Wampler Terraform Noise.

[Rush Chairman]

Does anyone else possible have any experience with this particular pedal? It has this really cool patching ability that lets it run effects in the front or the back of the back of the amp, but I'm getting a few issues.

This is just a longshot and I will elaborate much much further if someone thinks they can give me a hand on this one. I'm actually thinking it may be an issue with my power supply, and certain pedals not playing with others in this particular setup. Thanks in advance.

 

[PFDarkside]

I had a response typed, having issues with the forum. Detail your setup.

 

[PFDarkside]

To begin, use just the Terraform in front of the amp using a decent, single power supply. If you are getting noise in this case we’ll have to dig deeper. If not, set it up as pre/post with your effects loop and see if there is noise. If no noise, then continue by adding a single pedal at a time.

Depending on when the noise begins it will determine the issue and the resolution. It could be your power supply, it could be the interaction of the pedal with other pedals or it could be a ground loop from the effects loop.

 

[Rush Chairman]

Mesa Mark 5/25, tubes are fine, amp is practically brand new.

This setup is so hard to describe, I don't know where to start. From guitar, I hit an EHX crayon, then a Keeley Darkside. Those both hit the front end of the amp through that split that it does. The only thing after that is an older TC Nova and it's in the fox loop.

DC Power Brick, and all cables are George L and are just fine. Like, if you look at the pre/post effects loop setup for the Terraform, the only difference is the Darkside right after the crayon.

Switch is set to Pre/post, but I keep getting phantom effect noises from the Wampler. It's confusing the crap out of me, honestly.

 

[PFDarkside]

Three things:

1. Can you clarify this statement?

“Those both hit the front of the amp through the split that it does”

2. Is your signal as follows:
Guitar -> Crayon -> Darkside -> Terraform -> amp input
Amp FX Send -> Terraform -> Nova -> Amp FX Return

3. Is the DC Brick the old, non isolated one?

 

[Rush Chairman]

The routing options on this thing are insane. I don't really know any other way to explain it. You'd just have to look at Wamoler shows to run it in pre/post setting.

All I'm going to do is sound stupid trying to explain how this thing works. I'm just going to get rid of the terraform. All the issues are coming from it.

 

[PFDarkside]

The routing options on this thing are insane. I don't really know any other way to explain it. You'd just have to look at Wamoler shows to run it in pre/post setting.

All I'm going to do is sound stupid trying to explain how this thing works. I'm just going to get rid of the terraform. All the issues are coming from it.

I’m familiar with the Routing, I use a Mobius which does the same thing. There are really only two main routings for it, stereo or pre/post and they aren’t that complex. Please detail your signal chain.

I will admit I am a Wampler fanboy. So I want it to work for you.

If your signal routing is correct it could be the DC brick if it’s the old, non-isolated one. If it’s the new iso-brick, it should be fine.

 

[devastone]

Yes, sometimes using the same non-isolate power supply for front of amp and fx loop effects causes ground loop noise.

 

[GuitarStv]

Did you try it straight into the amp with nothing else plugged in and on it's own power supply?

If it's still making noise in that scenario, it's probably broken.

 

[Bogner]

The Terraform is known to have noise issues in the beginning. It is possible you have a bad unit. Warranty would repair or replace if that is the case. The advice and questions offered so far are on par so I can't add anything. Please let us know the chain. We can help.

 

[Rush Chairman]

I think a couple of you are dead on. It's just a noisy pedal, and yes Darkside, that's exactly how I had it ran. My Brick is the newish isolated power supply, and the Nova runs in it's own separate 12v wall wort.

I've tried it everyway you can over the last couple of days and there is less phantom effect noise when in the fx loop all alone, but as soon as you switch to the dirt channel, it amplifies all of that noise. The noise is like a clicking if it's on trem, or you hear a whooshing noise if it's on chorus or flange or something.

It's a shame that I can't get it to quiet down. The fx sound amazing, but I can't handle that noise. My OCDs won't allow it. Maybe I'll look into that Mobius.

Thanks for trying to help though. I really appreciate you guys helping troubleshoot MY issue. Maybe I can return the favor sometime.

 

[Bogner]

Hopefully you can return the pedal and get something else. The Mobius is a wonderful pedal if you do go that route. Good luck!