Has anyone seen this behavior?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7iDRHwVDTw
This only happens sometimes. I happens at home and in some of the venues I played this summer. I often goes away as soon a I plug the D.I in, though. But not always. Sometimes I just have to switch to a different power outlet. This is extremely annoying.
What's most annoying is that this doesn't happen in the store where I picked it up, nor in the service shop.
What to do?
Johan, Sweden
Phatty with own will
Re: Phatty with own will
The behavior occurs when the Phatty is plug into an outlet that is not well grounded. Or if something in the signal chain (effect, ect.) is not well grounded and the Phatty is, the device in the chain will ground through the Phatty.
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Johanivansson
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Mon Sep 12, 2011 9:24 am
Re: Phatty with own will
Very interesting.
So... When I'm at home this occurs, which makes it impossible to use it there.
I just moved, but I had this at my old place as well. When I set the rig
up yesterday this was the chain: phatty, pedalboard (with one power supply), sound interface. I also had a USB cable between my laptop and the phatty. I tried pulling the USB, going past the pedalboard and other stuff, but all the knobs were "turning". The only thing that worked was phatty into the interface, USB to computer (with no power supply)
Is there any way to solve this (external devices or anything)? Is this a defect or do all phattys do this?
So... When I'm at home this occurs, which makes it impossible to use it there.
I just moved, but I had this at my old place as well. When I set the rig
up yesterday this was the chain: phatty, pedalboard (with one power supply), sound interface. I also had a USB cable between my laptop and the phatty. I tried pulling the USB, going past the pedalboard and other stuff, but all the knobs were "turning". The only thing that worked was phatty into the interface, USB to computer (with no power supply)
Is there any way to solve this (external devices or anything)? Is this a defect or do all phattys do this?
Re: Phatty with own will
mine did this.
initially, the only way i could fix it was to disconnect the laptop power supply, or disconnect the USB MIDI (standard MIDI worked ok) and the Audio out. basically isolate it from the laptop ground, as this was the source of the problem.
the solution that worked for me was to earth the Audio Interface Chassis. I got a 3-pin power plug, wired in just an earth wire to the earth pin and connected the other end of the wire to the earth point on the chassis of the Audio interface (I have an Edirol FA-101 and it has an earth point on the back). I plug the 3 pin plug into the power board i use for all my gear.
no problems now.
<add some disclaimer here regarding the danger of doing stuff with mains power wiring - at your own risk>
initially, the only way i could fix it was to disconnect the laptop power supply, or disconnect the USB MIDI (standard MIDI worked ok) and the Audio out. basically isolate it from the laptop ground, as this was the source of the problem.
the solution that worked for me was to earth the Audio Interface Chassis. I got a 3-pin power plug, wired in just an earth wire to the earth pin and connected the other end of the wire to the earth point on the chassis of the Audio interface (I have an Edirol FA-101 and it has an earth point on the back). I plug the 3 pin plug into the power board i use for all my gear.
no problems now.
<add some disclaimer here regarding the danger of doing stuff with mains power wiring - at your own risk>
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Johanivansson
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Mon Sep 12, 2011 9:24 am
Re: Phatty with own will
Ok, cool.
Will try and find something that works for me. I know very little about electricity, and the Swedish plugs don't look like yours.
My interface has no ground (Tascam us-144).
But is it supposed to be like this, or is there something wrong with it?
Will try and find something that works for me. I know very little about electricity, and the Swedish plugs don't look like yours.
My interface has no ground (Tascam us-144).
But is it supposed to be like this, or is there something wrong with it?
Re: Phatty with own will
Hi,
I had the same problem as you. It was a problem of ground loop, due to the USB hub where the audio interface is plugged.
On my side, I fixed it by:
- using DIN cables instead of USB for midi (DIN plugs are isolated, USB are not)
- placing a D.I. box, with ground lift, between the phatty and the audio interface.
- always having the laptop plugged.
Now, it works well.
Apparently, another solution would be to find an isolated USB hub or an USB isolator.
good luck.
I had the same problem as you. It was a problem of ground loop, due to the USB hub where the audio interface is plugged.
On my side, I fixed it by:
- using DIN cables instead of USB for midi (DIN plugs are isolated, USB are not)
- placing a D.I. box, with ground lift, between the phatty and the audio interface.
- always having the laptop plugged.
Now, it works well.
Apparently, another solution would be to find an isolated USB hub or an USB isolator.
good luck.