Casio CZ/ VZ/ FZ - Pro Series

hi All

I have recently got back my first ever synth from a friends house , where it was in storage for over 25 years

It's a nice condition CZ1000 with a RA-3 RAM cartridge.

I have got the synth working and looking good. It has the Artefacts battery backup mod fitted.

I seem to have a weird issue with the RAM cartridge.

When I save a patch, say on memory 1, it is duplicated on memory 3!. If I save on memory 5 it's duplicated on memory 7

Like odds and evens. Weird. So effectively I can only get 8 unique patches stored in the cartridge.

I have changed the battery out for a new CR2016 but this has had no effect.

http://www.mindburner.co.uk/synth/CZ1000_RA-3.JPG

Interesting problem.

Isn't it possible after the writing the patch in memory 1 (and have it  
duplicated in place 3) just write another patch to memory 3 (and have  
it duplicated in 5, where you can write another patch)?

So if you write to place 2, is it duplicated in 4?

And what about writing to places 15 and 16, where are they duplicated?

And what if you save all 16 patches from internal RAM to the  
cartridge, is it OK?

BTW your link doesn't work...

Daniel Forro

On Jun 11, 2016, at 6:08 PM, quad303@... [CZsynth] wrote:
> I seem to have a weird issue with the RAM cartridge.
>
> When I save a patch, say on memory 1, it is duplicated on memory 3!.  
> If I save on memory 5 it's duplicated on memory 7
>
> Like odds and evens. Weird. So effectively I can only get 8 unique  
> patches stored in the cartridge.
>
> I have changed the battery out for a new CR2016 but this has had no  
> effect.

> http://www.mindburner.co.uk/synth/CZ1000_RA-3.JPG

On Sat, Jun 11, 2016 at 02:08:05AM -0700, quad303@... [CZsynth] wrote:
> hi All
>  Like odds and evens. Weird. So effectively I can only get 8 unique patches stored in the cartridge.

So very much like one bit of the address pin is stuck?

(hint, hint)

-- 
Gordonjcp MM0YEQ

Cleaning can help.

Also don't forget that cartridge should be connected or disconnected  
always with instrument switched off.

Are you sure battery polarity inside the cartridge is OK?

I don't think the problem is in setting at the instrument (there's  
nothing to set for the cartridge anyway)...  If it's not just some  
dirty contact, interrupted PCB line or similar mechanical problem,  
then it looks like an electronic failure, probably in the cartridge  
circuit.

Concerning RAM cartridges, AFAIK there were three types:

Casio RA-3 - for CZ1000, CZ101, CZ3000, CZ5000
CZ101 and CZ1000 can SAVE/LOAD all memory contents (16 patches), and  
recall and write 1 patch from/to the cartridge.
CZ3000 and CZ5000 can only SAVE/LOAD all memory contents (32 patches)  
to/from the cartridge.

Casio RA-6 - for CZ1
Instrument can SAVE/LOAD all memory contents (64 patches), and recall  
and write 1 patch from/to the cartridge.

MicroFantics Inc. EZ-CZ - for CZ1, CZ101, CZ1000, CZ3000, CZ5000
Cartridge with four banks selectable by two switches.

I have RA-3 and EZ-CZ cartridges, but can only load/save all memory  
contents on my CZ3000 :-(

Daniel Forro

On Jun 21, 2016, at 7:51 PM, quad303@... [CZsynth] wrote:

>
> interesting. Perhaps a clean up of the physical connections and  
> leave the RA-3 with power off for a while to clear?
>
> This may not do very much at all.
>
> I don't know a lot about the difference in the ram cartridges but I  
> was thinking that the RA-3 was for the CZ5000 and could therefore  
> hold more patches and something wasn't configured right on my  
> CZ1000. But again that sounds a bit left field and the RA-3 should  
> would fine.

Now I had read installation manual for Artefacts battery mod.

Questions:

Are you absolutely sure you followed all steps during the  
installation, and everything is well done, jumper desoldered and away  
from the instrument, traces cut properly, cables well soldered where  
they should be, no short circuit or something like this?

Does instrument work without the cartridge connected as it should work  
- especially writing the patches into internal RAM, keeping the memory  
contents after switching off and so...

Have you checked and set 3.2 Volts with that trimmer described in the  
installation manual?

Daniel Forro

On Jun 21, 2016, at 7:51 PM, quad303@... [CZsynth] wrote:

> interesting. Perhaps a clean up of the physical connections and  
> leave the RA-3 with power off for a while to clear?
>
> This may not do very much at all.
>
> I don't know a lot about the difference in the ram cartridges but I  
> was thinking that the RA-3 was for the CZ5000 and could therefore  
> hold more patches and something wasn't configured right on my  
> CZ1000. But again that sounds a bit left field and the RA-3 should  
> would fine.

Exactly what I have mentioned in my two messages from June 21st:

---------------

If it's not just some dirty contact, interrupted PCB line or similar  
mechanical problem...

---------------

Are you absolutely sure you followed all steps during the  
installation, and everything is well done, jumper desoldered and away  
from the instrument, traces cut properly, cables well soldered where  
they should be, no short circuit or something like this?

---------------

Good to hear you could fix it.

Daniel Forro

On Aug 12, 2016, at 6:09 AM, quad303@... [CZsynth] wrote:

> I managed to get the problem fixed. It was my own fault. DUH. During  
> the battery backup install. I had cut an adjacent PCB track by  
> accident.

Amazing!

      From: "Daniel Forró danforcz@... [CZsynth]" <CZsynth@yahoogroups.com>
 To: CZsynth@yahoogroups.com
 Sent: Monday, August 15, 2016 9:35 AM
 Subject: Re: [CZsynth] Re: CZ1000 RA-3 cartridge odd and even storage problem

    Exactly what I have mentioned in my two messages from June 21st:
---------------
If it's not just some dirty contact, interrupted PCB line or similar mechanical problem...
---------------
Are you absolutely sure you followed all steps during the installation, and everything is well done, jumper desoldered and away from the instrument, traces cut properly, cables well soldered where they should be, no short circuit or something like this? 
---------------
Good to hear you could fix it.
Daniel Forro


On Aug 12, 2016, at 6:09 AM, quad303@... [CZsynth] wrote:


I managed to get the problem fixed. It was my own fault. DUH. During the battery backup install. I had cut an adjacent PCB track by accident.

> Next I will install a backlight LCD display. Thanks for everyones help


 



Btw, I use these buys for all my backlight needs (so far: CZ1, FZ20M, MKS80, Emulator II)





http://www.backlight4you.com/





ta





Paul


London


www.punkdisco.co.uk