Patches and discussion for Ensoniq VFX family

Thanks STEVE! 
It's good to be in a forum like this where people are generous!

It's time to open my VFX !!! YEAH YEAH YEAH !



--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, Steve Wahl <steve@p...> wrote:
> > I'm wondering does anyone know about the VFX-SD, 
> > does it has the same 'recalibration' problems it 
> > had with the VFX? 
> 
> My experience was opposite of yours.  I never had the OS hang, and
> never had the keyboard calibration fail.  I did once have the internal
> RAM sounds get zapped, possibly due to a static zap as it was after
> transporting it.
> 
> However, I got mine late in the life cycle of the VFX, so probably had
> a newer version of the ROMS, which would explain the OS hang thing.  I
> never had the keyboard calibration problem, but I didn't move it
> around much at first, and when I started moving it, I got it fixed
> proactively, before I actually saw the problem.
> 
> The keyboard calibration thing was solved by Ensoniq, but it was WAY
> late in the game, after the SD-1 was released.  There are two printed
> circuit boards under the keybed, joined by a connector in the middle
> of the keyboard.  The pins of this connector would oxidize, resulting
> in bad connections that caused the calibration failure problem.  I
> think the act of shipping the synth back to Ensoniq or opening it up
> to examine it tended to jostle this connection and make the problem go
> away, so the problem was hard for Ensoniq to figure out.
> 
> The solution, was to get rid of the connector entirely and replace it
> with wires soldered between the boards.  I believe it's referred to as
> the hard-wired keyboard mod.  Instructions on how to do this are now
> available on the web.  Even though aimed at the EPS sampler line, this
> page seems to apply quite well:
> http://www.chickensys.com/kb/eps-asr/014.html
> 
> For the used market, you have to find out if the keyboard has had this
> fix performed or not.  And if not, find a tech who will fix it for
> you, or, if you know which end of a soldering iron to grab (hint: not
> the hot end), be prepared to fix it yourself.  
> 
> I believe at one point, Ensoniq was performing the service for free,
> but only those who complained to their dealer or heard about it
> through other sources got it done -- maybe it was a high enough
> priority that if they brought their keyboard in for some other
> service, this repair was also done, but I'm not sure.  Knowing that,
> it's up to you to guess the odds if the seller doesn't know if it's
> been done or not.
> 
> Years ago, I bought a used VFX-SD to compliment my VFX.  I was fully
> aware of the hardwired keyboard mod, and this VFX-SD was exhibiting
> the exact symptoms of the problem and available cheap because of it --
> I figured it was a 90% chance or better that I could fix it myself,
> and get a fully functioning VFX-SD on the cheap.  So, you can imagine
> my dismay when I opened it up and found that the connectors had
> already been replaced by wires!  However, I re-soldered the
> connections, and cleaned all the other connectors between the keyboard
> and the main board.  And I haven't had a problem since, knock on wood.
> 
> In short (yeah, right), I don't know what OS problems you were having,
> but the keyboard calibration error is either already gone from your
> prospective purchase, or it can be fixed.
> 
> --> Steve