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Projects => Tech Help - Projects Page => Topic started by: Cortexturizer on February 23, 2016, 10:21:12 PM

Title: Sunking + Harbinger One = annoying whine when both are ON
Post by: Cortexturizer on February 23, 2016, 10:21:12 PM
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B--6F_4JB7SYZTlCcU93MmhtT1k/view?usp=sharing

You can here how it sounds. It's in the rate of the rate of my Harbinger's LFO.

Now, this only happens when I am in the normal component values of the Klon (Sunking). I have a switch that takes me to a component change, the 390pf from the feedback loop gets changed with a 47pf. I've stumbled at this by accident and I can't live without that sound, it makes so much difference to me. Brian explained it best:

(http://i.imgur.com/FqYSaRL.png)

So, when in this mode (C8 = 47pF) I get oscilations and whine like on the soundclip. When not (c8=390pf) - I get no whine.

What I want is to somehow remedy this. Any ideas? I gotta resolve this, I just love using them together and I can't get away from the C8=47pf sound.

Help!
Title: Re: Sunking + Harbinger One = annoying whine when both are ON
Post by: madbean on February 23, 2016, 11:11:00 PM
How are you powering the HB One? Is it a charge pump...are you using the same 9v supply as the Sunking?
Title: Re: Sunking + Harbinger One = annoying whine when both are ON
Post by: Cortexturizer on February 23, 2016, 11:27:01 PM
The Harbinger is powered by the charge pump, and I've tried putting the pedals at separate power supplies and it was the same thing. The Harbinger is in a 2in1 which also has RobA's Hyperbolic fuzz in there. Just sayin. Shouldn't matter though, I think.
Title: Re: Sunking + Harbinger One = annoying whine when both are ON
Post by: madbean on February 24, 2016, 12:34:46 AM
Last questions before making a suggestion: does the noise happen regardless of your gain setting on the SK or is it present no matter what? Lastly, does the noise happen if the HBOne is off and just the SK on?
Title: Re: Sunking + Harbinger One = annoying whine when both are ON
Post by: Cortexturizer on February 24, 2016, 07:58:52 AM
Yes, regardless of the gain level, and it doesn't help that I max the gain...
No, it happens only when both are on, when only one of them is on all is fine and no noise is heard no matter the settings on each pedal.
Title: Re: Sunking + Harbinger One = annoying whine when both are ON
Post by: Cortexturizer on February 24, 2016, 10:46:05 PM
Just bumping this :-D

I also get a weird behavior with my Sunking when there is a germanium diode in there, it starts chopping the sound like a tremolo but only on the fattest notes, I'll do a sound sample of that as well, it's pretty crazy, almost cool haha.
Title: Re: Sunking + Harbinger One = annoying whine when both are ON
Post by: Cortexturizer on March 13, 2016, 02:39:07 PM
(http://cdn1.theodysseyonline.com/files/2015/05/05/635664015525986753-2064323277_DogBegging21.jpg)
Title: Re: Sunking + Harbinger One = annoying whine when both are ON
Post by: drolo on March 14, 2016, 02:45:24 PM
If you are going Harbinger -> Sunking, it sounds like the Harbinger is carrying some of its charge pump's switching frequency in the audio (it is also using a charge pump, right?)

I guess you could try to tame the high frequencies somehow.
Perhaps try adding some lowpass filtering after the Harbinger or at the input stage of the Sunking.

Charge pumps sometimes are the devil ...

Title: Re: Sunking + Harbinger One = annoying whine when both are ON
Post by: Cortexturizer on March 14, 2016, 03:04:04 PM
Thanks drolo! Yeah, it has to be something like that. I was hoping Brian could try and answer because he had designed both boards and probably would have some ideas on what could be done here. I'll wait as much as it's needed, but guys please don't mind the occasional topic bump :D

