Patches and discussion for Ensoniq VFX family

> 
> Message: 1
>    Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 22:30:32 -0000
>    From: "Chris Rolland" <chris_i_rolland@...>
> Subject: Keyboard Receive Error
> 
> Hi All . . . I've just joined the group. I used to own a VFX (I 
> bought one of the first), and kept it for 3 happy years before part-
> ex ing it for a Korg 01/Wpro . . . big mistake . . . I wanted my VFX 
> back after a week, but the shop had already sold it!. I bought a 
> second-hand VFX a couple of years ago in non-working order, and have 
> done various repairs (actually it was dead simple . . . fuses, new 
> ROMs, clean the cartridge connector, new battery etc. etc).
> 
> I now have a problem I can't work out . . . I don't think it's 
> related to the infamous "Calibration" fault, but I wil bow to 
> anyone's better judgement. If I leave the VFX off for a long time
> (days), when I turn it back on I get either a "Keyboard Receive 
> Error", or a Calibration error (If I ignore this none of the notes 
> work). If I leave it on in this state for about 5 minutes a couple of 
> soft "clicks" can be heard, and if I reboot all is well (apart from a 
> few "ghost" notes until it's really warm). If I leave it on for a 
> while I sometimes can hear the odd soft click, so I wondered about 
> the dodgy connector . . .
> 
> Now before I wield soldering Iron to implement the Calibration fix, 
> is this going to solve the problem, or should I just bin the Keyboard 
> module and get another one? I've got all the schematics EXCEPT the 
> Keyboard Module, and the Service Manuals, but there is no mention of 
> this error.

I don't think anyone will be able to tell you for sure that the
calibration fix will fix your particular problem.

But it is so easy to do (especially for someone who has already
tackled fuses, roms, battery, etc.) that you can't lose giving it a
shot.  I do think the symptoms you describe sound *similar* to the
things we've seen with the keyboard before.

The VFXsd that I purchased used had the usual keyboard calibration
failure syndromes (ghost notes, etc), and the original owner didn't
know if the hardwired keyboard mod had been done or not, so I figured
I knew what was wrong, and got a good deal on it.  I opened it up to
perform the fix, and much to my dismay, I discovered the keyboard was
already hard wired.

However, I re-soldered the joints, cleaned up all the other
connections, put it back together, and I haven't had a single problem
since (I'm sure it's been at least 3 years).

The keyboard calibration failure fix simply deals with intermittent
connections on the keyboard assembly, going to the extreme of
replacing some of the connetions with wires instead of connectors.  If
you feel it's any less effort than doing the full keyboard mod, just
take it all apart, clean all connections, and put it back together
again, and see if that changes the symtoms at all.  If it does, then
you know what problem you're looking at, and that you'll eventually
have to do it.  (The connection to hard-wire is the one between the
two boards that, together, go the length of the keybed.  Be sure to
get that connection clean.)

Good luck!

--> Steve Wahl