Avoiding Hum with Clean Power and DI Boxes
Few things ruin a good recording faster than an electrical hum. Whether you’re recording an organ performance, synthesiser session, or live narration for a video, unwanted noise can creep in from power lines, lighting circuits, or poor grounding. At Philip M Russell Ltd, where we work with everything from vintage church organs to modern Wersi and synth systems, keeping the signal clean is a constant priority.
Where the Hum Comes From
That persistent 50 Hz or 60 Hz hum usually comes from:
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Ground loops — when two pieces of equipment share multiple earth connections through different power paths.
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Unbalanced connections — long cable runs acting like antennas.
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Mains interference — fluorescent lights, dimmers, and power supplies leaking noise into the system.
Even the cleanest digital setup can suffer if analogue audio or lighting shares a noisy circuit.
Clean Power First
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Use a power conditioner to filter out noise from the mains supply.
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Keep audio gear and lighting on separate circuits when possible.
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Use surge protection to shield sensitive devices from voltage spikes.
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In portable setups, battery power often gives the quietest results.
Enter the DI Box
A Direct Injection (DI) box converts unbalanced signals (like keyboards, organs, or guitars) into balanced ones — protecting against hum and interference.
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Passive DI boxes work well for most instruments and short runs.
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Active DI boxes (powered by battery or phantom power) are ideal for low-level sources or long cables.
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Ground lift switches break problematic loops without compromising safety.
At Philip M Russell Ltd, we route every keyboard and organ through DI boxes before the mixer. The difference is immediate — a quieter, clearer signal that sits perfectly in the mix.
The Takeaway
Great sound starts before the microphone. By using clean power, balanced connections, and proper DI boxes, you remove hum at the source instead of trying to fix it later.
The result is professional, noise-free audio — ready for broadcast, performance, or teaching videos — every single time.
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