections from GND to chassis GND for each piece of gear. Then sketch out a connection diagram showing signals and returns (shields for unbalanced cable) in a fully wired rig. Then you would know just where the trouble spots are. Most likely you'll need isos on the M4 for input and output, since every amp or preamp I''ve seen ties signal GND to chassis GND. Good luck - it sounds like you're pretty much on your way.
 
Thanks bobw.

Last night I had 30 free minutes after the kids went to bed so I was able to get both power amps connected to the Axe and GCX. I created a WDW patch for the Axe and was able to play WDW for the first time. Very cool. So far, no noise. The last piece of the puzzle is the M4. I'm not surprised that it's come down to that. I'm expecting I'll get noise when I connect it but at least I know where it's coming from.

Rangers / Flyers game tonight some it'll have to wait till tomorrow.

Go Rangers!

Dave
 
Wierd. I put the M4 back in and there's no hum. Could the solution have been to just isolate everything from the rails and other components?

The only thin that's not in their yet are the BB, Whammy and DD-20.

I did have to lift the ground on the M4 though.

Dave
 
richedie":3bp6q657 said:
Honestly Eric, for a while there - I was wondering if the Axe-Fx would replace your Egnater rigs.
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:shocked: What!!!! your kidding right? :confused: replace Egnater :loco: NOT!!!
 
mentoneman":3p25kt2o said:
and here's the system i use weekly, in action:

Doyle Dykes

Sarah Macintosh


and if you liked what you heard and are in the southern california area near Redlands, these two artists will be our musical guests for our Easter church services on April 12, so you can hear them live, for free! consider this an official Rig Talk invitation! spammin' for the Lord!

sunrise service is 6:30 in the amphitheater

and our normal 8:00/9:30/11:00 am services will be in the main sanctuary
info


aloha :)
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Wow, that Doyle Dykes is a wicked player. However, he probably should have been fired after the second line the vocalist sang. What a way to ruin a song with an all out wank fest.

None the less I am totally envious of his technical abilities.
 
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