#22

I second @midilifestyle’s advice about avoiding the Morphagene amplification.

Also just this week I dealt with a similar problem of noise coming from my system, and Morphagene seemed to be the culprit. I ran the math and my system was underpowered. I added a row power to reduce some demand on the built in power in the case and everything is 100% fine now. Maybe not exactly what you’re dealing with, but want to say it’s worth doing the math (if you haven’t already) to make sure you’re not overtaxing your power supply.

#23

I’ve tried removing the other modules and still got the same noise. However, when only removing the MG, all other modules’ outputs sound clean. The problem always is present with the MG…

And yeah, I never use MG’s internal amplification but I still get the noise. What modules you use to bring line level to modular?

#24

The acoustic noise is almost certainly from x7r or similar grade ceramic capacitors which exhibit microphonic effects in both directions. I.e that when exposed to sonic vibrations a voltage is induced across the cap, and that when an AC voltage (such as from a switch mode regulator) is impressed across the cap it will physically resonate. The caps in question will be used for decoupling on the digital supply. NP0 type ceramic caps do not exhibit microphonic effects.

Noise in the audio path is another matter. Could be EMI, or common impedance coupling in the power distribution or in the module itself.

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#25

Interesting, didn’t know about the ceramic capacitors thing.

Do you know any ways to reduce the noise in the audio signal path? (In case it’s any of the ones you mentioned) or any way to test if it is any of those three causes?

~

#26

I can only speculate unfortunately. Common impedance is certainly a factor, there was a good write up about it with the Genus Mod multilayer bus boards. Aside from the distribution, there can often be impedances in the module, the fact that the noise is coupled into the signal path of the MG itself indicates this. This could be an inductor or a current limiting device at the power input.

Low impedance power distribution is essential with these digital modules, how much of a factor improvement it will make is unknown however.

1 Like
#27

Does anyone have experience with the Morphagene in a recent 7U 104hp Intellijel case with latest power supply?

The reports of noise both acoustic and in the line are the only thing holding me back from buying one.

#28

I have a recent 4U 104hp Intellijel case and haven’t experienced any noise issues with Morphagene.

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#29

I too have whining-like noise both acoustically and in the signal path. It also makes audible clicks when used in realtime.

I use Mantis case.

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#30

Hi all,

I’m having a similar problem with my Morphagene:

I’m hearing digital clipping with Rings as my sound source, and any amount of auto-gaining does not get rid of it completely. The clipping happens most when I play around with certain very resonant frequencies on Rings.

I can also replicate the same thing with an external sound source (music track) into Ears -> Lo-Fi Junky -> Morphagene. Listening to Lo-Fi Junky directly has no clipping, going through Morphagene I hear harsh digital clipping.

With an external sound source I am able to get rid of the clipping by first auto-gaining at a high volume and then turning the source down, but this is of course not so easy with Rings as the sound source.

Example here. Signal direct from Lo-Fi Junky first, then through Morphagene:

Any advice? Is my Morphagene defective?

#31

Has anyone taken this up with Make Noise? Their support is very good in my experience.

If you can supply steps to re-create I’ll try mine.

#32

Thanks @_mark, I agree I should have done that first - in fact I wrote them a mail 10 minutes ago :slight_smile:

The simplest way I can replicate it on mine is:

  1. External audio input to Ears (suppose other input modules with similar gain should work). Monitor directly from Ears and turn gain up until the clipping light comes on then back down a safe amount below that.
  2. Plug Ears into Lo-Fi Junky set to Lo-Fi, completely wet
  3. Plug Lo-Fi Junky into Morphagene and use the auto-gain

The result is exactly what I posted above, digital clipping.

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#33

Yeah, I’ve contacted Make Noise about four times concerning four separate problems I have while recording directly into the Morphagene. Terrible noise floor, the “whining” noise, clipping (even at low volumes), and most recently I’ve been getting all kinds of clicks. Each time I’ve been told that this is normal behavior for a DSP module of this kind. (Meanwhile, The Nebulae v2 has none of these issues) It’s super sad because I absolutely love the functionality and sound of this module but I frequently give up on using it in a patch due to any of the above problems. The best possible way to use the Morohagene and retain the original source’s sound quality is to load your own reels on the SD card at a healthy volume. Not the best work around if you want to capture your patch in real time (which I do).

2 Likes
#34

aaand what model and spec is your power supply?

#35

It’s the Intellijel Triple Power Supply that I bought specifically for the Morohagene. It actually fixed a problem I had with the “whining” sound bleeding into other modules output signals. It’s a very clean and powerful power supply and I don’t even think I’m close to maxing it out.

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#36

Sorry to hear about your trouble with the Morphagene, @photofractal. Thanks for the tip about just using it to play pre loaded reels. Hoping it won’t come to that. For what it’s worth, I’m not having the same noise issues you’re describing, just the clipping.

My power supply is the Doepfer PSU3 (12 V / 2000 mA, -12 V / 1200 mA 100 - 230 V), and I’m just starting out, four modules in, so I can’t imagine it’s hitting any kind of power limits.

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#37

wait, the Morphagene has auto-gain

Once you have patched the sound source of your choice to the L and/or R Input(s), adjust the S.O.S. control to full counterclockwise to hear only the incoming audio. Hold the REC Button and press the Shift Button to perform Auto-Leveling, which analyzes the sound and adjusts its gain to the correct amplitude for use in the modular system.

From what you’ve written it appears that the gain is locked permanently to max, amplifying noise that would otherwise be quiet and clipping sound that wouldn’t clip otherwise. Are you saying that you’ve performed this using the audio you were about to record and it still distorts and whines?

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#38

Was having the same issue…ran the output into Malekko 8nu8r and it sounded 90% better.

#39

I’ve had the same problems, and because I’m often recording low level drones, the high pitch whine is audible in the signal path. Similar to other comments here, Nebulae v2 is squeaky clean by comparison. It’s unfortunate, because it limits the way I can use the MG for live sampling. Output from the MG is clean, it’s the input signal path that adds noise, in my case.

Playing from pre-recorded reels sounds pristine. Live sampling adds the high pitch whine, which is present even when an input signal is fully attenuated in the signal path prior to the MG.

I’m certain that I have the auto-leveling adjusted properly. Having done many experiments with this.

2 Likes
#41

I’m having issues with Morphagene and clipping. Never had this problems recording DPO, but when I brought Rings or Plaits Morphagene clips all the recording from this two modules, even when the output has a very low volume.

Ok, I just solved this problem: do a auto level gain procedure without anything plugged in the inputs.

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#42

Recently I reassembled my system, and turned out that the audible high-pitched whine in the audio path was generated by Malekko Varigate 4+, and the loudness of it depended on how much leds were lid up.

So that’s my advice, check all digital modules in your system, before blaming the Morpho :slight_smile:

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