Elektron Musical Instruments

Sometimes when i touch the upper plate of my machinedrum.
I feel a small shock and suddenly random leds go on.
Last time i touched the plate around the knobs and play button.
It also happened once when i touched the surface on the upper right. 
Anywayz the last time:
Almost all leds from sound selection went on and stayed on + many 
leds from my drum button + 2 leds where u can select synthesis / 
routing / effects, while there should only be 1 led on. When i press 
play some leds go out, and when i start pushing other buttons the 
rest of the leds go out. And everything seems normal again.
The leds that go on when i touch the surface seems random, I cant 
really tell yet.

What the hell is going on here !? Why is this thing so sensitive for 
a little static electricity ?
Can this damage my unit ?

I would send this to elektron support.  This is not normal behavior, 
your unit has an issue which should be covered by warranty.

On Mar 29, 2004, at 3:54 PM, binaryzero1 wrote:

> Sometimes when i touch the upper plate of my machinedrum.
> I feel a small shock and suddenly random leds go on.
> Last time i touched the plate around the knobs and play button.
> It also happened once when i touched the surface on the upper right.
> Anywayz the last time:
> Almost all leds from sound selection went on and stayed on + many
> leds from my drum button + 2 leds where u can select synthesis /
> routing / effects, while there should only be 1 led on. When i press
> play some leds go out, and when i start pushing other buttons the
> rest of the leds go out. And everything seems normal again.
> The leds that go on when i touch the surface seems random, I cant
> really tell yet.
>
> What the hell is going on here !? Why is this thing so sensitive for
> a little static electricity ?
> Can this damage my unit ?
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>

This could be a problem with your ground since the MD outside is
conductive.  You problem is probably with your electricity.  You might
want to get a surge protector for your devices.  Make sure it's all
grounded.

I get shocked once in a while but I don't light leds!  Those are quite
easy to light up and they actually show activity.

--- In elektron-users@yahoogroups.com, "binaryzero1"
<binaryzero1@h...> wrote:

> Sometimes when i touch the upper plate of my machinedrum.
> I feel a small shock and suddenly random leds go on.
> Last time i touched the plate around the knobs and play button.
> It also happened once when i touched the surface on the upper right. 
> Anywayz the last time:
> Almost all leds from sound selection went on and stayed on + many 
> leds from my drum button + 2 leds where u can select synthesis / 
> routing / effects, while there should only be 1 led on. When i press 
> play some leds go out, and when i start pushing other buttons the 
> rest of the leds go out. And everything seems normal again.
> The leds that go on when i touch the surface seems random, I cant 
> really tell yet.
> 
> What the hell is going on here !? Why is this thing so sensitive for 
> a little static electricity ?
> Can this damage my unit ?

I had the same thing with my Monomachine a few days ago.
But I guess it was because of the carpet in my studio and a plastic 
Jacket i wore.  


Flo


--- In elektron-users@yahoogroups.com, "endlessnessisticman" 
<endlessnessisticman@y...> wrote:
> This could be a problem with your ground since the MD outside is
> conductive.  You problem is probably with your electricity.  You 
might
> want to get a surge protector for your devices.  Make sure it's all
> grounded.
> 
> I get shocked once in a while but I don't light leds!  Those are 
quite
> easy to light up and they actually show activity.
> 
> --- In elektron-users@yahoogroups.com, "binaryzero1"
> <binaryzero1@h...> wrote:
> > Sometimes when i touch the upper plate of my machinedrum.
> > I feel a small shock and suddenly random leds go on.
> > Last time i touched the plate around the knobs and play button.
> > It also happened once when i touched the surface on the upper 
right. 
> > Anywayz the last time:
> > Almost all leds from sound selection went on and stayed on + many 
> > leds from my drum button + 2 leds where u can select synthesis / 
> > routing / effects, while there should only be 1 led on. When i 
press 
> > play some leds go out, and when i start pushing other buttons the 
> > rest of the leds go out. And everything seems normal again.
> > The leds that go on when i touch the surface seems random, I cant 
> > really tell yet.
> > 
> > What the hell is going on here !? Why is this thing so sensitive 
for 
> > a little static electricity ?
> > Can this damage my unit ?

