Elektron Musical Instruments

> Then I came across strange noises (short pops or clicks, just like 
> noise
> from electric static that gets discharged) and I started to track the
> source. Sadly, I found that it´s the MD, and after that I checked the
> website and this list.

<snip>

> I have all ins and outs connected, although the ins are leading to a
> patchbay with no constant input. However, having all 6 outputs 
> connected
> to a digital mixer, I can easily turn the meters to peak hold and just 
> switch
> the MD on, pattern A1 (factory reset), wait a few seconds and voila : 
> I got
> spikes at about -18 dB from a channel that would normally be a bout 
> -3dB
> when playing sounds.

<snip>

> What scares me is the fact that the noise seems to go to the single 
> outs
> too, and please correct me if I´m wrong, but I think after factory 
> reset, no
> sound is assigned to the single outs ? I´m very very new to this 
> machine,
> so please don´t be annoyed if I overlook something here. The noise 
> seems
> to come in pairs, i.e. either out AB, CD or EF, most of the time one 
> channel
> of the pair has about 3dB less level than the other. But there is no 
> was to
> predict if it´s the "left" one of a pair or the "right" one.

First make an empty reset, then try the Machinedrum in an other place; 
may be you have some problems with the electric lines in your studio.
If it's still noisy, then contact Elektron support. They are very 
friendly and will probably fix your MD if it's defective.

Have you bought it second hand?

>
> I remember that there was something written about the first units 
> having
> problems and getting a hardware replacement, did I dream that ? How can
> I check if my machine is one of those ? the serial number is not self
> explaining here :)
>

Yes it's true, first units had noisy outputs.
I have one of those units and I haven't fixed it yet.
But it isn't as noisy as yours, it's pretty quiet indeed.

> Last question : When going to the maintenace menu (press function  
> during
> boot), there is one option where you check the hardware. If I press
> buttons, there is a certain pattern of LED going on and off, I guess 
> these
> are binary codes reflecting my button pressing. IS THERE ANY DOCUMENT
> THAT EXPLAINS THIS ? Strange thing here : Most buttons give me just a
> few lit LEDs, while one button seems to light almost all of them ?

Don't mess with the  maintenance menu; only Elektron knows how it works.

Hi all,


I just managed to rebuild my projekt studio these days and was pretty 
exited to work with a new piece of gear - the beloved machinedrum. 

Then I came across strange noises (short pops or clicks, just like noise 
from electric static that gets discharged) and I started to track the 
source. Sadly, I found that it\ufffds the MD, and after that I checked the 
website and this list. 

After checking the friend newsletter, I upgraded my MD OS from 1.12 to 
1.12b (I hope the b doesn\ufffdt mean beta, but 3rd subversion of 1.12), but 
that did help nothing at all - although the readme said so. Now I\ufffdm scared 
my hardware is defective. 

I have all ins and outs connected, although the ins are leading to a 
patchbay with no constant input. However, having all 6 outputs connected 
to a digital mixer, I can easily turn the meters to peak hold and just switch 
the MD on, pattern A1 (factory reset), wait a few seconds and voila : I got 
spikes at about -18 dB from a channel that would normally be a bout -3dB 
when playing sounds. 

What scares me is the fact that the noise seems to go to the single outs 
too, and please correct me if I\ufffdm wrong, but I think after factory reset, no 
sound is assigned to the single outs ? I\ufffdm very very new to this machine, 
so please don\ufffdt be annoyed if I overlook something here. The noise seems 
to come in pairs, i.e. either out AB, CD or EF, most of the time one channel 
of the pair has about 3dB less level than the other. But there is no was to 
predict if it\ufffds the "left" one of a pair or the "right" one. 

I remember that there was something written about the first units having 
problems and getting a hardware replacement, did I dream that ? How can 
I check if my machine is one of those ? the serial number is not self 
explaining here :)

Last question : When going to the maintenace menu (press function  during 
boot), there is one option where you check the hardware. If I press 
buttons, there is a certain pattern of LED going on and off, I guess these 
are binary codes reflecting my button pressing. IS THERE ANY DOCUMENT 
THAT EXPLAINS THIS ? Strange thing here : Most buttons give me just a 
few lit LEDs, while one button seems to light almost all of them ? 


Don\ufffdt get me wrong, I love the MD and I can\ufffdt wait to integrate it forever 
into my setup. But with the actual noise coming out of it, it is really 
unusable, since the unpredictable click screws up EVERY take I\ufffdm trying to 
do. Since it\ufffds no constant noise, I guess there is no cure like gate or 
something....


I\ufffdd be glad to hear if others lost their clicks by software or OS upgrade or 
if the problem persisted, so I can try to track the noisemaker down and 
find a workaround. 


Thanks in advance,



Oliver Keller

On Sat, Sep 20, 2003 at 09:52:29AM -0700, Oliver Keller wrote:
>    i\ufffdm into computer science

ditto :-)

(good luck with your MD.)
Joe

Hi Federico, 

>  First make an empty reset, then try the Machinedrum in an other place;
>  may be you have some problems with the electric lines in your studio.
>  If it's still noisy, then contact Elektron support. They are very

Yep, I did empty reset, factory reset, tried eveything.

