I purchased an m-audio 88es midi controller to try in place of my Roland and I hear the same static when playing it. There goes my theory that the Roland has an issue. The speakers seem to be clipping, even at low volumes - but I've checked volume levels of everything connected till I'm blue in the face. Again, this is a 2nd set of brand new speakers that do the same thing as the first - different brands.

I guess this is a problem I'm just going to have to live with. No one in the whole of the universe, according to Internet search engines, has ever had this same problem. Wonderful.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

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@7geez - did you ever figure this out? I am experiencing what seems like a similar issue with Kontakt. When using one sample library in particular in Kontakt (whether standalone or as a VST in Reaper), I am getting occasional static when playing the library using two different midi keyboards (Akai LPK25 and Korg Nanokey). However, when I play the virtual keyboard in Kontakt using my mouse, I do not get any static at all. I have adjusted all buffer settings in ASIO4ALL, but the fact that the sound is perfect when using the virtual Kontakt keyboard, as well as the fact that two different midi keyboards produce the static, leads me to believe this is some sort of midi transmission issue from the keyboard - perhaps through USB.

Thanks!

EDIT - a couple of more hints, I think. I only seem to have this issue with one sample library in particular. Plus, from what I understand, when playing the virtual keyboard in Kontakt only a single velocity is triggered, while a range of velocities would be triggered using an external midi keyboard. Thus, perhaps there is something in this particular sample library that is not handling velocity changes smoothly?

I believe my issue came down to my speakers vibrating on the recording desk I'm using. I got a pair of Auralex isolation pads and haven't had the problem since. Unbelievable, but true. Good luck.

Thanks for your help!