How to get rid of digital noise coming across on your audio on your synthesizer/DAW setup!

Are you fighting digital noise coming from your synthesizer when you have it connected to your audio interface and your computer via USB? Does the noise go away when you disconnect the USB connector from your synth? Here is the answer you have been looking for!

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[thejazzyfox]

This is a very specific problem and you laid out a clear-cut solution in minutes. Thank you!

[elvischris]

Thank you so much. I've been trying to solve this problem with a MODX, and even sent it to a Yamaha authorized repair shop and they couldn't figure this out. They blame the surge protector. Very nice of you to post this video.

[kreuzsieben]

Not the advice I was looking for, but still very helpful 😅👍

[sanderblom]

Man, this digital noise has been driving me mad! Thx Scott

[CRAETION_]

wow, this was insanely informative! literally the exact issue I was trying to fix. thanks

[ischaheijnen]

Scott you are my guy! Literally the problem i was having, can't wait to get my iFi Defender USB's. Much appreciated.

[ColonyThreeMusic]

Hey Scott, great and timely video...I'm getting a lot of the same digital noise whenever I plug in my USB MIDI. I was tempted to use an inline audio cable version but you're right, significant drop in audio signal quality (worked like a HP filter of sorts).

[hermanhill]

Thank you so much for this info! I've been dealing with this for a long while and wondered how to fix it. Thanks again!

[freddygarza]

the algorithm came through i was loooking for a solution to this yesterday to no avail. Thanks for the suggestion hope it works

[ModernMusicPiano]

Thanks, I'm searching for weeks for this problem. I will try it!!!

[pjbace]

Yep agree I just bought ifi idefender+ 3.0. I put mine into the rear USB port of my computer & into the focusrite scarlet, I had to add mains power to the idefender. Wow its totally Silent. Well recommended.

[skinlayers]

Thank you so much for this video!
After some research, I went with the Hifimediy USB Isolators, since they can supply 200-600mA (depending on the version) without external power. I only bought 2, as when the TI ISOUSB211 is generally available, we should see the cost of USB Isolators (even for High Speed/480Mbps) slashed in half.

[amackclassic]

I have the same exact problem with my Fantom 08. Thank you so much.

[MarkNF]

THANK YOU!. I have tried multiple USB interfaces and always had some degree of the "electronic noise" on every one I tried. It was so annoying I went back to analog line-in for all my webcasts. It has been great for awhile, but depending where I go, the hum from the line-in is too much. I'll definitely pick up one and see how it goes. I'm so tired of asking how to get rid of this issue and being told I'm using the interfaces wrong.

[AndreiChivu]

Hi Scott, I have a lot of analog synths that are not connected through usb but only through audio cables to my interface and all of them have a noise floor(some more than the others) and combined is quite high. Is there any solution to remove that noise or at least lower it to be almost unnoticeable?

[taylortorrenceofficial]

You're a legend. Thank you so much

[richimbrogno]

Thanks for this awesome explanation Scott. I have that noise however it comes from a mixer (a small Allen & Heath ZED-10x) I have connected to my Focusrite Octopre which connects to my interface (an SSL 12) via adat and not USB. The interface then connects to an OWC Thunderbolt 4 dock ultimately via USB-C.

All the other outboard synths that are connected to the octopre do not make noise, it's only the stereo channels from the submix. I tried taking the 1/4 inch outs into a DI into my audio interface and taking the XLR's directly to the interface as well.
I have reduced it somewhat by keeping the output level of the mixer pretty low and jacking the synth volumes and gain on the interface higher which sometimes distorts. It's manageable but I'd like to have this thing dead quiet like the rest of my rig if possible.

Sorry I know this is not USB related but if you have any quick thoughts on how to maybe resolve this would be appreciated. I do have the ability to bypass the Octopre and use the audio interface built into ZED 10 instead with the adapter that you're referring to. Would that work? Is that possible?

[lorenznew]

There is another solution: Get an ADAT mic preamp. (cheap ones like the Behringer ADA8200 will do) Get a USB to ADAT Interface (I've got the RME Digiface USB) All noise is gone by now, because the hole audio world is not electrical connected to my digital domain. The Audio data comes in via Light pipe. Hope that helps

[jaYD]

Nice. I ordered an iDefender too.

Question: would a dedicated USB midi interface (I.e. like Motu’s usb midi 5x5 or 8x8) eliminate this issue as well? Longer term I wanted to pick one of those up regardless.

[measures_of_distance]

Thank you Scott! What you've outined in the video is PART of my problem. However I'm having issues even without the computer/interface. As an example, I"ve determined that with my Moog Sub37 running into an SSL Big6 the noise was reduced to negligible status by running the power cord into another room. DO you think a power conditioner will help with
that?