In the Harbinger I think I have LT1054 and an ICL7660SCPA in the Sunking.
Title: Re: Sunking + Harbinger One = annoying whine when both are ON
Post by: drolo on March 14, 2016, 03:34:52 PM
Perhaps you can try strapping a cap in parallel with the Harbinger's volume pot. Try a few different values and see if it makes a difference (and also if it does not affect the treble in the audio too much). Basing the calculation on the 47k coming from the effected signal, 470pF should give you a cutoff of about 7kHz. There is a (good) chance I am calculating this wrong  but you can always start from there and see what happens :-)
Title: Re: Sunking + Harbinger One = annoying whine when both are ON
Post by: midwayfair on March 14, 2016, 06:25:31 PM
Put a 1054 in the Sunking. See if it makes a difference at all. Also try running the Harbinger on 9V or on an 18V adapter (REMOVE THE PUMP FIRST. Then jumper the appropriate pins in the socket). (Yes, the bulb won't work at 9V. The object is to figure out if the charge pump is the problem.)

You can increase the filter caps in the power supply for both pedals if you suspect it's power supply noise. Better than filtering the audio path, which isn't what's causing the issue.

It's also hypothetically possible that the audio path IS the problem. You say this happens when you change something in the Sunking, which alters some gain characteristics. I think you should audio probe to see where it's introduced. After you determine whether the power supply is the issue, of course.
Title: Re: Sunking + Harbinger One = annoying whine when both are ON
Post by: Cortexturizer on March 15, 2016, 01:32:29 AM
Only had time to try out lt1054 in the sunking - no change.
I'll try the other stuff tomorrow.
Title: Re: Sunking + Harbinger One = annoying whine when both are ON
Post by: Cortexturizer on March 18, 2016, 12:40:00 AM
Tried the no charge pump aproach and running the harbinger on 9v - no whine. So it has to be the pump somehow or my power supply right? I use the one spot and it is uber silent with EVERY pedal. What to try next?
Title: Re: Sunking + Harbinger One = annoying whine when both are ON
Post by: midwayfair on March 18, 2016, 01:33:09 PM
Quote from: Cortexturizer on March 18, 2016, 12:40:00 AM
Tried the no charge pump aproach and running the harbinger on 9v - no whine. So it has to be the pump somehow or my power supply right? I use the one spot and it is uber silent with EVERY pedal. What to try next?

First thing I would try is an LT1054 in the Sunking -- put another LT back in the Harbinger.

You can also try increasing the power supply filtering before and after the charge pumps.
Title: Re: Sunking + Harbinger One = annoying whine when both are ON
Post by: Cortexturizer on March 18, 2016, 02:26:21 PM
Yeah I did try LT in the Sunking so there was two LTs in the equaion at that time, no change. I guess I'm gonna try the caps increase next.
Bummer.
Title: Re: Sunking + Harbinger One = annoying whine when both are ON
Post by: midwayfair on March 18, 2016, 06:20:36 PM
Have you also tried running both off of two separate 9V adapter (i.e., two one-spots)?

The trouble is there are many things that can cause the noise, and many places it could be leaking into the audio.
Title: Re: Sunking + Harbinger One = annoying whine when both are ON
Post by: Cortexturizer on March 18, 2016, 07:57:04 PM
I think I have, and that it didn't matter at all. I do own two one spots.

I also have an SKB pedalboard which has many outlets and actually has the quietest power I've ever used, the whole board is dead quiet and all of the outlets are completely isolated, it truly is fantastic. I didn't try using that, perhaps those are better and don't introduce whine. I'll try that as well and report here.
Title: Re: Sunking + Harbinger One = annoying whine when both are ON
Post by: Strassercaster on March 28, 2016, 07:34:15 PM
if the sunking has a low battery it will whine I thought i fried something once and it was a low battery ha ha.. If you used a 1044 not 1044max it could whine if you used a 7660cpaz instead of a 7660scpaz thats probably the problem i went through all this last year with the sunking and a mercury box i built. I highly reccomend using the 7660Scpaz the ones without the s have a different  clock frequency and thats what causes the whistling.Use a 1054lt,7660Scpaz or a 1044 maxx all other variants  like 1044(nonmax)
will whine more than likely. what exactly did you use? It is possiblle you got a bad chip or damaged the one your using they are vulnerable to shocks and mishaps. You can get 10 7660scpaz on aliexpress for less than 2 dollars free shipping. I have about 30 of these if you want ill send you free to help.