Le 30 mars 2004, à 01:54, binaryzero1 a écrit :

> What the hell is going on here !? Why is this thing so sensitive for
> a little static electricity ?

Hey… Electronics ! A static discharge is WAY bigger than any voltage 
running around in your flat (in the hundreds to thousands Volts, very 
low current).

Check your carpeting, it may be building static charge while you walk 
on and it's BAD for you electronic equipment (be it synths, audio stuff 
or computer). Fitted carpets are especially good candidates, 
particularly when not antistatic.

Check also your shoes as it can be the combinaison of both that raise 
the issue.

It certainly not an issue with your electricity as if it was, you would 
have the discharge everytime (and, then it's you who are in danger 
along with all electrical stuff at your home: current thru the earth 
mhmm).

> Can this damage my unit ?

It's a possibility, only Elektron can say for sure. The fact the LEDs 
go haywire is not a good sign though, the MD box is working as a 
Faraday box (protecting the inside) but it may not be enough for some 
parts (the Faraday cage is not perfect due to the holes there is in the 
metal).

Check that carpet/shoes now!

Denis =G)

Thanks for the replies people.
I dont have any carpet in my room. Its more like some kinda 
plastic / shiny surface i dont know what it is exactly. Have to ask 
my dad. And my shoes are nikes with rubber bottom.
So what do u guys think? Nothing wrong with my MD but its more a 
problem on my side ? Can someone maybe test it ? and load himself a 
bit with static electricity ? like rubbing over ur shirt and then 
touch ur md ? Because people on synthforum say they dont have this 
problem.


--- In elektron-users@yahoogroups.com, "Don't t(h)read on my 
tentacles, Earthling!" <lepetitmartien@m...> wrote:
> 
> Le 30 mars 2004, à 01:54, binaryzero1 a écrit :
> 
> > What the hell is going on here !? Why is this thing so sensitive 
for
> > a little static electricity ?
> 
> Hey
 Electronics ! A static discharge is WAY bigger than any 
voltage 
> running around in your flat (in the hundreds to thousands Volts, 
very 
> low current).
> 
> Check your carpeting, it may be building static charge while you 
walk 
> on and it's BAD for you electronic equipment (be it synths, audio 
stuff 
> or computer). Fitted carpets are especially good candidates, 
> particularly when not antistatic.
> 
> Check also your shoes as it can be the combinaison of both that 
raise 
> the issue.
> 
> It certainly not an issue with your electricity as if it was, you 
would 
> have the discharge everytime (and, then it's you who are in danger 
> along with all electrical stuff at your home: current thru the 
earth 
> mhmm).
> 
> > Can this damage my unit ?
> 
> It's a possibility, only Elektron can say for sure. The fact the 
LEDs 
> go haywire is not a good sign though, the MD box is working as a 
> Faraday box (protecting the inside) but it may not be enough for 
some 
> parts (the Faraday cage is not perfect due to the holes there is 
in the 

> metal).
> 
> Check that carpet/shoes now!
> 
> Denis =G)

Le 31 mars 2004, à 17:47, binaryzero1 a écrit :

> Thanks for the replies people.

service :)

> I dont have any carpet in my room. Its more like some kinda
> plastic / shiny surface i dont know what it is exactly. Have to ask
> my dad. And my shoes are nikes with rubber bottom.

Good candidates… may be or may be not…

> So what do u guys think? Nothing wrong with my MD but its more a
> problem on my side ? Can someone maybe test it ? and load himself a
> bit with static electricity ? like rubbing over ur shirt and then
> touch ur md ? Because people on synthforum say they dont have this
> problem.

A good test would be to touch the metal lining around the door of your 
bathroom if there's one. If the door frame (not the door) is in metal 
as in current concrete building for exemple, usually (mandatory here in 
France) it'll be linked to earth (you can test it if you have a 
multimeter). have a walk in your room with the sneakers (scratch the 
surface while walking) then go and near touch the door frame. If 
there's a lightning bolt, you got it.

That's the easiest way I can decifer. But it's not scientific… any 
other metal parts that is earthed can do. Test your earth if you can (a 
ohmmeter is enough, the resistance with a metal water pipe (water tapes 
are ok) should be in the few ohms to at the most in the hundred.

Denis =G)