Patches and discussion for Ensoniq VFX family

Okay Guys and Gals.  I'm throwing this open to anybody.  About a year,
or more, ago, I purchased an Ensoniq VFX-SD on Ebay.  Now I owned one
before until it was ripped off back in the late 80's, early 90's.

When I recieved this keyboard the sequencer did not work and as I
recall  there were more voices than the standard 54.  I took it to a
reputable repair shop and they couldn't find anything.  They had no
idea why this keyboard didn't work anymore than it did.

So, I am begging you....PLEASE...somebody...tell me what is wrong with
my beloved VFX-SD!!!

Thanks in advance.

Bob

I don't have a VFX-SD, only a VFX so I can't help with the sequencer.

I don't exactly understand the voices question, my VFX has waveforms,
sounds, programs, tracks and presets.  Voices are the sound generation
entities consisting of oscillators, filters, modulators, etc, sound sources.
After you add all the "voices" you are using, max is 21 dynamically assigned
for the VFX.  I don't think that part changed between the VFX and  VFX-SD.
Is this what you mean by voices?

Bob
Corona/Riverside, CA


----- Original Message ----- 

From: "Bob" <DJBobbyC@...>
To: <Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 8:05 PM
Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] My VFX-SD


>
>
> Okay Guys and Gals.  I'm throwing this open to anybody.  About a year,
> or more, ago, I purchased an Ensoniq VFX-SD on Ebay.  Now I owned one
> before until it was ripped off back in the late 80's, early 90's.
>
> When I recieved this keyboard the sequencer did not work and as I
> recall  there were more voices than the standard 54.  I took it to a
> reputable repair shop and they couldn't find anything.  They had no
> idea why this keyboard didn't work anymore than it did.
>
> So, I am begging you....PLEASE...somebody...tell me what is wrong with
> my beloved VFX-SD!!!
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Bob
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Did you know it did not work properly when you brought it? Do you 
mean the number of on board programes is not as it should be?. I 
would have thought the internal battery was at fault, but as you say 
it's been checked out then I guess it's not. Have you checked the 
roms are seated 'fully'in thier sockets?. Have you tried
this.
Preset+Compare: Analog tests 
Preset+Soft Button 1: Initialize system (save your sounds before 
doing that!) 
Preset+Soft Button 3: Reset (similar to power-up cycle) 







--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, "Bob S." <tttsystems@e...> 
wrote:
> I don't have a VFX-SD, only a VFX so I can't help with the 
sequencer.
> 
> I don't exactly understand the voices question, my VFX has 
waveforms,
> sounds, programs, tracks and presets.  Voices are the sound 
generation
> entities consisting of oscillators, filters, modulators, etc, sound 
sources.
> After you add all the "voices" you are using, max is 21 dynamically 
assigned
> for the VFX.  I don't think that part changed between the VFX and  
VFX-SD.
> Is this what you mean by voices?
> 
> Bob
> Corona/Riverside, CA
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bob" <DJBobbyC@h...>
> To: <Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 8:05 PM
> Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] My VFX-SD
> 
> 
> >
> >
> > Okay Guys and Gals.  I'm throwing this open to anybody.  About a 
year,
> > or more, ago, I purchased an Ensoniq VFX-SD on Ebay.  Now I owned 
one
> > before until it was ripped off back in the late 80's, early 90's.
> >
> > When I recieved this keyboard the sequencer did not work and as I
> > recall  there were more voices than the standard 54.  I took it 
to a
> > reputable repair shop and they couldn't find anything.  They had 
no
> > idea why this keyboard didn't work anymore than it did.
> >
> > So, I am begging you....PLEASE...somebody...tell me what is wrong 
with

> > my beloved VFX-SD!!!
> >
> > Thanks in advance.
> >
> > Bob
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >

Actually, I did not know about all these faults when I bought the
keyboard.  I figured I could just take it to the repair people and all
would be well.  In the mean time, however, the guy I bought it from
left Ebay.  It's been well over a year now so I only have myself to blame.

Thanks for your suggestions.  I will try them.

