Analogue systems

Wow. 20dB is a lot and that's doesn't sound normal.  Let me ask you a silly
but obvious question - what's your input level like?  if it's way up there,
you could be making matters worse and this could account for both the hiss
and crackling problem.  The crackling could also just be a dirty pot which
can be fixed with a bit of pot cleaning spray.

Is the noise there with no input?

I have heard comments before about modules that cause distortion if turned
up too high, saying that that was a problem.  While it's all up to opinion,
mine is it's preferable that modules CAN distort if you want them to, that
they have the 'turned up to 11' feature inherent in their design - as long
as it can be made quiet and sweet as well.

- P