Vintage Synth Repair

I don't know and can't help, but just my guess:

Try to reseat all IC's in sockets, maybe those with written samples  
are socketed... Maybe it's just a bad contact...

Check also if components near that memory chips are OK.

If the problem is really in the sample memory chips, it's a  
questionable if repair is possible. I don't think Korg will publish  
such data (despite the fact they are probably somehow coded and not  
usable as samples), end even when they would there's no easy way how  
to reload PCM memory (probably it's not included in standard OS reload).

In such case probably the repair will ask to get data from another  
healthy instrument and write them into the chip (better new one, same  
type as that one used in the instrument) with some programmer. That  
probably means also removing good chip, read it, and return. Probably  
chips are soldered so it's not so easy.

So your situation doesn't look well concerning the repair of this  
instrument...

Daniel Forro

On 4 Oct, 2013, at 11:20 AM, <euklides69@...> <euklides69@... 
 > wrote:

> I have problem with my KORG Radias which during startup, after the  
> loading progress bar and the Logo of Radias hangs. The logo remains  
> on the screen and
> a text appears at top of the screen saying : DRUM Checksum Error!!!.
> Synth is then totaly frozen and doesn't respond to anything.
> I updated the firmware to version 2.0 but this doesnt change  
> anything. I found also test menu, which (for  FLASH memory test)  
> says: SYS ok, USR ok, PCM checksum error!.
>
> I tried contact Korg Service, Korg Product and Customers support.  
> All are saying that this product is no longer supported and they  
> have no parts for it. I also tried to find synth repair service that  
> can help me but this was even more challenging.
> Looks like nobody (even authorized services I contacted ) really  
> worked on that specifc synthesizer. Most technicians I talked to  
> stated they have to contact KORG for diagnosis.
>
> Somebody from Korgforums recommended me to reload flash with factory  
> PCM still sound data. I don't know where to get such thing. Korg  
> support page provides for Radias only firmware (no additional binary  
> files there ) I also ask for that Korg but no answer for this at all.
>
> I dont know if I m so unlucky or really this synth is coursed and  
> nobody wants to touch it even its vednor. I'm starting loosing my  
> faith that this synth ill ever work again.
>
> Can you help me and advice what to do ?