Patches and discussion for Ensoniq VFX family

Crashing after a couple of hours could be an
overheating issue.  Can you fry an egg on the cooling
fins?  Try pointing a small clip-on fan pointed at the
fins.  Magic for me.  No more crashing.


--- keybdt <keybdt@...> wrote:

> 
> Hi ALL,
> 
> I dig out my old VFX from the store and start
> playing with it.
> The sound sare great but it hangs after about 2
> hours. 
> 
> Will try fixing the problem with the TOOLs guide
> from the Files
> section.
> 
> .john
> 
> --- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, "Hayward
> Redd" <hrc2c@h...> 
> wrote:
> > I had the same problem. It is due to a flux build
> up on the circuit 
> board 
> > due to materials used in manufacturing. I had to
> send it to the 
> company to 
> > be replaced and the paid for it. If you call
> Ensoniq they will know 
> what you 
> > are talking about.
> > 
> > >From: Steve Wahl <steve@p...>
> > >Reply-To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
> > >To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
> > >Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq VFX
> > >Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2004 10:00:55 -0600
> > >
> > > > 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a newer version of the ROMS, which would explain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
> 
> 
> 
> 



		
__________________________________ 
Do you Yahoo!? 
The all-new My Yahoo! - What will yours do?
http://my.yahoo.com