Patches and discussion for Ensoniq VFX family

The calibration error is most likely the connector between the two main key pressure PCB'S. Have you tried the following? I did and it seems to have solved my calibration error.VFX Keyboard Recalibration Errors
Note: Follow the instructions below at your own risk!
It seems that 
everyone agrees that the VFX keyboard problems were finally solved by the 
hardwired keyboard fix. I think everyone who might be buying a used vfx (and 
thus looking to the net for info) should know about this and be certain that the 
keyboard they buy has had this done. From the tail end of the Keyboard 
Recailibration Failed saga on the vfx list: 
This afternoon I decided to get the low down on the VFX problems myself from 
Ensoniq's own Joe Paschal, an Ensoniq Customer Service Rep with whom I have delt 
with before (To my satisfaction). Beleve it or not the Apex problem and the 
Keyboard Calibration problem ARE RELATED and CAN BE FIXED. (finally:-) 
Under the keyboard proper, there are 3 circut boards that control the poly- 
key (tm) pressure. They do this: 
| # # | # # # | # # | # # # | # # | # # # | # # | # # # | # # | # # # | | # # | # # # | # # | # # # | # # | # # # | # # | # # # | # # | # # # | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- +---------------------------------+ +----------------------------------+ |                                 | |                                  | |   Board #2               +------------------+   Board #3             | |                          | Board # 1        |                        | |                          +------------------+                        | +---------------------------------+ +----------------------------------+ 
Now, It turns out that Ensoniq misdiagnosed the problem TWICE! and this 
new (one month old) conclusion is the result of the senior Ensoniq Tech's 
reseach and testing. The first problem (they thought) was the solder flux thing 
which would be on board #1. No. They then thought it was the cable that goes 
from board #1 to the motherboard. Wrong again. 
There is a connector that connects board 2 to board 3. Over time and use, the 
keyboard begins to sag a little bit and this connector eventually starts to 
corrode (get dirty), come loose and the like. THERE"S THE PROBLEM! Ensoniq has 
determined that hard-wireing that connection solves the problem. 
Of course this also explains the Apex deal, supporting the keyboard in the 
middle causes the connection to bend the other way, pry loose, etc. 
Ensoniq will fix the problem free of charge and has instructed the service 
centers to do the same. (BTW my service center has decided to send bad VFX's to 
Ensoniq for repair.) I immedately posed the question to Joe: "Will this effect 
my old ESQ-1, SQ-80, Mirage (old Ensoniq's)." No. On the older synths, boards 
2&3 are just one long board- thus no connection=no problem. I think the 
orginal EPS falls into this catagory as well, but I'm not sure. 
Service Centers have been instructed to preform this mod to ANY Ensoniq that 
comes in for repair, regardless of the problem. If you want the repair done 
request that the service centers refer to bulletins #11 and #9B.
 
Mike
 

________________________________
 From: Michael <nexuszen@...>
To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 1:15:41 PM
Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: VFX-SD
  

 
   
 
Hey jammie I downloaded the docs from the group about a year ago and tried to fix it myself and became increasingly aware that I was in over my head. one just has a permanent recalibration error and one won't load the sequencer or additional sounds I couldn't complain when I bought that one as is and the person selling it on ebay disappeared from the site so no joy there I also think the disks he sent  were a different os version. I used my first vfx-sd as a tool for songwriting and I wanted to get back to that so now I have two that don't work  guess i'm contemplating buying a third from a reputable source as it seem like it would now cost more to send away to repair than purchasing another. I do want to fix the vfx's I have I just don't feel like i'm capable.