Since I recabled the complete studio last week, using neutrik and cordial 
only, i doubt it\ufffds the cabling - all other synths are absolutely quiet (except 
the prophecy, which is a noise monster), and there are a few... 

However, I\ufffdll check if I get the clicks if I isolate the MD, I\ufffdll be back with 
the results. 

It\ufffds a pity it\ufffds weekend now, so I\ufffdll have to wait until next week to get in 
contact with elektron. However, based on what I read all over the net, I 
think the quality of their service will give me peace of mind. 

>  Have you bought it second hand?

No, I bought it as a new unit from my dealer.

>  Yes it's true, first units had noisy outputs.
>  I have one of those units and I haven't fixed it yet.
>  But it isn't as noisy as yours, it's pretty quiet indeed.

Was / is this noise like occasional clicks with no pattern (like if it came from 
delay) or is it something else ?

>  Don't mess with the  maintenance menu; only Elektron knows how it 
works.

Well, ok then. From what I remember, when pressing the lower buttons 1-
16 (instruments), the LEDs were lit in a pattern like binary counting : 

1 = 001
2 = 010
3 = 011
4 = 100

etc...

I think there is some system and since i\ufffdm into computer science, I\ufffdm just 
curious :) But never mind, the MD is for music, I can get to bits with other 
boxes :)


Later,


Oliver

We usually do not reply to these kind of support things on the list,
but since I'm already so why not...

The spikes could be hardware related. If you have tried all kind of
environments, and reset the unit to factory default then there
should be no reason for spikes in the separate outputs. If your unit
is still under warranty we honour it over owner changes.

About the test mode, all of the buttons and encoders should just do 
some kind of action. They light up leds corresponding to the latches 
activated by the keys/encoders. And the first four buttons have the 
special functions of lighting up/turning off all the leds and pixels 
on the display, just to be able to test them quickly. It's not 
intended to make so much sense to end users without guidance, and 
will not help you on this topic.

If your problem persists, please contact support@...

Daniel

--- In elektron-users@yahoogroups.com, Oliver Keller <cookie@d...> 
wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> 
> I just managed to rebuild my projekt studio these days and was 
pretty 
> exited to work with a new piece of gear - the beloved machinedrum. 
> 
> Then I came across strange noises (short pops or clicks, just like 
noise 
> from electric static that gets discharged) and I started to track 
the 
> source. Sadly, I found that it´s the MD, and after that I checked 
the 
> website and this list. 
> 
> After checking the friend newsletter, I upgraded my MD OS from 
1.12 to 
> 1.12b (I hope the b doesn´t mean beta, but 3rd subversion of 
1.12), but 
> that did help nothing at all - although the readme said so. Now 
I´m scared 
> my hardware is defective. 
> 
> I have all ins and outs connected, although the ins are leading to 
a 
> patchbay with no constant input. However, having all 6 outputs 
connected 
> to a digital mixer, I can easily turn the meters to peak hold and 
just switch 
> the MD on, pattern A1 (factory reset), wait a few seconds and 
voila : I got 
> spikes at about -18 dB from a channel that would normally be a 
bout -3dB 
> when playing sounds. 
> 
> What scares me is the fact that the noise seems to go to the 
single outs 
> too, and please correct me if I´m wrong, but I think after factory 
reset, no 
> sound is assigned to the single outs ? I´m very very new to this 
machine, 
> so please don´t be annoyed if I overlook something here. The noise 
seems 
> to come in pairs, i.e. either out AB, CD or EF, most of the time 
one channel 
> of the pair has about 3dB less level than the other. But there is 
no was to 
> predict if it´s the "left" one of a pair or the "right" one. 
> 
> I remember that there was something written about the first units 
having 
> problems and getting a hardware replacement, did I dream that ? 
How can 
> I check if my machine is one of those ? the serial number is not 
self 
> explaining here :)
> 
> Last question : When going to the maintenace menu (press function  
during 
> boot), there is one option where you check the hardware. If I 
press 
> buttons, there is a certain pattern of LED going on and off, I 
guess these 
> are binary codes reflecting my button pressing. IS THERE ANY 
DOCUMENT 
> THAT EXPLAINS THIS ? Strange thing here : Most buttons give me 
just a 
> few lit LEDs, while one button seems to light almost all of them ? 
> 
> 
> Don´t get me wrong, I love the MD and I can´t wait to integrate it 
forever 
> into my setup. But with the actual noise coming out of it, it is 
really 
> unusable, since the unpredictable click screws up EVERY take I´m 
trying to 
> do. Since it´s no constant noise, I guess there is no cure like 
gate or 
> something....
> 
> 
> I´d be glad to hear if others lost their clicks by software or OS 
upgrade or 
> if the problem persisted, so I can try to track the noisemaker 
down and 

> find a workaround. 
> 
> 
> Thanks in advance,
> 
> 
> 
> Oliver Keller