--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, "numaniod2005"
<numaniod2005@y...> wrote:

> 
> Did you know it did not work properly when you brought it? Do you 
> mean the number of on board programes is not as it should be?. I 
> would have thought the internal battery was at fault, but as you say 
> it's been checked out then I guess it's not. Have you checked the 
> roms are seated 'fully'in thier sockets?. Have you tried
> this.
> Preset+Compare: Analog tests 
> Preset+Soft Button 1: Initialize system (save your sounds before 
> doing that!) 
> Preset+Soft Button 3: Reset (similar to power-up cycle) 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, "Bob S." <tttsystems@e...> 
> wrote:
> > I don't have a VFX-SD, only a VFX so I can't help with the 
> sequencer.
> > 
> > I don't exactly understand the voices question, my VFX has 
> waveforms,
> > sounds, programs, tracks and presets.  Voices are the sound 
> generation
> > entities consisting of oscillators, filters, modulators, etc, sound 
> sources.
> > After you add all the "voices" you are using, max is 21 dynamically 
> assigned
> > for the VFX.  I don't think that part changed between the VFX and  
> VFX-SD.
> > Is this what you mean by voices?
> > 
> > Bob
> > Corona/Riverside, CA
> > 
> > 
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Bob" <DJBobbyC@h...>
> > To: <Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 8:05 PM
> > Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] My VFX-SD
> > 
> > 
> > >
> > >
> > > Okay Guys and Gals.  I'm throwing this open to anybody.  About a 
> year,
> > > or more, ago, I purchased an Ensoniq VFX-SD on Ebay.  Now I owned 
> one
> > > before until it was ripped off back in the late 80's, early 90's.
> > >
> > > When I recieved this keyboard the sequencer did not work and as I
> > > recall  there were more voices than the standard 54.  I took it 
> to a
> > > reputable repair shop and they couldn't find anything.  They had 
> no
> > > idea why this keyboard didn't work anymore than it did.
> > >
> > > So, I am begging you....PLEASE...somebody...tell me what is wrong 
> with
> > > my beloved VFX-SD!!!
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance.
> > >
> > > Bob
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >

Bob,

The OS for the VFX-SD is to be loaded from floppy.

After successful loading, if the sequencer does not
remain loaded when you turn on and off the VFX-SD,
this means that the internal battery is dead.

Fred

--- Bob <DJBobbyC@...> wrote:
> 
> Actually, I did not know about all these faults when
> I bought the
> keyboard.  I figured I could just take it to the
> repair people and all
> would be well.  In the mean time, however, the guy I
> bought it from
> left Ebay.  It's been well over a year now so I only
> have myself to blame.
> 
> Thanks for your suggestions.  I will try them.
> 
> --- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com,
> "numaniod2005"
> <numaniod2005@y...> wrote:
> > 
> > Did you know it did not work properly when you
> brought it? Do you 
> > mean the number of on board programes is not as it
> should be?. I 
> > would have thought the internal battery was at
> fault, but as you say 
> > it's been checked out then I guess it's not. Have
> you checked the 
> > roms are seated 'fully'in thier sockets?. Have you
> tried
> > this.
> > Preset+Compare: Analog tests 
> > Preset+Soft Button 1: Initialize system (save your
> sounds before 
> > doing that!) 
> > Preset+Soft Button 3: Reset (similar to power-up
> cycle) 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > --- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, "Bob S."
> <tttsystems@e...> 
> > wrote:
> > > I don't have a VFX-SD, only a VFX so I can't
> help with the 
> > sequencer.
> > > 
> > > I don't exactly understand the voices question,
> my VFX has 
> > waveforms,
> > > sounds, programs, tracks and presets.  Voices
> are the sound 
> > generation
> > > entities consisting of oscillators, filters,
> modulators, etc, sound 
> > sources.
> > > After you add all the "voices" you are using,
> max is 21 dynamically 
> > assigned
> > > for the VFX.  I don't think that part changed
> between the VFX and  
> > VFX-SD.
> > > Is this what you mean by voices?
> > > 
> > > Bob
> > > Corona/Riverside, CA
> > > 
> > > 
> > > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > > From: "Bob" <DJBobbyC@h...>
> > > To: <Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com>
> > > Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 8:05 PM
> > > Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] My VFX-SD
> > > 
> > > 
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Okay Guys and Gals.  I'm throwing this open to
> anybody.  About a 
> > year,
> > > > or more, ago, I purchased an Ensoniq VFX-SD on
> Ebay.  Now I owned 
> > one
> > > > before until it was ripped off back in the
> late 80's, early 90's.
> > > >
> > > > When I recieved this keyboard the sequencer
> did not work and as I
> > > > recall  there were more voices than the
> standard 54.  I took it 
> > to a
> > > > reputable repair shop and they couldn't find
> anything.  They had 
> > no
> > > > idea why this keyboard didn't work anymore
> than it did.
> > > >
> > > > So, I am begging
> you....PLEASE...somebody...tell me what is wrong 
> > with
> > > > my beloved VFX-SD!!!
> > > >
> > > > Thanks in advance.
> > > >
> > > > Bob
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> 
> 
> 
> 

--
Si la pierre tombe sur l'oeuf, malheur a l'oeuf,
Si l'oeuf tombe sur la pierre, malheur a l'oeuf.
   Frederic (roidelaplage@...)


	

	
		
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D\ufffdcouvrez le nouveau Yahoo! Mail : 250 Mo d'espace de stockage pour vos mails ! 
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> After successful loading, if the sequencer does not remain 
> loaded when you turn on and off the VFX-SD, this means that 
> the internal battery is dead.

The battery is certainly worth checking.  It should be something on the
order of 3.2 volts dc if I recall (measured, obviously, with the unit turned
off).  The nominal voltage is marked on the battery.  If it has never been
replaced, its ability to hold a charge is probably questionable given the
age of these things.

I replaced the battery in my SD-1 with the socketed version from Route 66
Studios.  The solder tabs on the socket don't fit in the old circuit board
holes, so I mounted the socket/battery to the case next to the board with
double sided tape and ran a couple of short leads to the circuit board.
Requires disconnecting several cables and removing the board from the case
to get to the solder traces on the bottom.  It isn't all that tricky, but
depends on whether or not you're comfortable doing that sort of thing ...

Grant

Grant
     Not sure what you mean buy the socket didnt fit, the ones we sell are an exact match. Maybe I can send you another?
 Rich 

-----Original Message-----
From: Grant Youngman <nq5t@...>
To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Fri, 22 Apr 2005 09:56:03 -0500
Subject: RE: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: My VFX-SD



> After successful loading, if the sequencer does not remain 
> loaded when you turn on and off the VFX-SD, this means that 
> the internal battery is dead.

The battery is certainly worth checking.  It should be something on the
order of 3.2 volts dc if I recall (measured, obviously, with the unit turned
off).  The nominal voltage is marked on the battery.  If it has never been
replaced, its ability to hold a charge is probably questionable given the
age of these things.

I replaced the battery in my SD-1 with the socketed version from Route 66
Studios.  The solder tabs on the socket don't fit in the old circuit board
holes, so I mounted the socket/battery to the case next to the board with
double sided tape and ran a couple of short leads to the circuit board.
Requires disconnecting several cables and removing the board from the case
to get to the solder traces on the bottom.  It isn't all that tricky, but
depends on whether or not you're comfortable doing that sort of thing ...

Grant





 
Yahoo! Groups Links

>      Not sure what you mean buy the socket didnt fit, the 
> ones we sell are an exact match. Maybe I can send you another?
>  Rich 

Hi, Rich ...

The two solder pins on the socket were further apart than the pins on the
original battery, and I couldn't get them to bend inward enough for a tight
and secure fit to the circuit board.

I'm an experienced technician, so it was no big deal.  I installed the
socket as I described without any real difficutly.  I simply assumed that
was the way things were :-)

Grant

Hi.
I am aware of the OS being loaded from disk.  In this case the
sequencer just will not work.

--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, Roi de la plage
<roidelaplage@y...> wrote:
> Bob,
> 
> The OS for the VFX-SD is to be loaded from floppy.
> 
> After successful loading, if the sequencer does not
> remain loaded when you turn on and off the VFX-SD,
> this means that the internal battery is dead.
> 
> Fred
> 
> --- Bob <DJBobbyC@h...> wrote:
> > 
> > Actually, I did not know about all these faults when
> > I bought the
> > keyboard.  I figured I could just take it to the
> > repair people and all
> > would be well.  In the mean time, however, the guy I
> > bought it from
> > left Ebay.  It's been well over a year now so I only
> > have myself to blame.
> > 
> > Thanks for your suggestions.  I will try them.
> > 
> > --- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com,
> > "numaniod2005"
> > <numaniod2005@y...> wrote:
> > > 
> > > Did you know it did not work properly when you
> > brought it? Do you 
> > > mean the number of on board programes is not as it
> > should be?. I 
> > > would have thought the internal battery was at
> > fault, but as you say 
> > > it's been checked out then I guess it's not. Have
> > you checked the 
> > > roms are seated 'fully'in thier sockets?. Have you
> > tried
> > > this.
> > > Preset+Compare: Analog tests 
> > > Preset+Soft Button 1: Initialize system (save your
> > sounds before 
> > > doing that!) 
> > > Preset+Soft Button 3: Reset (similar to power-up
> > cycle) 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > --- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, "Bob S."
> > <tttsystems@e...> 
> > > wrote:
> > > > I don't have a VFX-SD, only a VFX so I can't
> > help with the 
> > > sequencer.
> > > > 
> > > > I don't exactly understand the voices question,
> > my VFX has 
> > > waveforms,
> > > > sounds, programs, tracks and presets.  Voices
> > are the sound 
> > > generation
> > > > entities consisting of oscillators, filters,
> > modulators, etc, sound 
> > > sources.
> > > > After you add all the "voices" you are using,
> > max is 21 dynamically 
> > > assigned
> > > > for the VFX.  I don't think that part changed
> > between the VFX and  
> > > VFX-SD.
> > > > Is this what you mean by voices?
> > > > 
> > > > Bob
> > > > Corona/Riverside, CA
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > > > From: "Bob" <DJBobbyC@h...>
> > > > To: <Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com>
> > > > Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 8:05 PM
> > > > Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] My VFX-SD
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Okay Guys and Gals.  I'm throwing this open to
> > anybody.  About a 
> > > year,
> > > > > or more, ago, I purchased an Ensoniq VFX-SD on
> > Ebay.  Now I owned 
> > > one
> > > > > before until it was ripped off back in the
> > late 80's, early 90's.
> > > > >
> > > > > When I recieved this keyboard the sequencer
> > did not work and as I
> > > > > recall  there were more voices than the
> > standard 54.  I took it 
> > > to a
> > > > > reputable repair shop and they couldn't find
> > anything.  They had 
> > > no
> > > > > idea why this keyboard didn't work anymore
> > than it did.
> > > > >
> > > > > So, I am begging
> > you....PLEASE...somebody...tell me what is wrong 
> > > with
> > > > > my beloved VFX-SD!!!
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks in advance.
> > > > >
> > > > > Bob
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> 
> --
> Si la pierre tombe sur l'oeuf, malheur a l'oeuf,
> Si l'oeuf tombe sur la pierre, malheur a l'oeuf.
>    Frederic (roidelaplage@y...)
> 
> 
> 	
> 
> 	
> 		
> __________________________________________________________________
> Découvrez le nouveau Yahoo! Mail : 250 Mo d'espace de stockage pour
vos mails ! 
> Créez votre Yahoo! Mail sur http://fr.mail.yahoo.com/

Thanks, Grant.  I will be sure to check the battery.  Although you
would think that the tech who worked on it would have checked it. 
Stiil, stranger things have happened.

Bob

--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, "Grant Youngman" <nq5t@c...> wrote:
> > After successful loading, if the sequencer does not remain 
> > loaded when you turn on and off the VFX-SD, this means that 
> > the internal battery is dead.
> 
> The battery is certainly worth checking.  It should be something on the
> order of 3.2 volts dc if I recall (measured, obviously, with the
unit turned
> off).  The nominal voltage is marked on the battery.  If it has
never been
> replaced, its ability to hold a charge is probably questionable
given the
> age of these things.
> 
> I replaced the battery in my SD-1 with the socketed version from
Route 66
> Studios.  The solder tabs on the socket don't fit in the old circuit
board
> holes, so I mounted the socket/battery to the case next to the board
with
> double sided tape and ran a couple of short leads to the circuit board.
> Requires disconnecting several cables and removing the board from
the case
> to get to the solder traces on the bottom.  It isn't all that
tricky, but
> depends on whether or not you're comfortable doing that sort of
thing ...
> 
> Grant

Hummmm...I wonder if somehow your unit had a different spacing because 
we sell that part alot and never had that problem, the other thought is 
that a larger one got mixed in the box and no one noticed. They would 
be vary tiny size differences, would you like me to send you another?
 Rich

 -----Original Message-----
 From: Grant Youngman <nq5t@...>
 To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
 Sent: Fri, 22 Apr 2005 18:06:41 -0500
 Subject: RE: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: My VFX-SD



 > Not sure what you mean buy the socket didnt fit, the
 > ones we sell are an exact match. Maybe I can send you another?
 > Rich

 Hi, Rich ...

  The two solder pins on the socket were further apart than the pins on 
the
  original battery, and I couldn't get them to bend inward enough for a 
tight
 and secure fit to the circuit board.

 I'm an experienced technician, so it was no big deal. I installed the
  socket as I described without any real difficutly. I simply assumed 
that
 was the way things were :-)

 Grant




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