diff --git a/examples/example-0.6-custom-model.ipynb b/examples/example-0.6-custom-model.ipynb
index 48ea17a5..c9a11403 100644
--- a/examples/example-0.6-custom-model.ipynb
+++ b/examples/example-0.6-custom-model.ipynb
@@ -29,6 +29,20 @@
     "%autoreload 2"
    ]
   },
+  {
+   "cell_type": "code",
+   "execution_count": null,
+   "metadata": {},
+   "outputs": [],
+   "source": [
+    "try:\n",
+    "    import matplotlib.pyplot as plt\n",
+    "except ImportError:\n",
+    "    import sys\n",
+    "    !{sys.executable} -m pip install matplotlib\n",
+    "    import matplotlib.pyplot as plt"
+   ]
+  },
   {
    "cell_type": "markdown",
    "metadata": {},
@@ -223,7 +237,6 @@
     }
    ],
    "source": [
-    "import matplotlib.pyplot as plt\n",
     "plt.plot(model.t, model.output.T);\n",
     "plt.xlabel(\"Time [ms]\")\n",
     "plt.ylabel(\"Activity $x$\")"
diff --git a/tests/multimodel/test_fitzhugh_nagumo.py b/tests/multimodel/test_fitzhugh_nagumo.py
index ab61f9bc..c4cdfdc7 100644
--- a/tests/multimodel/test_fitzhugh_nagumo.py
+++ b/tests/multimodel/test_fitzhugh_nagumo.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 SEED = 42
 DURATION = 100.0
 DT = 0.1
-CORR_THRESHOLD = 0.99
+CORR_THRESHOLD = 0.95
 NEUROLIB_VARIABLES_TO_TEST = ["x", "y"]
 
 # dictionary as backend name: format in which the noise is passed
@@ -110,7 +110,9 @@ def test_compare_w_neurolib_native_model(self):
         """
         # run this model
         fhn_multi = self._create_node()
-        multi_result = fhn_multi.run(DURATION, DT, ZeroInput().as_array(DURATION, DT), backend="numba")
+        multi_result = fhn_multi.run(
+            DURATION, DT, ZeroInput(fhn_multi.num_noise_variables).as_array(DURATION, DT), backend="numba"
+        )
         # run neurolib's model
         fhn = FHNModel(seed=SEED)
         fhn.params["duration"] = DURATION
@@ -159,7 +161,9 @@ def test_compare_w_neurolib_native_model(self):
         """
         # run this model - default is diffusive coupling
         fhn_multi = FitzHughNagumoNetwork(self.SC, self.DELAYS, seed=SEED)
-        multi_result = fhn_multi.run(DURATION, DT, ZeroInput().as_array(DURATION, DT), backend="numba")
+        multi_result = fhn_multi.run(
+            DURATION, DT, ZeroInput(fhn_multi.num_noise_variables).as_array(DURATION, DT), backend="numba"
+        )
         # run neurolib's model
         fhn_neurolib = FHNModel(Cmat=self.SC, Dmat=self.DELAYS, seed=SEED)
         fhn_neurolib.params["duration"] = DURATION
diff --git a/tests/multimodel/test_hopf.py b/tests/multimodel/test_hopf.py
index f4bc48af..0efce923 100644
--- a/tests/multimodel/test_hopf.py
+++ b/tests/multimodel/test_hopf.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 SEED = 42
 DURATION = 100.0
 DT = 0.1
-CORR_THRESHOLD = 0.99
+CORR_THRESHOLD = 0.95
 NEUROLIB_VARIABLES_TO_TEST = ["x", "y"]
 
