Wasn’t sure which category to post this in but since this problem is specific to the power station I thought I would post here.
I’m new to the forum, hello!
I recently bought a PS-2 and I’m really loving it. I mostly use it with my Deliverance 60, the PS-2 pretty much allows me to finally use this amp at home, before it was just so loud even with the master down low. I tried hooking it up for the first time with the 4 cable method the other day which is described in this video,
I had a couple different overdrive pedals and a wah pedal before the amp, then I had a delay and reverb in the effects loop of the PS-2, right away I got a high pitched squeal. Some searching lead me to that video which then lead me to the solution which is an isolation transformer. I’ve never used one before and I would like to get one to fix this problem.
Will these color the sound any?
If so is there one that colors the sound less than others? I’d prefer no change at all in the sound if possible.
Welcome to the forum! So, this is a question with quite a few answers and most of us will have a completely different idea of how to do this. I come from the rig building/guitar system design side of things so I am biased towards “how we did it back in the day”.
I use cheap Xicon audio isolation transformers. 10k:10k for input isolation, and 600:600 Ohm for output isolation. These are usually preceded by a buffer.
A perfect example of a system like this in the wild would be the ZMACS “Link Out” jack, buffer, then isolation transformer, then out to the jack. Another example would be something like the Suhr Minimix II. Op Amp buffer running into a relay section (for muting the send) then into isolation transformers before the “send” jack. The signal comes back in through the “return” jack, into an isolation transformer, and then into an audio summing circuit (Op Amp based).
There are a couple of companies that make kind of like rack patch bays with audio isolation (I’ve never used them, so I can’t say which one works or doesn’t). I believe in the video he speaks of a couple of companies offering stand alone audio isolation products as well.
So, in short… There is the DIY method that requires you to dig in and build something. Then, there’s the off the shelf products that you can purchase and they should just work. I believe he mentions Pyle and Behringer in the video.
So for 4CM ground loop squeal I got the Pyle Phe300, it worked as far as squeal but took the top and bottom off my tone. I then got the Lehle IP-ISO and it works perfectly. All good, squeal free and no noticable tone loss.
I normally recommend a good buffer and isolation. I have recommended Axess Electronics for a long time. The Compatt buffer and Uno iso box are great units but they have a lot more options now. Take a look at their website and you’ll see a whole group of products for doing this.
