Audio Interface wanted...

WieWaldi · 2026-08-22T22:32:42+00:00

I listened to some of my recent recording and honestly I don't like them. They sound fine if I listen to them on my PC with attached Genelec speakers. But as soon I listen to them via a notebook or via a smartphone, the sound gets very crappy, I can hear distortions on that devices. The root of the problem is my piano, as it does not provide digital audio nor does it offer a line out. Only signal output are two headphone jacks. The 6.3mm is used for my headphones while playing, the 3.5mm is attached to the mainboard of my PC. Unfortunately, a headphone signal provides a much higher voltage than a line out, which is said to be the reason for those unpleasant clipped tones. Google told me to reduce the headphone volume in order to reduce the high output voltage. I did and the unpleasant distortions are less. But it introduced another problem: Audible ground noise or just hum. I guess, the best option is to get an audio interface, something like the well known Focusrite Scarlet 2i2. Anyone else here with a similar problem? Or with experience on audio interfaces? Do you have 16/24/32 bit? Used them with a VST? Issues with latency? How about recording on top of a backingtrack: do I need loopback for that? (The Behringers are quite good for the money, but don't provide loopback)

TulipAcid

Very tidy. Seems you're happy with the solution. I wish I could zip tie (I actually use the black command strips) some of my devices that way. At least I have my surge protector power strip so attached. One of these days, now that things have settled down, I'll do something about cord management!

Why did you choose the old school midi connectors?

WieWaldi

TulipAcid Why did you choose the old school midi connectors?

To avoid ground loop. The standard 5-pin MIDI input connection is galvanically safe because it uses an optocoupler to electrically isolate the receiving device. (USB not)

Previously, my piano was connected to the PC with both audio cables and USB. This caused some hum. (After detaching the USB cable, the hum was gone; so I was very certain it was caused by the USB-MIDI connection.)

If I just plug in the same cables to the audio interface as I did on my PC, there is the potential to get the same ground loop issue again. Ok, I just checked: Using the audio interface and connecting the piano via USB to the PC, seems not to cause a ground loop. At least I can't see humming noise at my level meters. When I ordered the audio interface online, I could not know if old school MIDI was still necessary. A coin flip situation.

On the other hand, having my piano connected via USB to the PC causes the issue I already mentioned: The PC doesn't see the MIDI-USB connection, unless I detach/attach the USB cable (or do one of the other hacks I mentioned above). This was always a nuisance.

Bottom line: Would I go the route with old-school MIDI again with my setup? Yes

Just because of having a reliable MIDI connection.
And if I really need, I have MIDI inputs for 2 different software running. One could be a VST, the other one could be MIDIculous for showing a nice virtual keyboard in my videos.

With both connections plugged in, it shows this way

TulipAcid

WieWaldi

Interesting. I gather that now your headphones are plugged into your audio interface?

This is not your situation, but similar. I had a problem with hums WITH my Duet audio interface. As it's a thin gadget designed for iPad/laptop situations where you want to record via couple of XLR's or 1/4" jacks, it has a proprietary cable setup where the jacks are at the end of a cable that merges into some variety of plug in connector into the unit.

I was blaming a new dock I had recently purchased when, truly, the issue had been there all along. Something to do with the XLR inputs not liking to be next to one another. I realized this when I had moved things around and the humming stopped. So, I put a couple of plastic bags around each of them.

No more hum.

WieWaldi

TulipAcid Glad you found a solution for your humming problem. This is another reason why I am happy to have the 5-pin MIDI input. Changing anything in the setup (another device, another computer screen, using a different power plug for something else) and the hum could be there, again. The old-school MIDI port gives me more options how to connect things.

TulipAcid I gather that now your headphones are plugged into your audio interface?

No and Yes. I still have my headphones plugged into the piano directly. I prefer the cable coming from my left hand side. And I don't want to change my audio interface settings all the time when I go from the PC to my piano. I use the audio interface as external PC sound card as well. Bigger jacks, better cables, less interference.

But if I want to play along a backingtrack – silently at night – I can plug my headphones into the interface, turn down the master volume to 0 and find a nice balance between direct input and USB audio.

Jane

WieWaldi canceled out the Focusrite 2i2

FWIW, I also need the 5-pin DIN MIDI connectors for my old N3 Avant Grand that does not have MIDI over USB.

The next model up - Focusrite 4i4 - has 5-pin MIDI. I've been using the 4i4 to drive VSTs on my laptop from the N3 for 5 years with no issues.

WieWaldi

Jane I cancelled the 4i4 very quickly because of its cost. 285€ vs 129€ for the MiniFuse is quite a lot. Nevertheless, the 4i4 is an outstanding audio interface and would have loved the option to attach all cables at the backside.

If my GAS strikes again, I'll purchase a nice portable piano. FP-30X and ES-120 are hot contenders. For me, the price difference is spent on those instruments with better value.

WieWaldi

🤓<nerd mode on>🤓

I was courious about the round trip latency (RTL) of the MiniFuse2:

192.000 Hz 176.400 Hz 96.000 Hz 88.200 Hz 48.000 Hz 44.100 Hz

8 192     94.255 ms       98.033 ms
4 096     48.927 ms       50.816 ms     94.740 ms     98.651 ms
2 048     26.260 ms       27.205 ms     49.417 ms     51.429 ms     96.042 ms     99.864 ms
1 024     14.938 ms       15.397 ms     26.750 ms     27.812 ms     50.812 ms     52.630 ms
   512       9.255 ms         9.501 ms     15.417 ms     16.020 ms     28.042 ms     29.161 ms
   256       5.927 ms         6.049 ms       9.740 ms     10.102 ms     16.688 ms     17.211 ms
   128       5.260 ms         5.329 ms       6.406 ms       6.542 ms     10.896 ms     11.315 ms
     64       4.932 ms         4.972 ms       5.750 ms       5.816 ms       7.583 ms       7.868 ms
     32       4.760 ms         4.768 ms       5.406 ms       5.578 ms       6.896 ms       7.143 ms
     16                                                    5.250 ms       5.272 ms       6.688 ms       6.893 ms
       8                                                                                               6.521 ms       6.576 ms

😶<nerd mode off>😶

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