PS2 squealing artifacts

Stage & Studio Power Station PS-2
1

I have a PS2; using it with my Bludotone DK30 in order to push the master on the amp to around noon. I have the preamp section fairly clean. I notice with my overdrive pedals, some more than others, and particularly when I step on modulation (a Thorpy Camouflage) I get extremely unpleasant artifact sounds. It’s so bad, I finally quit using the PS-2, but I really need the master up to get the output tubes cooking.

Any suggestions on this?

It seems to be triggered by drive pedals and especially modulation pedals.

I’ve tried using both the high and low output, keeping the switches on ‘flat’, turning the presence down, etc.

Getting really frustrated and any help is greatly appreciated. I’m surprised the website doesn’t have a ‘contact us’ option to reach out directly to someone at the company for specific help.

Cheers and thanks

2

Do you get the same artifacts when the master on the amp is up without using the power station?

3

No. The amp sounds great. It’s a Bludotone. It’s only 30 watts, but to get it to sound really good, I need the master at noon, and then it’s really loud, even for band practice.

With the ps2, I set the master at noon and the preamp section pretty clean, like 9 o’clock.

As soon as I add gain pedals or modulation it gets this squealy artifacty noise.

4

Likely a ground loop, I’d guess through the effects power supplies.

You need to isolate one of the inputs with a transformer (passive DI box usually works), which particular input will vary based upon what the actual cause of the loop is.

5

My effects run through a Gigrig G3 and are powered by a CIOKS DC-7. I am about 99% sure that wouldn’t be the problem. Also, it definitely doesn’t sound like a ground loop hum. It’s a weird artifact sound. Doesn’t Freyette have actual tech support that I can reach out to?

I really appreciate the community of support and your help on this board, but I would think for such and expensive item, the company itself would offer tech support.

I am sure I heard this problem come up before somewhere, although I don’t remember where or when and Freyette had a comment about how to address the issue.

This is causing me to not be able to use the PS-2 and I really need it for that particular amp, as well as my 5E3.

Thanks Paul,

Phoenix

6

Not all ground loops cause hum. They can also cause interference, which can often present as “weird artifacts” especially with time-based effects.

Could you describe the sound in a bit more detail, or attach a recording or video to show the exact phenomenon?

Can you isolate the particular effects that cause the issue? Try unplugging each one at a time, and see if it goes away or lessens. Unplug it from both the signal path - you could leave it plugged into the switcher, actually - and the power supply.

And yes, it has come up before, and the solution was the same - it is almost certainly a ground loop, and it requires isolating the offending signal path. It can happen even with high-quality isolated supplies - and the switcher makes it MORE likely, not less, because it provides additional paths to ground.

You have a ton of places for loops to occur in the rig you describe - you have the switcher, effects before the amp, the amp itself, and the effects in the loop of the PS-2. The switcher is sharing a ground point across your effects in front and in the loop.

Any pedal that isn’t behaving nicely - and a lot don’t, with floating grounds and other such things - can cause this. Klon[e]s in particular are notorious for it, due to the charge pump in its power supply, which often interferes with clock signals on delays and such.

This isn’t an issue with the PS-2, per se, but with your rig in particular. It is almost certainly something other than the Power Station actually causing the issue, but it is common enough - even with simple effects loops.

I am trying to help, but you haven’t given me quite enough information.

7

Now I understand. I’m sorry for sounding unappreciative.

Everything you’re saying makes sense. And I have a Klon.

I’ll follow the steps you suggest and I’ll also start by plugging straight into the amp with no pedals. Just guitar and ps2 and amp. And see how that sounds.

Then do the troubleshooting.

And yes, I do appreciate your expertise and help.

Phoenix