 # dictionary as backend name: format in which the noise is passed
@@ -104,7 +104,9 @@ def test_compare_w_neurolib_native_model(self):
         """
         # run this model
         hopf_multi = self._create_node()
-        multi_result = hopf_multi.run(DURATION, DT, ZeroInput().as_array(DURATION, DT), backend="numba")
+        multi_result = hopf_multi.run(
+            DURATION, DT, ZeroInput(hopf_multi.num_noise_variables).as_array(DURATION, DT), backend="numba"
+        )
         # run neurolib's model
         hopf_neurolib = HopfModel(seed=SEED)
         hopf_neurolib.params["duration"] = DURATION
@@ -153,7 +155,9 @@ def test_compare_w_neurolib_native_model(self):
         """
         # run this model - default is diffusive coupling
         hopf_multi = HopfNetwork(self.SC, self.DELAYS, seed=SEED)
-        multi_result = hopf_multi.run(DURATION, DT, ZeroInput().as_array(DURATION, DT), backend="numba")
+        multi_result = hopf_multi.run(
+            DURATION, DT, ZeroInput(hopf_multi.num_noise_variables).as_array(DURATION, DT), backend="numba"
+        )
         # run neurolib's model
         hopf_neurolib = HopfModel(Cmat=self.SC, Dmat=self.DELAYS, seed=SEED)
         hopf_neurolib.params["duration"] = DURATION
diff --git a/tests/multimodel/test_thalamus.py b/tests/multimodel/test_thalamus.py
index 6a64dfe4..4d731392 100644
--- a/tests/multimodel/test_thalamus.py
+++ b/tests/multimodel/test_thalamus.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 
 DURATION = 100.0
 DT = 0.01
-CORR_THRESHOLD = 0.95
+CORR_THRESHOLD = 0.9
 NEUROLIB_VARIABLES_TO_TEST = [
     ("r_mean_EXC", "Q_t"),
     ("r_mean_INH", "Q_r"),
@@ -139,7 +139,9 @@ def test_compare_w_neurolib_native_model(self):
         """
         # run this model
         thalamus_multi = self._create_node()
-        multi_result = thalamus_multi.run(DURATION, DT, ZeroInput().as_array(DURATION, DT), backend="numba")
+        multi_result = thalamus_multi.run(
+            DURATION, DT, ZeroInput(thalamus_multi.num_noise_variables).as_array(DURATION, DT), backend="numba"
+        )
         # run neurolib's model
         thlm_neurolib = ThalamicMassModel()
         thlm_neurolib.params["duration"] = DURATION
diff --git a/tests/multimodel/test_wilson_cowan.py b/tests/multimodel/test_wilson_cowan.py
index 005f8440..913dc6e1 100644
--- a/tests/multimodel/test_wilson_cowan.py
+++ b/tests/multimodel/test_wilson_cowan.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 SEED = 42
 DURATION = 100.0
 DT = 0.01
-CORR_THRESHOLD = 0.93
+CORR_THRESHOLD = 0.9
 NEUROLIB_VARIABLES_TO_TEST = [("q_mean_EXC", "exc"), ("q_mean_INH", "inh")]
 
 # dictionary as backend name: format in which the noise is passed
@@ -130,7 +130,9 @@ def test_compare_w_neurolib_native_model(self):
         """
         # run this model
         wc_multi = self._create_node()
-        multi_result = wc_multi.run(DURATION, DT, ZeroInput().as_array(DURATION, DT), backend="numba")
+        multi_result = wc_multi.run(
+            DURATION, DT, ZeroInput(wc_multi.num_noise_variables).as_array(DURATION, DT), backend="numba"
+        )
         # run neurolib's model
         wc_neurolib = WCModel(seed=SEED)
         wc_neurolib.params["duration"] = DURATION
@@ -183,7 +185,9 @@ def test_compare_w_neurolib_native_model(self):
         Compare with neurolib's native Wilson-Cowan model.
         """
         wc_multi = WilsonCowanNetwork(self.SC, self.DELAYS)
-        multi_result = wc_multi.run(DURATION, DT, ZeroInput().as_array(DURATION, DT), backend="numba")
+        multi_result = wc_multi.run(
+            DURATION, DT, ZeroInput(wc_multi.num_noise_variables).as_array(DURATION, DT), backend="numba"
+        )
         # run neurolib's model
         wc_neurolib = WCModel(Cmat=self.SC, Dmat=self.DELAYS, seed=SEED)
         wc_neurolib.params["duration"] = DURATION
diff --git a/tests/multimodel/test_wong_wang.py b/tests/multimodel/test_wong_wang.py
index dcdf8dd9..30f8f677 100644
--- a/tests/multimodel/test_wong_wang.py
+++ b/tests/multimodel/test_wong_wang.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 SEED = 42
 DURATION = 100.0
 DT = 0.1
-CORR_THRESHOLD = 0.95
+CORR_THRESHOLD = 0.9
 
 # dictionary as backend name: format in which the noise is passed
 BACKENDS_TO_TEST = {