Xpantastic!

Hey Takis,

Thanks so much for your help, but i'm afraid the problem persists. 
i went to the menu you specified, set pedals 1 and 2 to '0' and vca2 is still 'stuck on'.
The top display has:
lever 1   lever 2  pedal1  pedal2   pressr
(i can't change those)
i set the bottom display to:
1   1   0   0 pressr

still 'stuck vca2'.  maybe i did it wrong?

what sort of pedal is that input expecting?  a keyboard sustain pedal? should i slap one in there and see if it can turn off vca2?

thanks so much for your help
s





--- In xpantastic@yahoogroups.com, "takisdamaschis" <takisdamaschis@...> wrote:
>
> Hi s!
> there is nothing wrong with your xpander!
> Simply the sustain pedal jack switch is stuck in the on position!
> The remedies are:
> 1.Open the xpander and repair/replace the pedal 1 jack  or
> 2.dissable in the software the functionallity of pedal 1!
>   Go to MASTER PAGE/MIDI/CNTRS/PEDAL 1 and use the rotary under pedal1 to assign any other CC value other than PEDAL 1, say 0 for example!
> This will take care of it without the need to repair the input jack!
> 
> Best regards,Takis. 
> 
> --- In xpantastic@yahoogroups.com, Simon G <playthefivetones@> 
> wrote:
> >
> > that was a lot of really great information, Karl, thank you. presumably those capacitors are easy to find?
> > 
> > do you think the problem below could be a capacitor issue?
> > 
> > does anybody else had/ have a problem where VCA 2 is 'stuck on' some old notes...almost like a midi note is stuck on.i've tried the boot reset, all midi notes off (i'm quite convinced it's not midi related at this point), still there. always get a  tuning pass across the board, except one time where VCF failed (still sounded fine). i have not been able to duplicate that. doesn't seem to be isolated to one voice.  plays fine, sounds great (amazing), just have to leave vca2 at 0 which in most patches seems to make little difference. 
> > 
> > also i've been using the stuck VCA2 to make easy drones which i quite like.
> > 
> > i searched for the problem everywhere and found someone else who had posted with it  and got a couple of responses...one saying it was common on Jupiters (iirc) but no real solutions. 
> > 
> > can it be tuned out with a good calibration? considering everything else works should i just leave it alone? could i be making it worse by using it like this?
> > 
> > thanks 
> > s
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > --- On Thu, 2/26/09, Karl <shire03@> wrote:
> > 
> > From: Karl <shire03@>
> > Subject: [xpantastic] Re: xpander dac
> > To: xpantastic@yahoogroups.com
> > Date: Thursday, February 26, 2009, 4:43 AM
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> >     
> >             
> > 
> > Hey Everyone,
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > I have been helping folks fix their Xpanders / Matrix 12s for awhile 
> > 
> > here. I can tell you that by far the most failed component is 
> > 
> > electrolytic capacitors. A 2.2 uF @ 50V coupling capacitor is used 
> > 
> > through out the analog voice boards. This capacitor will fail and 
> > 
> > cause numerous voice problems from failed auto-tune to no sound. The 
> > 
> > next part would be the encoders. Usually a good cleaning fixes this.
> > 
> > Next would be the VFD displays which are very hard to find. Steve 
> > 
> > Lanham is working on an upgrade for this one. 
> > 
> > see:
> > 
> > http://us.mc838. mail.yahoo. com/mc/compose? to=steve@ bendentech. co.uk
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > There have been a few cases of VCO ( 3374 ) and VCF filter chips ( 
> > 
> > 3372 ) failing. Not impossible to find, but expensive.
> > 
> > The DAC issue from Takis is the first I've seen of that part failing. 
> > 
> > Many times things can be fixed by simply re seating ( pulling out and 
> > 
> > putting back in ) the chips. This is easy on the Xpander because 
> > 
> > every integrated circuit is in a socket.  Finally, many problems are 
> > 
> > caused by cold solder joints. Simply re flowing the solder around the 
> > 
> > suspect part can fix this. I always recommend doing this first
> > 
> > before replacing parts.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > I personally have fixed my matrix 12 (owned since 1987) several times 
> > 
> > This included cleaning the key contacts (typical of any keyboard) 
> > 
> > Several of the before mentioned capacitors.  An analog switch chip 
> > 
> > which had it's pin folded under at the factory. And finally, several 
> > 
> > 74HC14 Schmidt trigger chips which debounce the encoders.  
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Soon ( when time permits ) I would like to make a better list along 
> > 
> > with part numbers etc. that we could all use to trouble shoot these 
> > 
> > wonderful machines. I have been collecting capacitors/ battary etc.
> > 
> > to recap mine. 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > BTW If you have any software issues/questions Tony C. is the man to 
> > 
> > talk to, and PeWe is the best expert on sound design / functionality
> > 
> > ( on nearly any synth ) I have ever talked to. Actually, all the 
> > 
> > folks in this group are sharp characters ( they own xpanders :-) 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Best Regards
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Karl
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > --- In xpantastic@yahoogro ups.com, Tony Cappellini <cappy2112@ ..> 
> > 
> > wrote:
> > 
> > >
> > 
> > > Not really, but my gear is very under-used compared to most.
> > 
> > > One voice is a little squirrly (occasionally) . Karl was nice enough 
> > 
> > to
> > 
> > > point me to which cap typically goes bad that causes my symptoms. 
> > 
> > Karl
> > 
> > > is very knowledgable about the Xpander.
> > 
> > > 
> > 
> > > I've wanted to recap my voice circuits, but haven't found someone I
> > 
> > > will trust my Xpander with.
> > 
> > > 
> > 
> > > For a long time that voice failed auto-tune now & then, but I 
> > 
> > coulnd't
> > 
> > > hear anything bad. Now I can hear it ;-)
> > 
> > > I bought a bunch of spare parts a long time ago when they were easy 
> > 
> > to find.
> > 
> > > 
> > 
> > > 
> > 
> > > On 2/25/09, Simon G <playthefivetones@ ...> wrote:
> > 
> > > >
> > 
> > > >
> > 
> > > > thanks for the info. if you don't mind me asking, has anything 
> > 
> > failed on your xpander?
> > 
> > > >
> > 
> > >
> >
>