Anyone out there got any ideas about a hum problem I have with one of my 
effects pedals?

After years of using a Ross-branded PSU (yes, I know, but it worked and it 
was quiet) to power my Boss fx pedals, I decided to get a 'proper' unit 
before the inevitable happened. Having looked around, I decided that a Korg 
KA189 unit sounded ideal, having the correct polarity and twice the milliamp 
rating of the equivalent Boss unit. The two look more or less idential, in 
fact.

So, I connected the new PSU to my pedal-board and everything powered up as 
normal, except for what sounded like a mains hum which I traced to the DD2 
pedal. Strange. Much less of a problem when powered and used in isolation, 
but still audible.

For the record, ahead of the DD2 I use: OD1, CS2, CE2 and GE7 Boss pedals.

So, is the DD2 particularly picky about PSUs?

Thanks,
RM

Roger Moss wrote:
> Anyone out there got any ideas about a hum problem I have with one of my 
> effects pedals?
> 
> After years of using a Ross-branded PSU (yes, I know, but it worked and 
> it was quiet) to power my Boss fx pedals, I decided to get a 'proper' 
> unit before the inevitable happened. Having looked around, I decided 
> that a Korg KA189 unit sounded ideal, having the correct polarity and 
> twice the milliamp rating of the equivalent Boss unit. The two look more 
> or less idential, in fact.
> 
> So, I connected the new PSU to my pedal-board and everything powered up 
> as normal, except for what sounded like a mains hum which I traced to 
> the DD2 pedal. Strange. Much less of a problem when powered and used in 
> isolation, but still audible.
> 
> For the record, ahead of the DD2 I use: OD1, CS2, CE2 and GE7 Boss pedals.
> 
> So, is the DD2 particularly picky about PSUs?
> 
> Thanks,
> RM

I probably don't have the nouse to explain this, but I don't understand 
what PSU you have - is it an individual one for the DD2, or a power 
block with lots of mains leads coming from it, or a PSU with a daisy chain?

Personally I use the one from this website, it is superb for me, and 
very good value
http://www.johnnyshredfreak.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=12&zenid=bee1f1be6f99e54623233fe0824df751

(hope that link works!)

On May 7, 3:24 pm, "Roger Moss" <roger.moss(BINTHISBIT)@aliceadsl.fr>
wrote:
> Anyone out there got any ideas about a hum problem I have with one of my
> effects pedals?
>
> After years of using a Ross-branded PSU (yes, I know, but it worked and it
> was quiet) to power my Boss fx pedals, I decided to get a 'proper' unit
> before the inevitable happened. Having looked around, I decided that a Korg
> KA189 unit sounded ideal, having the correct polarity and twice the milliamp
> rating of the equivalent Boss unit. The two look more or less idential, in
> fact.
>
> So, I connected the new PSU to my pedal-board and everything powered up as
> normal, except for what sounded like a mains hum which I traced to the DD2
> pedal. Strange. Much less of a problem when powered and used in isolation,
> but still audible.
>
> For the record, ahead of the DD2 I use: OD1, CS2, CE2 and GE7 Boss pedals.
>
> So, is the DD2 particularly picky about PSUs?
>
> Thanks,
> RM

I have a similar problem on my pedalboard.  I've got a fairly generic
wallwart and I've connected it to the pedals with a Rockinger six-way
extension.  Now, I usually have the following

Tuner -> Guyatone Compressor -> Vox Distortion(90's) -> UKMG Ibanez
delay -> Nobel Tremolo

The problem is, if I connect up the compressor to the mains unit, I
get massive hum.  If I just leave that pedal running on battery,
everything's OK.

As far as I can see it's the same polarity as the other units.

"Roger Moss" <roger.moss(BINTHISBIT)@aliceadsl.fr> wrote in message 
news:84iUj.3233$nL6.1989@news1.pds.libertysurf.fr...
> Anyone out there got any ideas about a hum problem I have with one of my 
> effects pedals?
>
> After years of using a Ross-branded PSU (yes, I know, but it worked and it 
> was quiet) to power my Boss fx pedals, I decided to get a 'proper' unit 
> before the inevitable happened. Having looked around, I decided that a 
> Korg KA189 unit sounded ideal, having the correct polarity and twice the 
> milliamp rating of the equivalent Boss unit. The two look more or less 
> idential, in fact.
>
> So, I connected the new PSU to my pedal-board and everything powered up as 
> normal, except for what sounded like a mains hum which I traced to the DD2 
> pedal. Strange. Much less of a problem when powered and used in isolation, 
> but still audible.
>
> For the record, ahead of the DD2 I use: OD1, CS2, CE2 and GE7 Boss pedals.
>
> So, is the DD2 particularly picky about PSUs?
>
> Thanks,
> RM

I have the same problem with a Line 6 compressor not liking the PSU in my 
BOSS pedalboard, so I bought a Behringher compressor which works fine.

