Quote:
Originally Posted by jascha  yes, this does happen at a few venues consistently. but it also seems happen anywhere I play.
"from the lights" is what I've been told by several different sound guys, and a couple of other musicians.
(these are cans or LED lights hung up above the stage pointing directly at us)
it seems to be borne out because I've noticed during soundchecks that the amount of hum is reduced if I'm not facing the lights directly; if I turn a little sideways or all the way around.
but I'm certainly no expert on lights or sound frequencies, and it could be something entirely different. I hope it is, it might have an easier solution.
my setup is simplicity; I generally am just running my acoustic through a DI.
if it is just some 60 cycle hum, how do I filter that out? |
Actually, the lights (unless they're fluorescent or HMI or some other ballast-dependent fixture) are not the problem. The dimmers are the problem... especially if the audio and the lights are on the same leg of power and/or the ground is inadequate.
One possible solution: run your Fishman through a short (3m or less) well-shielded instrument cable (you might also make or have made for you a cable with the shield lifted from the connector that plugs up into the guitar) into a good DI (Radial's $99 passive would be the lower end of that spectrum) and then to the console. If the DI's ground lift removes the buzz, you're good. If you play venues with cheap DIs, invest in a Radial. If the problem persists, it's likely a bad shield/ground in the pickup or its jack.
Second possible solution: Borrow a decent preamp with a DI function and take it to the place you have the problem. Use a short, well-shielded cable from the guitar, and see if the problem persists. If it does, it's likely a bad shield/ground in the pickup or its jack.
If it's the "bad shield/ground in the pickup or its jack", the only thing for it is to get that checked out by a competent repair person.
Or, of you have $400 and want a really nice, natural guitar sound, investigate the DPA line of mini-mics on mini-booms. All it takes is phantom power... see:
DPA Microphones :: Microphone Guide