Elektron Musical Instruments

I've seen reference to other people having their sids go bonkers upon 
first turning it on.  Mine almost all the time turns on just fine, then 
once the main menu pops up and it gets any sort of midi message 
(usually not even directed towards it) it will start blinking, and 
either go into asid mode, or even scarier go into flash update mode(or 
go blank).  I can sometimes get out of these modes by hitting the d 
button, but more often than not i can't.  After one of these episodes *
or two, or three*, it will start up as it ought to.  It's not too 
bothersome, but i take it this is some sort of bug.  I know elektron is 
working hard on their new product, but can we expect an os update 
anytime soon, perhaps correcting this.  

: moderate gripe :

my sid still will not respond to any Sysex string i program(i've gone 
over and over trying different parameters/settings in my sequencer and 
still nothing).  Asid mode works, and i can dump back and forth so that 
tells me sysex is being used functionally in those applications.  the 
midi light doesn't respond to anything other than midi note numbers so 
i can't tell if it is recieving anything, also no sysex transmission of 
parameters not accessible by cc's, which would aid if it did do this.
the problem probobly lies within my sequencer/mac/midi interface/
etc...dunno. i haven't had access to another computer with a midi 
interface and sequencer for quite awhile, so i can't really 
troubleshoot that way.  i guess i could get some sort of demo of logic, 
cubase or some other miscellaneos sequencer and try those out to see if 
i could get the sid to recognize any sysex messages, but...i'm sort of 
reluctant to do that.  i spose i could call up motu and see if they 
could help (highly skeptical about that).


--

christian

On Fri, Jan 26, 2001 at 04:10:26PM -0000, sophalicus@... wrote:

> I know elektron is working hard on their new product, but can we
> expect an os update anytime soon, perhaps correcting this.  

I think most sidstation troubles are hardware-related.  the power supply
design isn't engineered too well, (6V supply for a 5V regulator is
silly,) and I suspect the inputs and outputs of the SID chip itself lack
proper static clamps and input and output buffers.

don't get me wrong -- I like my sidstation -- but the fact that it was
designed by inexperienced engineers fresh from college definitely shows.
;)  Hopefully someday elektron can be convinced to release a proper
service manual for the sidstation to open the possibility for upgrades.
<hint, hint>

-- 
  Aaron J. Grier | "Not your ordinary poofy goof." | agrier@...
  "Being wet and standing in a salted bath while rinsing the inside of
   your hairdryer with a silver spoon is a very stupid thing to do."
      -- Dave Krooshof

On Fri, 26 Jan 2001, Aaron J. Grier wrote:

> On Fri, Jan 26, 2001 at 04:10:26PM -0000, sophalicus@... wrote:
> 
> I think most sidstation troubles are hardware-related.  the power supply
> design isn't engineered too well, (6V supply for a 5V regulator is
> silly,)

You could say that we've learned a lot. :) Take a look at the Machinedrum
power supply system and audio design and you'll see quite a difference.

About the 6V/5V-regulation - yes it is tight, and going for 7V supply can
probably solve some problems. The PSU's we're shipping the units with
nowadays makes for a very stable combination with the SidStation. Also the
regulators we use for SidStation are not standard, but low dropout, which
means they should not steal more than around 0.5-0.6 V. Which is still
very tight - I agree. :)

> and I suspect the inputs and outputs of the SID chip itself lack
> proper static clamps and input and output buffers.

We designed the input/outputs as copies of the C64 to get the same sound.
Therefore the strange transistor-amplifier on the output.

> don't get me wrong -- I like my sidstation -- but the fact that it was
> designed by inexperienced engineers fresh from college definitely shows.
> ;) 

Probably correct. :) But I guess noone in an experienced position could
spend a few years on college-allowance (?) to to what we did with/for the
SidStation.

> Hopefully someday elektron can be convinced to release a proper
> service manual for the sidstation to open the possibility for upgrades.
> <hint, hint>

Do you really need it? The circuit board should be fairly easy to follow
for anyone with a bit of experience with electronics design.

Daniel

Take a look at the Machinedrum
power supply system and audio design and you'll see quite a difference.

****

I'd love to.  Feel free to send me one =)

{mr}klown

*  http://www.mp3.com/stations/station505  *
*  http://www.mp3.com/deadgirlgoodgirl     *
*  http://www.mp3.com/mrklown              *

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