The new PSU you have is probably a switch-mode PSU and it's noise from that. 
These are different to rectified transformer PSU's of old and I suspect the 
quality of noise suppression is variable with them. It appears some pedals 
are more sensitive than others.

If you are getting a buzzing rather than humming and it's OK on battery then 
it's the PSU. Can't tell you which ones are better than others. Maybe get a 
techie to make you a transformer based supply. Heavier and more bulk but 
with a well made rectifier circuit it should not hum or buzz.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switched-mode_power_supply

HTH

Andrew(lefty)

> After years of using a Ross-branded PSU (yes, I know, but it worked
> and it was quiet)

Actually, those old Ross PSUs were fantastic. I still have one here for 
'demanding' applications. Good, solid, sadly bulky, reliable stuff.

> So, is the DD2 particularly picky about PSUs?

Yes.

Even worse is the Behringer reverb pedal. Apparently ;-)

I play with a lot of pedals (current collection was 60 last time I 
counted), and I've found a few that are really seriously paranoid about 
external PSUs. If you find something that works, stick with it.

Al.

On May 7, 2:24 pm, "Roger Moss" <roger.moss(BINTHISBIT)@aliceadsl.fr>
wrote:
> Anyone out there got any ideas about a hum problem I have with one of my
> effects pedals?
>
> After years of using a Ross-branded PSU (yes, I know, but it worked and it
> was quiet) to power my Boss fx pedals, I decided to get a 'proper' unit
> before the inevitable happened. Having looked around, I decided that a Korg
> KA189 unit sounded ideal, having the correct polarity and twice the milliamp
> rating of the equivalent Boss unit. The two look more or less idential, in
> fact.
>
> So, I connected the new PSU to my pedal-board and everything powered up as
> normal, except for what sounded like a mains hum which I traced to the DD2
> pedal. Strange. Much less of a problem when powered and used in isolation,
> but still audible.
>
> For the record, ahead of the DD2 I use: OD1, CS2, CE2 and GE7 Boss pedals.
>
> So, is the DD2 particularly picky about PSUs?
>
> Thanks,
> RM



As I've not got the same pedal set up as you I can't really offer much
direct experience, except to say that I had terrible problems with a
Behringer digital reverb pedal which was only solved when I bought a
psu from Johhnyshredfreak.  This is the same PSU as the one used by
our tame chimp  Mr Gomm.  From what you describe I'm confident that
the PSU is the weakness and it's got nothing to do with the other
pedals you're using.    I also bought a bunch of daisy chain leads
when I bought the PSU and my pedal board now works fine.

From my experience I do think that digital delays and digital reverbs
are really picky about being fed a diet of very smooth regulated
volts.

Try a PSU from johnnyshredfreak. I'd tried loads of others, and spent
a load of money in the process, before I foud his.  They really are
excellent.  Shaped like a laptop PC PSU witha detachable lead (which I
like, YMMV) and it just works!

cheers

andrew_s

>
> As I've not got the same pedal set up as you I can't really offer much
> direct experience, except to say that I had terrible problems with a
> Behringer digital reverb pedal which was only solved when I bought a
> psu from Johhnyshredfreak.  This is the same PSU as the one used by
> our tame chimp  Mr Gomm.  From what you describe I'm confident that
> the PSU is the weakness and it's got nothing to do with the other
> pedals you're using.    I also bought a bunch of daisy chain leads
> when I bought the PSU and my pedal board now works fine.
>
> From my experience I do think that digital delays and digital reverbs
> are really picky about being fed a diet of very smooth regulated
> volts.
>
> Try a PSU from johnnyshredfreak. I'd tried loads of others, and spent
> a load of money in the process, before I foud his.  They really are
> excellent.  Shaped like a laptop PC PSU witha detachable lead (which I
> like, YMMV) and it just works!
>
> cheers
>
> andrew_s
>

Yep - I think I'll do just that, via mail-order tomorrow. Their plug-in 
mains lead approach is another plus for me as I'm based in France, so can 
choose which lead I use according to whether I'm here or in the UK.

Until that arrives I'm going to revert to the Ross unit, which has served me 
well with no problems, apart from looking a bit clunky.

Thanks all!

RM

"Al"  wrote in message 
news:Xns9A97D2EA8C174alnews67hotmailcom@130.133.1.4...
>> After years of using a Ross-branded PSU (yes, I know, but it worked
>> and it was quiet)
>
> Actually, those old Ross PSUs were fantastic. I still have one here for
> 'demanding' applications. Good, solid, sadly bulky, reliable stuff.
>
>> So, is the DD2 particularly picky about PSUs?
>
> Yes.
>
> Even worse is the Behringer reverb pedal. Apparently ;-)
>
> I play with a lot of pedals (current collection was 60 last time I
> counted), and I've found a few that are really seriously paranoid about
> external PSUs. If you find something that works, stick with it.
>
> Al.

My Behringher reverb DR100 works Ok with the BOSS pedalboard PSU.

Andrew