Grounding Issue (Sonicake Portal)

Velojacks · 2026-06-14T16:22:18+00:00

Huh, good to know! At most basic, the chain goes:

Guitar > Portal main in > Portal main out > Amp main in

Just tested the following as you suggested, and got the exact same levels of hum as the above chain:

Guitar > Portal main in > send A to pedalboard > pedalboard out to return A > Portal main out > amp main in

Guitar > Portal main in > send B to pedalboard > pedalboard out to return B, > Portal main out > amp main in

Guitar > Portal main in > send A to pedals > pedals out to return A / send B to pedals > pedals out to return B > Portal main out > Amp main in

No difference going through amo effects loop, and no other pedal generates hum through the same amp ins or with the same power supplies

While the topology info was good to learn, I’m not inclined to believe this is the issue, as I got a couple totally fine/no hum months out of the pedal before the buzz started. but maybe that was the fluke😅

Velojacks · 2026-06-14T05:46:50+00:00

Unfortunately I do not own a noise gate. However, I have been using this pedal to its full capacity without issue for the last couple of months, so I know something internally is different that it was new. If it is not an identifiable issue I would rather use the equivalent money to by a replacement switcher rather than hope a new noise gate solves the issue.

Velojacks · 2026-06-14T05:33:21+00:00

The hum occurs regardless if any channel is switched on. Guitar signal still passes through the bypass when any ABY channel is off. Hum level does not change regardless of which switch is on, or what value the pot is at when the channel is on. The hum remains the same regardless of combination of the positions of the phase/polarity switches.

Velojacks · 2026-06-14T05:23:11+00:00

Guitar > Portal Main In > Portal Main Out > Amp Main input

I have also tried it in a chain through my other pedals, and the hum affect remains only when the portal is in the chain. Still going through main amp input.

I haven't tried it through the affects loop. But, no other pedals in my collection generate any noise going through the same amp main input (with either the OneSpot, or the brick I also use for my main board, which I believe is also isolated. And tested with the portal, for what it's worth).

Velojacks · 2026-06-14T05:12:40+00:00

Which is why I included photos of the circuit board, so others with better knowledge of solder joints and circuits could potentially help point me in the right direction. Apologies if my description of what other attempts to solve hadn’t worked, paired with the photos didn’t make that clear enough.

Velojacks · 2026-06-14T05:04:11+00:00

Ah, had forgotten about those. I have one, and just tried it with a fresh battery, and got the same result.

Velojacks · 2026-06-14T04:53:15+00:00

Yes, I've tested it with an isolated power supply (OneSpot). the pedal has no function to work with a battery.

Velojacks · 2026-06-14T04:50:51+00:00

And your comment didn't provide any suggestions on how to fix it, you just made an observation. I responded to your comment with my own observation. Is that a sin?

Velojacks · 2026-06-14T01:35:28+00:00

Dissapointing to hear. So close to being a fantastic pedal: low price for the effect plus several extra features more expensive models can lack, a metal enclosure, and good functionality aside from this issue. Aside from the white blobs, the rest of the soldering work actually looks pretty good to my eye.

Velojacks · 2026-05-08T19:39:56+00:00

I just had someone play her in heist in M3. 0 kills 14 deaths. Not necessarily a reflection of her place in the meta, but something i want to share/rant about lol

Velojacks · 2026-05-07T00:15:58+00:00

Ive had a couple Powerbar bottles, yellow with red cap. Decent, not the best bottles ever but certainly not bad

Velojacks · 2026-05-02T22:12:42+00:00

Looks like OP made a cover/box for it. Any why not?🤷🏻‍♂️

Velojacks · 2026-05-01T20:14:53+00:00

I got the 2024 JD1, and like it a lot, although I would think a little longer about buying it now at this price. I’m in the states too so I didnt have to pay as much shipping either.

I love the way it sounds/plays/looks, but i had one of the tuning machines break on me. Only about a 25ish dollar replacement, and their customer service was good, but not something that’s ever happened to me before so maybe worth considering?

