NS2 Power Supply Creating Lots of Static

[classicrockguy]

I just purchased a brand new NS2 and have been working with it for about a month. While I am thrilled with the sounds and capabilities, I am not so thrilled with the interference being created by the power supply. I play guitars and keys on stage, and I am unable to get either my PRS electric or my Taylor acoustic anywhere near the NS2 without experiencing tremendous RF noise coming through the electronics of the guitars. I am also having trouble with my Shure IEM body pack picking up what seems to be some of this same interference. I had an Electro years ago, and never had this problem with these very same guitars. I've read numerous posts about the acoustic noise that comes from many Nord power supplies. My NS2 has an audible acoustic hum that I guess is "normal" (not happy about it, and my previous Electro had no hum). However, the RF interference being created by this new NS2 is making it unusable to me. What gives? Has anyone else had this problem? Should I send it back for replacement or should I expect another will do the same thing? It's shocking to me that Nord is putting out high-end stage gear that has this issue.

[Mr_-G-]

Hi, Welcome to the forum. That is a bit odd. Never had any RF interference in my NS2 or heard of other people complaining about it.
Do you get RF without the Shure receiver? And with the Sure but no guitar connected? And guitars only? Do you have the USB cable connected or disconnected at the time?

The transformer hum is not an issue unless you hear in the audio output. Clavia have commented that it is indeed the transformer and they do not consider it a serviceable issue. If it serves of any consolation my JX8P hums a little bit sometimes.

[classicrockguy]

To be clear for testing. NS2 is only connected to ac power. All other devices off to start. Fire up guitar rig and get nasty hum from rig. Turn NS2 off. No hum from the rig other than normal from overdriven guitar signal chain. Turn NS2 back on and get lots of noise. Move guitar closer to NS2 and get huge noise. Overdrive signal chain and it's much worse. Switch to single coil guitar and nearly unplayable. Shut down guitar rig and plug in acoustic guitar to small mixer with headphones. Similar behaviors as electric but not as pronounced. Power up Shure IEMs and interference with reception occurs depending on proximity of body pack to NS2.

This is all gear I have used on stage for years. The only new item is the NS2. My previous Electro did not exhibit any of this problem. I'm convinced there is an issue with the NS2 power supply emitting a bunch of rf or magnetic interference.

[Mr_-G-]

Are you plugging all to the same mains outlet?

[classicrockguy]

Same power conditioner. Also moved everything to another room and different circuit. I do not believe this is any sort of ground loop problem. The NS2 is not even connected to anything but ac power. No audio. No USB. No pedals. Nada.

Been talking with Sweetwater and a US Nord service tech. They both now believe there is an issue with the NS2. Will find out replacement process later today. Bummer.

[hijlko]

I also play guitars and keys (eagles tribute band) and a while ago I had the same issue. Because I have a Line 6 JTV-59 guitar I didn't give it much thought and only use the digital modelling board of the guitar now (this way I don't use the pickups of the guitar). Tomorrow I'll check again with the pickups. If this is the same issue it also applies to the Stage Classic.

[classicrockguy]

Further testing ... hooked everything up to a high-end Honda generator to see if something ugly was entering my house ac. Cleared all cables and ran the guitar directly into the amp which was across the room. Only the guitar rig and the Nord plugged in to the generator ac. Alas, no difference. Power up the Nord, guitar complains loudly. Power off the Nord, guitar is fine. Same when testing the IEM system. Approach the Nord, start having reception problems. Walk away, everything is perfect.

It is clearly the NS2 power supply that is inducing a buzz-saw sounding interference in my other gear when it is within about 1-2 meters of the NS2. Moving further way drops the noise enough that it is tolerable, but it will be pretty hard for me to stand at the NS2 with a guitar on and lean in to a mic without powering down the NS2 every time I play the guitar. Also, there are a couple of numbers in the set where I play both guitar and keys (no, not at the same time ... not that talented). This just isn't going to work if I can't solve the issue with the noise from the Nord.

[MattC]

I have the same issue on my NS2. The hum is always audible, no matter on which place it is used. And using a electric guitar I also noticed a static from the Stage.
I've sent it to my dealer but he sent it back with the statement that this hum is normal and it couldn't be solved... I'm not sure if this is true, since I have used many Keyboards/Synths/Stage Pianos without some hum.
It would be great from Nord if this could be solved. How should I proceed here?

[hijlko]

Checked today with the pickups on my Line 6 James Taylor Variax guitar and also the Nord Stage Classic produces some sort of a electric magnetic interference which is pickud up by the humbuckers and transported into the audio signal of the guitar. When I'm away for more than 30cm from the Nord it is not audible anymore, within these distance the sound increases when moving towards the Nord in front of the keys (this is where the guitar is when playing). The noise is audible when using the front humbucker or the rear humbucker, when using both it is much less noticable. I also moved the guitar around a Yamaha MOXF which does not give any problem.

The conclusion is that the Nord Stage (classic and 2) are producing some sort of electric magnetic interference which can be picked up by other gear. Of course electic guitars are probably the most susceptible instruments for this.

I don't know how to solve this other than to buy a Line 6 guitar and using the digital modelling board in stead of the pick ups. It looks like Nord has some engineering to do on the next models though.

[Mr_-G-]

I said I did not hear about this problems before, but now I realise that I heard a variation of the problem, not with guitars, but with a Rhodes.
http://www.norduserforum.com/viewtopic. ... 10&p=45194
So I tried with a home-made coil connected to the mixer input and I can capture noise, but it has to be too close to the kb (less than ~30cm as mentioned before). The place where the noise is loudest seems to be over the Oscillator red LED display.
Here is what I get, is this what others get with the guitar?:

• RF.mp3

On way round this sort of problem might be to create a Faraday cage (the charge inside a hollow conductor is zero). Not sure if this would work with a guitar (as the thing to enclose in the cage should be the guitar pickup so it does not capture outside noise but still picks up the guitar string vibration. I sounds a bit like an impossibility...

Then I found this photo, is that the power supply? It is more or less located where the noise is loudest.
http://electro-music.com/forum/phpbb-fi ... _2_183.jpg
I wonder what material that cream colour part is. Is it plastic? If so, could that be the part that leaks the noise?

Now, I am NOT suggesting anybody tries what follows because it might be very dangerous. Maybe somebody in the technical know-how has a comment whether the principle makes any sense:
If that is the transformer and the cream section is made of plastic, would covering it with conductive material connected to the rest of the metal box, make a better Faraday cage?

Note that there might be a reason for that design. Using any material (e.g. foil) that could move when the kbd is being transported is likely to end up badly for the instrument and the player, so please DO NOT TRY IT! There might be all sorts of other reasons (temperature, air flow, safety, etc.) why this could be a bad idea.