CDP-S100 Noise When USB MIDI and Audio-in Connected to iPad Simultaneously

[Stan]

Hi guys, is it possible to use CDP-S100 for playing music from my iPad by MIDI connection? For example I am a user of Simply piano app or Garage band and I would like to hear these apps by my CDP-S100 speakers? Especially in Simply piano is this feature amazing. I´ve tried connect iPad with my original Apple cable and midi out is working ok and I´ve plugged jack audio cable to line in plug in CDP-S100. But if it is connected simultaneously ( midi out to lightning port and jack to audio in ) there I can hear annoying noise. I have this kind of cable but maybe it could be the problem - https://www.czc.cz/apple-lightning-to-usb-3-0-camera-adapter/189244/produkt?gclid=CjwKCAjwqJ_1BRBZEiwAv73uwLW6IchJSi7sEmHcPrF92eF2hQ46KsznnpIr4-O9u3cfR0F0uIsoQRoCuaUQAvD_BwE. I would like to use it just like in this video ( there is another keyboard Studiologic Numa ) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGX1rmSS3tA&t=622s

 

Thanks a lot for your support. 

[Brad Saucier]

Hi Stan!  Welcome to the forums!

 

Audio noise is an issue with USB in general.  Some devices are better about it than others.  You can search the web for "usb ground loop isolator" and find loads of devices that promise to help solve the issue.  You could try one of those.  I know some forums members have had some success using them.  Hope this helps.

[- T -]

Stan

 

If that is the type of camera adapter that allows you to power the iPad as you are using it, then that is most likely your problem.  You have a ground loop hum between the iPad's power supply and the keyboard's power supply.  I had the same problem some years ago connecting my iPad to my WK-225.  I had to run one or the other of them on battery to break that ground loop, but since the WK-225 was a batttery hog, it was more economical to run the iPad on its rechargeable battery.  If the iPad was fully charged, I could get 6 to 8 hours use out of it.

 

 

[AteS]

In the user manual, there is an explicit warning not to connect a smart device (like an ipad) to usb and audio simultanious, so I think this is not a fault but by (lack of) design

[IanB]

This is why electrical isolation was built into the MIDI spec from day one. It's a greater problem now than ever because most everything runs off poor quality switched mode power supplies which are noisy as all heck; the linear (transformer and rectifier) power supplies of old were inherently much less noisy. I have a Lenovo tablet and can't connect it to any audio when it's plugged into the charger; the noise is terrible.

[Jokeyman123]

Right Ian-why I am sticking with the old-fashioned way of connecting music equipment-midi din unless i absolutely have to do something with the computer to usb-I still prefer hardware sequencers and digital recorders to software, except for editors/librarians and conversions from .wav or .aud to mp3 or flac for music on the computer. 

[Stan]

Hi Guys, thanks a lot for those informations 🙂 It is funny, that in son´s cheap keyboard from Amazon is everything ok. I am going to try another Apple cable without charging port ( even now I wasn´t charging and playing simultaneously ) and if this new cable won´t help I can try some of mentioned isolators. I don´t know what feature has Numa Compact 2 from first post ( YT video ) that you can see this keyboard like audio device, it is amazing. Both of Numa and Casio has MIDI IN/OUT and MIDI USB. But some app have this choice inbuild, like for exaple Synthesia, but I don´t like this app. You can choose audio input and output. 

[Stan]

Maybe there is some app for iOS, which can run in the background and can "route" all of the audio through MIDI output???

[AteS]

As a workaround I run the audio of the ipad through a pair of good quality pc-speakers. Surely not right for real quality sound but good enough for the livingroom at medium sound level.

[Brad Saucier]

Yes, I would use external speakers instead of routing iPad audio into the piano.  That's really the best way.  

[Stan]

Yes I know and I have some speakers for this purpose in my bedroom ( an old home theatre - I have switch it to stereo setup and turned off all of the 3D effects, each speaker has 20W and it can play better than inbuild speakers ) 🙂 and I am going to buy some monitors, but my house is under construction and making studio room in the basement will be in the end of this process 😂😂
 

But I have bought a new cable ( original Apple but version without charging port ) and cracking noise is gone 🙂 Now I can hear only very slightly noise and in headphones I am not able to hear it at all. So my problem is solved. I need this setup for evenings when I will be playing in living room with headphones. But I have to hear audio from iPad from my teaching app and of course audio from piano. This CDP is very portable and can run on six AA batteries so it is suitable for moving across flat 🙂

 

Thanks a lot for advices and stay safe 😉