MakeNoise Mimeophon

[chorus7]

Could I use a laptop PSU for the 4MS Pods or would it introduce noise? It’s output is 19.5 3.33A so about 65w

[Granny]

Could I use a laptop PSU for the 4MS Pods or would it introduce noise? It’s output is 19.5 3.33A so about 65w

The 4ms Row Power can take 15 to 20v
I think all the Power Supplies I have to power my 4MSses are laptop PSUs

[1barllama]

BTW I love my Miphon

pulling repeat up, filtering out the screams and feeding that thing with rhythmic stuff is always great fun

herb_and_the_repeats.mp3

Fantastic! I never thought of filtering out the screams. I will try this.

[Nikanj Bleepbloop]

I have mimeophon installed in my Nifty Case. At first it was placed in the middle, near the power supply, and I had a LOT of noise, regardless of the mix or gain level. I really wanted to return it. But then I placed it far to the right in the case (there is just a Pico Out to the right) and I had no noise issues since then. In the audio chain I can place it wherever I want, even as first module. I really love this module.

So I think it is a question of where is it placed in the case. But maybe it was just my luck

THIS ^^^
I had given up a little (had noise issues and posted in this thread a little while ago) but as I planned to reshuffle my rack due to my newest addition (Beads) I was reading up here again and stumbled about the power supply issue. I moved my Mimeophon to the other side of the case and it is a WONDER - its like having a new module (well, two new modules actually ) NO MORE NOISE or major click-sounds!!!
Thank you forum/hive mind/friends

:tldr: So I guess there are peeps that have issues with "noise" (or texture such as in "tape") and those with NOISE issues due to faulty setups or power issues - mine was solved by moving the module away from the power supply.

[hibjshop]

Had to forget how I used delay in the past to experience the magic of this module. Massive range of exploration!

[Orange]

I had to try out using Mimeophon as an oscillator.
Mimeophon (sounds) + Marbles (sequencing) and Stages (LFO's ) = Big fun!


http://soundcloud.com/user-45313638/ora ... feedback-i

[xcc]

I had to try out using Mimeophon as an oscillator.
Mimeophon (sounds) + Marbles (sequencing) and Stages (LFO's ) = Big fun!


http://soundcloud.com/user-45313638/ora ... feedback-i

Nice! Reminds me of the sounds that happen in my head when I try to do math.

Mimeophon as an oscillator is one of my favorite things about it.

[DukeOfPrunes]

I had to try out using Mimeophon as an oscillator.
Mimeophon (sounds) + Marbles (sequencing) and Stages (LFO's ) = Big fun!


http://soundcloud.com/user-45313638/ora ... feedback-i

Nice! Reminds me of the sounds that happen in my head when I try to do math.

Mimeophon as an oscillator is one of my favorite things about it.

Same here! Very metallic!

[Mimmo]

I know the noise problem has been discussed extensively, obviously I can't read hundreds of posts so I don't know if anyone has done this.
I use 2 Intellijel 7U cases, I have tried installing the module in both of them and on different locations as well (middle, far right, down left etc) and I tracked the output to Ableton Live using the ES-3, ES-6 combo. The noise is always pretty much the same. It doesn't matter if the Mix is at zero, half way or full wet. I am attaching a screenshot of the output without anything patched to it, repeats at zero, halo at zero, filter open. In theory, the db are low, but in reality it's very audible. I am guessing it cuts through the mix because the noise has harmonics as well, especially if you use an end of chain compressor / limiter. If it was just noise it wouldn't be much of a problem, but it sounds like someone blowing through a pipe and you just can't ignore it..

[Snufflepuff]

Had to forget how I used delay in the past to experience the magic of this module. Massive range of exploration!

What have you learned and/or what are your favorite techniques?

[narxistdan]

I know the noise problem has been discussed extensively, obviously I can't read hundreds of posts so I don't know if anyone has done this.
I use 2 Intellijel 7U cases, I have tried installing the module in both of them and on different locations as well (middle, far right, down left etc) and I tracked the output to Ableton Live using the ES-3, ES-6 combo. The noise is always pretty much the same. It doesn't matter if the Mix is at zero, half way or full wet. I am attaching a screenshot of the output without anything patched to it, repeats at zero, halo at zero, filter open. In theory, the db are low, but in reality it's very audible. I am guessing it cuts through the mix because the noise has harmonics as well, especially if you use an end of chain compressor / limiter. If it was just noise it wouldn't be much of a problem, but it sounds like someone blowing through a pipe and you just can't ignore it..

What happens if you send it a 1k tone, increase the level until it starts clipping the input,and then back it down to where it's no longer clipping? What's the difference in level between that tone and the noise?

I'm interested in a mimeophon but am having trouble trying to make sense of the noise complaints. It *seems* most likely it's primarily a gainstaging issue at the user end. Make Noise's response also points in that direction.

But the complaints are common enough that I don't want to totally dismiss them.

It would be really helpful if someone could verify that they're having this issue while sending it a sensible input level. Or if that's already happened, I'd appreciate a link.

Thanks

[SeanBonham]

I've found the hotter the signal in the less noise you get. I'm no doctor, but louder sources seem to work best. I love this module, but I am also crazy sensitive when it comes to noise. Tearing my studio apart to find a ground hum etc. I think I've decided to move on from Mimeophon because at this point I can't unhear it.

