Mechanical noise and soft mounting: noise at the root
The best noise filter is the one you don't need. Before touching filters, look at the mechanics — that's where noise starts that no filter removes perfectly.
Why mechanics come before filters
Any noise you prevent mechanically doesn't have to be filtered — and every filter costs latency. Loose, hard or damaged parts create vibration that goes straight into the gyro.
The usual suspects
Common sources: loose screws, a hard-mounted flight controller, damaged or unbalanced props, worn motor bearings and a warped frame. A quick mechanical check often saves hours of filter guessing.
Doing soft mounting right
Rubber grommets isolate the FC from the frame and damp vibration before it reaches the gyro. Neither too loose (rattles) nor too tight (transmits everything) — a clean soft mount is the most effective noise filter of all.
Spot mechanical problems in the FFT
Mechanical causes have signatures: broadband noise points to poor mounting, a sharp fixed peak to resonance or a bad prop. PIDoctor makes these patterns visible so you address the hardware instead of only filtering.