Patches and discussion for Ensoniq VFX family

--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, "Michael C Lesko" 
<MichaelL33@p...> wrote:
> Hey Rich,
> 
> Ok I'm new to the SD-1 but not synthesis.  I wanted to bring up a 
few ideas
> other than ripping the board apart.
> Ok, recently I had a sequence created.  Half of it plays fine 
however the
> second half tunes up.  It was controlling
> my sampler so I thought I had accidently de-tuned the sample bank 
but that
> wasn't it.  Not knowing the SD-1 very
> well.  I "somehow" managed to assign a data cartridge sound to a 
sample
> track.  How this was possible considering
> I don't have a cartridge, I'll never know, but none the less it 
gave me an
> oddly named sound on that track.  Apparently
> it confused the keyboard and it wigged out.  I had to redo the 
sequence.
> Simply deleting and/or reassigning the track
> didn't work.
> 
> Next, and I know this is incredibly obvious, but did you somehow 
manage to
> record pitch wheel data and didn't know it?
> I had also done this - didn't even know I bumped my mod wheel and 
recorded
> the data on a track I thought was clean.
> 
> Third, can you repair the sequences by pitching up or down each 
track to
> even it out?  I mean it's a quick fix but if you're in
> a hurry it might help.
> 
> From the little I know, if something like this happens so 
consistantly it's
> usually user error.  Computers screw up but never
> in a very consistant manner.  Usually the problem will get worse or
> magically dissapear - go figure.
> 
> Also, is there any way you can get the sequence to one of us - I 
don't know
> how you could do that - and have one of us
> check it out on our SD-1?  That should identify the problem pretty 
quick. I
> mean if it would do it on one of our boards
> then it's not the machine, it's the sequence.
> 
> I feel your pain.  Let me know if I can help.
> 
> Michael
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "homebythe_sea" <homebythe_sea@y...>
> To: <Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 9:59 AM
> Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] SD1 TUNE AND PARAMETER PROBLEMS
> 
> 
> >
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > Problem:
> >
> > A. keyboard going out of tune, both on internal sounds AND when I
> > use the SD to act as a controller, it detunes the sound module as
> > well.
> >
> > B. I notice that when im in a page that has parameters (master, 
Midi
> > etc...) the values for the underlined value change by them 
selves .
> >
> > Referring to Service Bulletin 12
> > I took it all apart and found:
> >
> > 1. Eprom KPC 2.32 520c
> > 2. Foamless keyboard with reference coil
> > 3. 20 pin connector between the two boards
> > 4. the 20 pins are joined by two small ribbon cables all 
soldered.
> >
> >
> > Heres what i did so far:
> > 1. Opened keyboard top cover, removed the 10 screws from the 
bottom
> > of the keyboard, removed the keyboard assy, also removed the
> > floppy/pitch/mod wheel cover to get access.
> >
> > 2. Using a continuity tester, I tested each pin on the 20 pin
> > wiring, side to side, I had continuity
> >
> > 3. disassembled pitch bend and mod wheel sliders and sprayed out 
the
> > pots with contact cleaner.
> >
> > 4. Lithium battery- put a volt meter on it and it read 3.20 volts
> > 5. detached display and button circuit board (the one under the
> > display) and cleaned out the volume and data slider pots with
> > contact cleaner
> >
> >
> > Problems I encountered:
> >
> > 1. When removing the display circuit board, I had to take off the
> > volume and data slider covers, when I did, the volume slider bar
> > came out of the assembly, cant seem to get it back in. Do I need 
to
> > replace the whole slider or can i get the metal tab back in?
> >
> > 2. When checking the battery, I noticed that the metal tabs that 
the
> > battery attaches to the board can be "rocked" (moved a bit from 
side
> > to side.  Could the solder connection be intermittent and causing
> > the problem? Can the tabs be soldered with out removing that main
> > board? (this is the board that has all the inputs on it, and I 
would
> > have to unscrew all the inputs to get it out)
> >
> >
> > Im going to reassemble it now and test. If any of you have
> > suggestions PLEASE help !!! :))
> >
> > Thanks to Richard at Route 66 studios for the service bulletin,
> > advice, AND the courage to do this job myself !!!
> >
> > Rich G
> > Freehold NJ
> >
> > PS, I have a gig coming up on Saturday, and need to fix this or 
get
> > another keyboard, if any of you are in NJ, please contact me if 
you
> > can loan me a board, or if you have something inexpensive to sell
> > that can do brass, strings, organ etc...:)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >