Elektron Musical Instruments

yeah! i've finally got the cash to buy a MachineDrum! I'm 
considering buying a used MD here in the United States to accompany 
my Nord Modular and am naturally feeling very cautious about it 
being a large purchase for a *usually* broke college student...

I believe i've seen a couple of posts on here about some nasty 
problems w/ the OS and some hardware issues and the like - is there 
a certain lot of serial numbers that I should avoid or anything like 
that? Is there anything else that you, as a more experienced MD 
user, would suggest that I look out for? I'd appreciate any advice.

thanks!

- Brian

I've NEVER had a problem with mine and I've had it since February and its
used every day.

It is the future of contemporary percussion; YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO PASS IT
BY!
The O.S. upgrades on the Elektron Site should  solve any problems that might
be encountered on an older unit.




on 22/11/02 1:55 am, brianefrank at bfrank@... wrote:

yeah! i've finally got the cash to buy a MachineDrum! I'm
considering buying a used MD here in the United States to accompany
my Nord Modular and am naturally feeling very cautious about it
being a large purchase for a *usually* broke college student...

I believe i've seen a couple of posts on here about some nasty
problems w/ the OS and some hardware issues and the like - is there
a certain lot of serial numbers that I should avoid or anything like
that? Is there anything else that you, as a more experienced MD
user, would suggest that I look out for? I'd appreciate any advice.

thanks!

- Brian


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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

After twelve months of drooling over pictures and reviews of the 
Machinedrum, I finally decided to buy one through Elektron.  I swear to 
God it blew away my expectations and I was expecting a lot.  I've only 
had it a couple of days, but I've noticed a couple of problems with it 
- I think they are defects with my box or bugs in the hardware, but I'm 
trying to figure out if anyone else has seen this before I decide 
whether to send it back or not.  Also, the problems aren't so severe 
that I can't live with them.

1) The LEDs on the bottom-right hand corner which indicate which half 
of a 32-step sequence is being played are always both lit when in a 
32-step sequence.  When I'm in a 16-step sequence, no problems - the 
16-step LED is on and both 32-step LEDs are off.  However, when playing 
back a 32-step sequence, both ALWAYS stay on regardless of what half is 
playing.  Has anyone else seen this?

2) On two occasions so far, I've had to turn off and on the box to get 
it out of some weird state.  Maybe this is just user (read: my) error, 
but it seems to get into a state where the eight knobs always act as 
though I'm in Parameter Lock mode, even if I'm not holding down any of 
the DRUM buttons.  Am I missing something here?  From what I 
understand, if no DRUM buttons are held down, then you should always be 
adjusting the global mode - correct?  I even tried resetting the 
parameter lock (ie: pushing down on the knob while holding the DRUM 
button) and it didn't seem to have any effect.

Anyway, any input would be greatly appreciated.  So far, I've had it 
for about 60 hours and I've already created a half dozen kits and I'm 
running out of pattern memory.  :)  Oh, BTW, does anyone else think 
there's not enough memory for user patterns on this thing?

Al Cannistraro

"1) The LEDs on the bottom-right hand corner which indicate which 
half 
> of a 32-step sequence is being played are always both lit when in a 
> 32-step sequence.  When I'm in a 16-step sequence, no problems - 
the 
> 16-step LED is on and both 32-step LEDs are off.  However, when 
playing 
> back a 32-step sequence, both ALWAYS stay on regardless of what 
half is 
> playing.  Has anyone else seen this?


2) On two occasions so far, I've had to turn off and on the box to 
get 
> it out of some weird state.  Maybe this is just user (read: my) 
error, 
> but it seems to get into a state where the eight knobs always act 
as 
> though I'm in Parameter Lock mode, even if I'm not holding down any 
of 
> the DRUM buttons.  Am I missing something here?  From what I 
> understand, if no DRUM buttons are held down, then you should 
always be 
> adjusting the global mode - correct?  I even tried resetting the 
> parameter lock (ie: pushing down on the knob while holding the DRUM 
> button) and it didn't seem to have any effect."

Definitely contact Elektron and see about exchanging it or getting it 
fixed.  Should be no problem.  They can get a new one to you in a 
month.  Others have posted about their retun policy.  Luckily I 
haven't had to go without my MD (knock on wood).


"Anyway, any input would be greatly appreciated.  So far, I've had it 
> for about 60 hours and I've already created a half dozen kits and 
I'm 
> running out of pattern memory.  :)  Oh, BTW, does anyone else think 
> there's not enough memory for user patterns on this thing?"

You can do a sysex dump so it doesn't really matter that much.  

Welcome to the wonderful world of Machinedrum Al Cannistraro!

On Fri, Nov 22, 2002 at 01:55:47AM -0000, brianefrank wrote:
> yeah! i've finally got the cash to buy a MachineDrum! I'm 
> considering buying a used MD here in the United States to accompany 
> my Nord Modular and am naturally feeling very cautious about it 
> being a large purchase for a *usually* broke college student...
> 
> I believe i've seen a couple of posts on here about some nasty 
> problems w/ the OS and some hardware issues and the like - is there 
> a certain lot of serial numbers that I should avoid or anything like 
> that? Is there anything else that you, as a more experienced MD 
> user, would suggest that I look out for? I'd appreciate any advice.

many of us on the list have had it since the very first units
shipped.  We have field-tested it for Elektron and yeah, we witnessed
some unusual stuff, but I'd like to think over the last 9 months
or so the unit is very stable.  Really only the first rev of software
was crummy (bank select!)  

So, upgrade it to a new rev of software when you get it, and you'll
be in good shape.  

the only hardware difference was a knob and audio outputs upgrade they
did.  I don't know which of the units had the original knob and audio
outputs, but you can get those exchanged for free from the boys in
Sweden if you desire the upgrades.  They're not very critical, but
I suppose technically, you can use them in negotiating points to
get a few dollars off for the convenience of it.

-N

-- 
                                 DSP Audio Effects! http://gweep.net/~shifty
     .        .       .      .     .    .   .  . ... .  .   .    .     .      .
"La la la laaa laaa laaa                   "      |     Niente 
 La la la laaa laaa laaa."  -Stereolab            | shifty@...

Unit 1-100 had the old (heavy) potentiometers, and unit 1-266 had the 
old D/A converters in the separate outputs. The D/A upgrade is free 
only within this year (I think)., but there is a lifetime guarantee 
for the knobs (free transport within this year).

I think the knob upgrade is critical - several of the early knobs 
(mine included) went bad within a few months of purchase. Also, the 
newer knobs are MUCH nicer in practical use. But in ten years, there 
is bound to be some mad collectors paying mad prices for MDs with the 
original knobs... :)

Also, there is said to be a lot of noise in the original separate 
outputs (I never tried mine before the upgrade), though an OS upgrade 
cured that problem to some extent.

But don't let this put you off buying a Machinedrum. It's a one hell 
of a musical tool, don't think for one second you can do without 
it. :)

Regards,
Nils



--- In elektron-users@y..., Crackpot <shifty@g...> wrote:
 
> 
> the only hardware difference was a knob and audio outputs upgrade 
they
> did.  I don't know which of the units had the original knob and 
audio

> outputs, but you can get those exchanged for free from the boys in
> Sweden if you desire the upgrades.  They're not very critical, but
> I suppose technically, you can use them in negotiating points to
> get a few dollars off for the convenience of it.
> 
> -N

Hello,

I just bought an MD one week ago. It is installed with OS 1.12 and I 
have the same problem with both leds being lit when MD is playing a 
32 step pattern.
Have you found a solution to that problem ? Did you return your MD to 
elektron ?
Do other people have the same problem with OS 1.12 ?

Thanks

RV
--- In elektron-users@yahoogroups.com, Alan Cannistraro <alanc@a...> 
wrote:
> 
> After twelve months of drooling over pictures and reviews of the 
> Machinedrum, I finally decided to buy one through Elektron.  I 
swear to 
> God it blew away my expectations and I was expecting a lot.  I've 
only 
> had it a couple of days, but I've noticed a couple of problems with 
it 
> - I think they are defects with my box or bugs in the hardware, but 
I'm 
> trying to figure out if anyone else has seen this before I decide 
> whether to send it back or not.  Also, the problems aren't so 
severe 
> that I can't live with them.
> 
> 1) The LEDs on the bottom-right hand corner which indicate which 
half 
> of a 32-step sequence is being played are always both lit when in a 
> 32-step sequence.  When I'm in a 16-step sequence, no problems - 
the 
> 16-step LED is on and both 32-step LEDs are off.  However, when 
playing 
> back a 32-step sequence, both ALWAYS stay on regardless of what 
half is 
> playing.  Has anyone else seen this?
> 
> 2) On two occasions so far, I've had to turn off and on the box to 
get 
> it out of some weird state.  Maybe this is just user (read: my) 
error, 
> but it seems to get into a state where the eight knobs always act 
as 
> though I'm in Parameter Lock mode, even if I'm not holding down any 
of 
> the DRUM buttons.  Am I missing something here?  From what I 
> understand, if no DRUM buttons are held down, then you should 
always be 
> adjusting the global mode - correct?  I even tried resetting the 
> parameter lock (ie: pushing down on the knob while holding the DRUM 
> button) and it didn't seem to have any effect.
> 
> Anyway, any input would be greatly appreciated.  So far, I've had 
it 
> for about 60 hours and I've already created a half dozen kits and 
I'm 

> running out of pattern memory.  :)  Oh, BTW, does anyone else think 
> there's not enough memory for user patterns on this thing?
> 
> Al Cannistraro

> I just bought an MD one week ago. It is installed with OS 1.12 and I
> have the same problem with both leds being lit when MD is playing a
> 32 step pattern.
> Have you found a solution to that problem ? Did you return your MD to
> elektron ?
> Do other people have the same problem with OS 1.12 ?

Nope.  Unfortunately haven't found a solution.  Mine was originally 
installed with 1.11 and it still had the problem.  I was hoping the 
upgrade to 1.12 would have fixed it.  I have a feeling it's a flaw in 
the hardware, but I can't part with my MD for a whole month just for 
this one issue.  I have deadlines...

Elektron - if you're listening... help!

Al

I've never had this problem.  What serial number is yours?  It might be a hardware flaw within a certian number range.
I had to send my MD back for the output repair and it was back home is a week.  It takes 3 days to get to Sweden from the East Coast of the states via Fedex priority (which they pay for).  All in all I didn't have it for a little over a week.  They make thier repairs very fast.

sean