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  #1  
Old 09-17-2020, 03:09 PM
weshunter weshunter is offline
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Default Tonedexter noise problem - any ideas?

I'm having trouble using my tonedexter in my simple acoustic looping rig. I'm running into a wireless > TD > TC Ditto X2 looper > mixer and I'm getting a weird noise. It sounds like maybe a grounding issue. But when I put the looper in the FX loop of the TD and go XLR into the mixer, there is no noise. The problem with that is that I can't use the boost for solos over the loops. All of this is running off a True Tone CS-6 power supply, so everything is isolated. Any ideas?
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Old 09-17-2020, 03:50 PM
varmonter varmonter is offline
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Did you try it with a cord instead
Of wireless. ?
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Old 09-17-2020, 04:22 PM
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James May James May is offline
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If you take TD out of your scenario that is causing the noise, does the noise go away?
wireless >> TC Ditto X2 looper > mixer
If not, then your looper to mixer connection is suspect. Not sure, but the looper output may not be balanced and that could be your issue into the mixer.
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Old 09-18-2020, 06:26 AM
weshunter weshunter is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by James May View Post
If you take TD out of your scenario that is causing the noise, does the noise go away?
wireless >> TC Ditto X2 looper > mixer
If not, then your looper to mixer connection is suspect. Not sure, but the looper output may not be balanced and that could be your issue into the mixer.

That could be it. I’ll check and see if taking the TD out of the chain fixes it. That would explain why it doesn’t make the noise when the looper in the TD fx loop but does when it’s after the TD.
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Old 09-18-2020, 06:31 AM
weshunter weshunter is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by James May View Post
If you take TD out of your scenario that is causing the noise, does the noise go away?
wireless >> TC Ditto X2 looper > mixer
If not, then your looper to mixer connection is suspect. Not sure, but the looper output may not be balanced and that could be your issue into the mixer.

That was it. Tonedexter had nothing to do with it. Thanks so much! So I’m thinking a direct box should fix it, right?
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Old 09-18-2020, 07:56 AM
shufflebeat shufflebeat is offline
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Put the looper in the FX loop of the TD and use the DI out of the TD.

It's what it's for.
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Old 09-18-2020, 10:44 AM
weshunter weshunter is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shufflebeat View Post
Put the looper in the FX loop of the TD and use the DI out of the TD.

It's what it's for.

Yeah I mentioned in the OP that it works well that way, but that precludes me from using the boost when I solo over the loops.
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Old 09-18-2020, 11:11 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by weshunter View Post
That was it. Tonedexter had nothing to do with it. Thanks so much! So I’m thinking a direct box should fix it, right?
You're welcome. A direct box with balanced output should/could fix the ground loop, yes.
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Old 09-18-2020, 11:21 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by weshunter View Post
Yeah I mentioned in the OP that it works well that way, but that precludes me from using the boost when I solo over the loops.
Yes, I caught that.

You want to record a backing track on your looper, then engage boost to solo over it. Since the boost function is post effects return, engaging boost would also boost the level of the backing track which would not be desirable.

I spent a few minutes trying to find a way for ToneDexter to accommodate your use case, but didn't come up with anything. It's a use case we hadn't anticipated, to be honest. That said, we chose to put the boost post fx loop because a lot of pedals have limited dynamic range and we didn't want expose users to the risk of overdriving their chorus or reverb when engaging boost.
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Old 09-18-2020, 11:45 AM
weshunter weshunter is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by James May View Post
You're welcome. A direct box with balanced output should/could fix the ground loop, yes.

Quote:
Originally Posted by James May View Post
Yes, I caught that.

You want to record a backing track on your looper, then engage boost to solo over it. Since the boost function is post effects return, engaging boost would also boost the level of the backing track which would not be desirable.

I spent a few minutes trying to find a way for ToneDexter to accommodate your use case, but didn't come up with anything. It's a use case we hadn't anticipated, to be honest. That said, we chose to put the boost post fx loop because a lot of pedals have limited dynamic range and we didn't want expose users to the risk of overdriving their chorus or reverb when engaging boost.
Oh wow, you're the guy who makes these things?!? I didn't catch that. Well, kudos on this product, definitely the best sounding direct solution for acoustic I've ever tried. I got one of those Slate ML2 mics to make my wave map and it really sounds great.

And thanks for replying to this thread! Man, that's awesome.

If it were possible to choose where to put the loop, that would be cool. But this workaround with the direct box should be fine for me. Honestly, it's really more of an issue with the Ditto. I should probably find a new looper that has a balanced output anyway.
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  #11  
Old 09-18-2020, 12:44 PM
shufflebeat shufflebeat is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by weshunter View Post
Yeah I mentioned in the OP that it works well that way, but that precludes me from using the boost when I solo over the loops.
Sorry Wes, the dangers of skim reading.
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Old 09-18-2020, 03:40 PM
phcorrigan phcorrigan is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by weshunter View Post
Yeah I mentioned in the OP that it works well that way, but that precludes me from using the boost when I solo over the loops.
Maybe a separate boost pedal will solve your problem:
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...ni-boost-pedal
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Old 09-18-2020, 08:31 PM
weshunter weshunter is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by phcorrigan View Post
Maybe a separate boost pedal will solve your problem:
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...ni-boost-pedal


Yeah that might work too. If the direct box doesn't fix it, I'll probably grab one of the pedals from my electric board to use for boost.
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  #14  
Old 09-19-2020, 08:24 AM
shufflebeat shufflebeat is offline
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There are few problems that can't be solved by a Boss ge7. You can not only boost you can also tailor what it is you're boosting. This also has a decent input impedance for folks with passive systems.

That would also avoid buying a DI box and duplicating what you already have.
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  #15  
Old 09-20-2020, 07:23 PM
weshunter weshunter is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shufflebeat View Post
There are few problems that can't be solved by a Boss ge7. You can not only boost you can also tailor what it is you're boosting. This also has a decent input impedance for folks with passive systems.

That would also avoid buying a DI box and duplicating what you already have.

That’s a good idea. Plus I was kinda thinking of getting one for my electric pedalboard anyway.

For what it’s worth I used the direct box today, seemed to solve the problem.

But now I am kinda thinking a GE7 makes sense.
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