M-Bass-M Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 I have the aforementioned pedal, and one of the things that I have noticed is that it appears to generate a significant level of noise in my signal chain. I can't imagine this to be normal, so is it likely that this venerable unit has some sort of default? Cheers Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wally Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 Is it the first pedal in your chain? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M-Bass-M Posted March 27, 2013 Author Share Posted March 27, 2013 Almost, only a tuner in front of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wally Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 Can't see the tuner introducing noise but try without if you haven't already. Other questions, sorry - Are your basses actives? Are you volume knob on the bass on full type? Are you boosting the Eq knobs on the basses, especially treble, past their midway point? On the pedal are you turning up the High compression knob past the quarter point or the EQ balance past flat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fionn Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 Hmmm. Mine is really quiet, as was another that I had. I wouldn't say that unwanted noise was an inherant problem with the SMX. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 I heard they could get noisy when you use fairly heavy compression, that was one thing that put me off getting one myself since my ratio is set to infinity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M-Bass-M Posted March 28, 2013 Author Share Posted March 28, 2013 Wally - I have an active bass, as I've been testing the fx chain I've had the volume on full but eq flat. Essentially the reason why I suspect the smx as being excessively noisy is because when I remove it from my fx chain, then the noise essentially disappears, and high-gain distortion fx later in the chain sound a lot less noisy. Note that the noise persists even when the smx is in bypass. I'm drawn more and more to concluding that there's something wrong with the unit. Time for a new compressor! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wally Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 It's either a dodgy pedal, they are all old now, or its the gain from your active. Maybe the pick ups are hotter and more 'hi-fi' than the pedal can handle. Which, especially if your using high levels on the high compression side, could be making it hiss loads. The pedal's not a true by pass pedal either. I can only suggest bringing down the volume knob on the bass (boosting the volume on the amp to get the loudness you need) and using little, if any, high compression. Other than that, yeah, time for a new pedal. Check out these reviews - great site: [url="http://www.ovnilab.com/"]http://www.ovnilab.com/[/url] Try to check the pedal with a low output bass and nothing else in the chain because if its not the pedal ie it just can't handle your set up at least you can sell it as a working one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M-Bass-M Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 I've tried playing around with the various volumes along the whole effects chain, but it still seems that the most likely conclusion is that the pedal is probably past it! Wally - really appreciate the help, will certainly check out the website for the next choice in compressor! Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 [quote name='Wally' timestamp='1364506549' post='2027556'] Other than that, yeah, time for a new pedal. Check out these reviews - great site: [url="http://www.ovnilab.com/"]http://www.ovnilab.com/[/url] [/quote] +1 Brilliant website. Thanks to that resource I upgraded my Behringer DC9 to the perfect compressor without having to mess around buying and trying a bunch that didn't do what I wanted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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