[narxistdan]

I've found the hotter the signal in the less noise you get.

Yeah, up until the point of clipping that's true of any device that processes sound. A louder input signal allows you to turn down the output (including the noise), while a quieter input requires you to turn up the output (including the noise).

As an example, I have a Zoom 1202, which is fairly noisy. But if I send it a reasonable input level (hot but not clipping) from my mixer and then turn the return channel down to where the effect level makes sense in the mix the noise is a total non-audible-issue.

What's not clear to me from reading samples of this thread is whether the potential noise problems with the Mimeophon are on that noisy-but-not-in-a-way-that-matters-if-you-watch-your-levels end of the spectrum or if it's really a major design flaw. Based on the demos I've heard it seems like it's a non-issue, but there's so much discussion about it here that I'm wondering.

[GuyaGuy]

I've found the hotter the signal in the less noise you get.

Yeah, up until the point of clipping that's true of any device that processes sound. A louder input signal allows you to turn down the output (including the noise), while a quieter input requires you to turn up the output (including the noise).

And the problem with the Mimeophon is that there’s a sweet spot between loud enough to make the noise floor a non-issue and too loud resulting in pops/clicks. If I feed a patch signal into it directly I have to keep it on the lowest input setting. So more often than not I’ll use a mixer send.

But the problem with discussing the noise issues is that 1) one person’s unacceptable is another person’s unnoticeable, 2) there are so many variables that can result in noise (PSU, ground loops, etc.), 3) noise can mean white noise or digital interference and not everyone distinguishes when describing their issue

[narxistdan]

@Guyaguy that all totally makes sense.

Acknowledging that this is a subjective question, when you use it as a mixer send/return, do you find the noise floor high enough that it matters in context? Or, less subjectively, are there other effects that you use this way in your system whose noise floor is similar? If so, I'd be curious what they are as a frame of reference to something I might have direct experience with.

[Snufflepuff]

Had to forget how I used delay in the past to experience the magic of this module. Massive range of exploration!

Sounds great! What have you discovered?

[GuyaGuy]

@Guyaguy that all totally makes sense.

Acknowledging that this is a subjective question, when you use it as a mixer send/return, do you find the noise floor high enough that it matters in context? Or, less subjectively, are there other effects that you use this way in your system whose noise floor is similar? If so, I'd be curious what they are as a frame of reference to something I might have direct experience with.

This is what the noise floor looks like if my Intellijel case outs are absolutely maxed. (For me, they are usually closer to noon.) The Mimeophon is on the left channel and the PolyEffects Hector on the right. An external synth is patched to play but nothing is playing so that's just the noise floor. It's pretty minimal. If you zoom in or press your nose up to the screen, you can see it is indeed noisier than the Hector. But, again, I'd never turn my outs up that loud, and if I did the actual music would easily cover what little noise there is.


P.S. This isn't to say that others aren't having problems. Just showing my own setup.

[starthief]

On my system, going into an OptX, this is Mimeophon at 100% dry with no input:

The noise is less than -70dB, in a range that's not particularly easy to hear, and extremely narrow and easy to filter if I wanted to completely silence it.

Here it is 100% wet with no input, as long as Repeats isn't up which makes it resonate:

And for scale, here's plugging Shapeshifter's Out 1 directly into it, still at 100% wet. (It's in Zone 0).

Looks like the input is overdriving a bit and I should turn down the gain The overall level meter is at -10dB. At a loud but comfortable listening level for this, the noise in the first example is completely inaudible.

[autopoiesis]

Nice, 550 out of 1418 posts in this thread have been about noise floor stuff. Let's keep it up!

[Granny]

new trademark:

MakeNoise
(but don't focus too much on the noise)

[GuyaGuy]

Nice, 550 out of 1418 posts in this thread have been about noise floor stuff. Let's keep it up!

So…a poor signal to noise ratio then?

[exper]

Nice, 550 out of 1418 posts in this thread have been about noise floor stuff. Let's keep it up!

So…a poor signal to noise ratio then?

ok, you win the 'net for the day.

[Headlands]

Nice, 550 out of 1418 posts in this thread have been about noise floor stuff. Let's keep it up!

So…a poor signal to noise ratio then?

GuyaGuy! Just pinging you here to make sure you read all of the messages in your inbox from me re: Sylph Shutters.

[SpectralStimuli]

new trademark:

MakeNoise
(but don't focus too much on the noise)

[Mimmo]

I am sorry people but it is not a gain staging issue, at least not for my unit (running latest firmware).

Yes you can cover most of the noise when you feed the input with audio, but the whistle is still there cutting throw the mix, especially when the audio lowers in volume. I have tried fully dry, fully wet, in the middle, with or without audio, different cases, tracking through Expert Sleepers modules or output modules to audio interface etc but it's always the same. Problem is the noise as you see on the pic I uploaded on my previous message, is harmonically rich. If it was a single or a couple of frequencies spiking it would be much easier to isolate them, or cover them but this cuts threw the mix, and you can hear it ruining the mix when you add compressors and limiters.
I really don't know what is going on, is it a power issue? A firmware/code issue? Defective components? I don't know what it is, but its there.