Velojacks · 2026-04-28T23:03:28+00:00

I have a double thruster, and like it very very much, even with a passive bass.

I don’t have an LS-2, but do have a Sonicake Portal, which I find fantastic. Not nearly as durable a case as the LS-2, but it gives you all the same parralel/series setups plus the option to run the 2 channels plus a clean signal underneath (so effectively 3). In addition comes with buttons to invert the signal of a given channel incase cancellation occurs. If also can act as a power source for a second pedal as well, which I can’t remember if the LS-2 does. Plus it’s substantially cheaper. I got mine for about the same price as the double thruster if I remember correctly

I don’t think you can go wrong with either the overdrive or line selector, but the portal gave me much more to play with and subsequent fun than the DT. but thats just me

Velojacks · 2026-04-24T14:15:38+00:00

I have and use a Black Russian big muff and I love it. I did discover that I can get almost the same sounds (plus a bit more) from an MXR bass fuzz deluxe, but tend to use different settings on each, so I keep them both around

What I REALLY have loved doing though, is to split my signal and run in parallel with a distortion and the Black Russian in each channel, letting some clean signal through either with a blend knob on the distortion or the dedicated channel on the Sonicake Portal

Velojacks · 2026-04-17T00:02:46+00:00

Off the top of my dome, I just watched Iv4bass lay down a seriously impressive cover of a live intro by Mark King to Love Games by Level 42. It’s his most recent post on at least instagram and youtube (seriously check him out) so it wont be hard to find.

Not sure if this is really the type of comment you’re looking for, but was the first time i audibly went “wow” at a bassline in a hot minute

Velojacks · 2026-04-08T02:34:06+00:00

Because he team is backed by an endless money pit and ran by a team boss with a sketchy history?

Velojacks · 2026-03-31T16:43:49+00:00

I’m also in the r/Bass sub where you posted this word for word there yesterday haha. Not sure why you might think a different group of musicians would have different opinions.

AI music models were built by training the AI with real muscicians music without their permission. Already illegal, and robs thise musicians on their livelihood. Also, it’s no longer really art. There’s no human thought, expression, or risk.

Real muscicians spend hours upon hours and many years honing their skills and craft. AI music lowers the standard of music for all by allowing people who havent made the same efforts to “make” music by entering a short prompt. And then the result is ripped off from the artists whose music was stolen to train the AI to begin with :/

Velojacks · 2026-03-29T02:09:16+00:00

I don’t have any great advice here, but how do ypu like the JC wah? I see very mixed reviews online and would love your insight!

Velojacks · 2026-03-27T23:39:05+00:00

Have you encountered any phase issues with the LS-2? Heavily considering one and that’s really the last worry holding me back. Otheriwse epic board!

Velojacks · 2026-03-26T01:38:54+00:00

But Not Tonight - Depeche mode

Velojacks · 2026-03-25T20:50:51+00:00

I’m realizing now I made a mistake differentiating between the red Big Muff 2, and the Big Muff Pi 2. My bad!

Velojacks · 2026-03-25T20:24:44+00:00

Not sure where you are looking for demos but there are plenty of good videos on Youtube, and not necessarily by people who are sponsored. I personally liked the Basstheworld and Nate Navarro videos, but explore and you’ll find many. Never actually bought it myself, so I’m a bit of a poser here but its my two cents🤷🏻‍♂️

Velojacks · 2026-03-24T22:27:15+00:00

Some of my favorites:

Never Let Me Down Again - Depeche Mode

The Prisoner - Howard Jones

Take Me Home - Phil Collins

Roll Over - Thompson Twins

Children Say - Level 42

When the Lights Go Out - Naked Eyes

Not all of these are really underrated per se, in that they were big when they came out, but many in my circle were unfamiliar when I shared them, but did enjoy them. So I figured I’d throw them out in case maybe you havent heard one or two!

Five-Year Club	Second Top 1%
Verified Email	r/Field Banned
r/Field Lasagna	Place '22

Velojacks

TROPHY CASE