You say "when recording there can be 'artifacts' "Noise" [when playing back of a recording??] or [during the recording process??] If you have noise during playback it could be from the internal speakers, ie., "possibly bad or defective speakers"- or in correlation with loose connections or possibly even faulty wiring within the PSR 2100, ie., "bad Board".

If you have noise "during" the recording process (noise such as pops or crackles that get mixed into the recording when you record), and show up in the recording when you play it back, then again; this is an abnormality that 'should not' be happening. My suggestion would be to secure each and every connection on the Keyboard. Try turning the Master Volume knob rapidly up and down and see if you hear any "static" emanating from the speakers. Turning the Master Volume knob back and forth will hopefully eliminate any static that has been built up within the sound system which dust and foreign particles that accumulate could cause. (The static "noise" could possibly be getting into the recording that way somehow). Then try and do a recording again.

If you still have problems with "noise" in your subsequent recordings the Keyboard could possibly have bad a Flash RAM chip or other defective part[s].

If worse comes to worse you could always 'exchange' the PSR 2100 for another one. Retail and Online Music Stores usually all have a 30-45 day return/exchange policy.

Again, what you are experiencing on your PSR 2100 is an anomaly and should NOT be occurring regardless. If you find no solution to the problem I would not hesitate if it were me to return/exchange it.

Best regards,
Mike