________________________________
 From: jammie <jammie.emma@....uk>
To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 4:41 AM
Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: VFX-SD
  

 
  
 
whats wrong with it and whats it doing wrong as it 
might just mean a psu exchange  
----- Original Message -----  
>From: Gary Brumm  
>To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com  
>Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 5:42  AM 
>Subject: RE: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re:  VFX-SD 
>
>  
>You should  take in to consideration that they’re now selling “in excellent condition” on  eBay for $200 so it might make more  
>sense to  replace it.    
>From:Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jim  Hughston
>Sent: Monday, February 20, 2012 9:31 PM
>To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: VFX-SD 
>   
>Hi  Nexuszen,  
>I can  tell you exactly what I paid to my Ensoniq VFX SD repaired.  I keep my  tax records in an Excel file from year to year, so I looked it up on my  computer.  
>I put  the synthesizer in a case that I bought for it years ago.  I took it to  the UPS store and had them pack it to ship.  that way, if anything  happens in shipment, UPS is full responsible.  I looked online to see  what Thesonic was selling their reconditioned VFX SD's for and insured it for  that amount.  The shipping cost via UPS, including insurance was  $101.31.  
>The  cost of the repair, including shipping back to me was $230.00, so my total  cost was $331.31.  
>It has  been working like new ever since.  
>I used  it as part of a practice organ.  (I am a retired public school music  teacher, and a church organist/choir director.)  I used the synthesizer  in teaching--I taught primarily elementary instrumental music.  Then I  used it as part of a practice organ.  I bought an AGO standard 32-note  MIDI pedalboard from a pipe organ manufacturer in Germany as well as a frame  to hold the synthesizer, another MIDI keyboard, and a music rack above.   I wanted to buy a used digital organ, but there's no way that I could  get that into my upstairs flat.  I used that as my home practice organ  for years while I saved for something better.  All of the sounds came  from the VFX SD.  I used a MIDI coupler to channel sounds to the keyboard  above and to the pedal board below, and feed it into my robust stereo sound  system.  
>Just  before Christmas I got a Nord C2 combo organ.  It is a two manual  keyboard that is actually 4 organs in one--a Hammond B3, a Farfisa, a Vox  Continental, and a digital sampled-sound Baroque pipe organ.  Here's a  link to a Nord C2 demo: http://www.clavia.se/main.asp?tm=Products&clpm=Nord_C2_Organ   
>This  new organ has taken the place of my Ensoniq in my practice organ  setup.  
>Hope  this helps.  Let me know how you make out.  
>Jim  
>
>________________________________
>  
>From:nexuszen <nexuszen@...>
>To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com 
>Sent: Monday, February 20, 2012 11:24 PM
>Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: VFX-SD  
>   
>Hi  Jim. I'm about ready to send off my Vfx's to the soniq.com thank you for the info though I realize that you  responded to me over a year ago can you "ball-park" the amount it cost you to  send it and get it repaired? I too am in the capital district it would help me  to know if i've saved enough to actually do one or both of them. thanks in  advance for whatever help you might be able to offer me. 
>
>-Nexuszen.
>
>--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, Jim Hughston <jimhughston@...> wrote:
>>
>> I 
  sent my non-working VFX-SD to       http://www.thesoniq.com/
>> 
>> 
  It was expensive to send it from the capital district of NY to California, but 
  well worth every penny. Â They did a wonderful job of restoring my 
  synthesizer. Â It has been a year and a half since I sent it off--it has 
  worked like new ever since. Â I took my synthesizer to the UPS Store and 
  had them pack it so as to guarantee that Thesonic would receive it 
  in good condition. Â I also insured it for its replacement value. 
  Â they also restore and sell VFS-SD's.
>> 
>> 
>> 
  ________________________________
>> From: nexuszen <nexuszen@...>
>> To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@...m
>> Sent: Wednesday, June 
  8, 2011 11:17 PM
>> Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] VFX-SD
>> 
>> 
>> Â  
>> Hi everyone it's been awhile. I have two VFX-SD 
  keyboards and neither of them work. is there some reputable place where I can 
  send them to get repaired. I was willing to try and do the service\repairs 
  myself but I don't want to mess up I have a fear of destroying the key boards. 
  I have Os 10.1 or at least that's what it says on the discs. but I can't load 
  them or the sequencer on any of my boards. one has one bank of sounds plays 
  fine no sequencer loaded. the other is constantly calibrating. can someone 
  help me or point me in the right 
  direction?
>>