Xpantastic!

> >>


mursupeppe schrieb:
>
>
>  I've heard people tell this about their 3374s, but after
>  cross-checking I really have to admit that one of them is really
>  broken. The other one's outputting triangle wave minor third higher
>  than expected, so I cannot count that as "gone", not yet, at least.
>  Something else could be wrong as well, but we're still doing testing
>  and concentrating on the physical issues.

Because this is related to the voiceboards, I\ufffdd 1st recap \ufffdem,- it\ufffds 70 
caps to replace.
Check the PSU too for stability, caps, diode.


>  (cont'd)...which is what I was _told_, literally: "in 100% working
>  condition".

Yes, I\ufffdm sure you asked a lot,- but "privat, no guarantee, no return" 
means you agree on this if you bid and buy and this is all which counts 
in a case.
So, I dt see you\ufffdll get any money back and it\ufffds sad I have to say it 
this way.

I just wouldn't sell any of
>  those as "trouble-free" or "perfectly functioning". :-D

Yep,- that\ufffds nice to read from you and be sure I myself won\ufffdt too,- but 
there are many other human beings around, you know.

I myself I have no real issues up to now even I toured w/ my Xpander 
over europe, north africa and eastern block/black sea in the 80th/90th.
Actually I don\ufffdt plan to sell it, but try to beware it from more issues 
as it has actually, which is some switches, one of the pushbuttons of 
the numeric keypad and 2 rotarys which eventually only need a cleaning job.
But I also buyed some parts to have \ufffdem in stock,- a matched set of 
CEM3372 signal generators and I got 100 caps to replace the 70 needed 
for the voiceboards before it shows issues.

I'm pretty confident we'll sort this out with some amount of
>  time. And money. Argh. :-/

Be sure, you\ufffdre not alone and I feel w/ you.


Obviously, though, you're talking "in general" and not
>  probably referring to this case,

absolutely !

but I'll agree with you completely.

thx a lot.


>  I'd say we could blame DX7 and D50 at least partially for that. Them
>  and the evolution of pop taste.

I cannot blame a DX/TX or D50 (D550) in any way,- I own both in addition 
and I\ufffdve found out in countless studiosessions, a Xpander plus a DX is a 
great combo,- also for layering stuff.
The D50/550 is a different beast, but one of the Roland synths worth to 
keep, especially if you have a Musitrinics speed kit w/ memory expansion 
built in.

>  (x) Newsflash! The keyboard tech replaced every rotary pot with a
>  similar part and all he had to do was reverse the connection as the
>  spare parts weren't identical to originals. The result: they all work
>  now. If anyone needs further info, let me know and I'll ask dirty
>  details. The feel is similar, but a bit quieter. No more "tr.. tr..
>  rrr... RRRrrr" whilst editing. The bonus: the pots have a switch
>  built-in, so one could override the push buttons under the display as
>  well if wanted and replace them with a nice led thingy or... never
>  mind. :-)

Oh,- that\ufffds a very interesting info,- may I ask for more details and 
type/specs of this rotary replacements as well as instructions for 
replacing ?

>  He was also pretty confident he could replace the displays with an
>  updated part of sorts, but it would lose the "Xpander/Matrix" style.
>  Instead, it would be and LCD (if I remember correctly) and
>  black/white. Again, don't blame me for not asking details before
>  writing.

Any details would be pretty welcome if possible.


>  I agree, my approach is because of my personal preferences: I like to
>  "feel" the synth.

No question, that\ufffds anyones preference, also mine.
That\ufffds why I called using software a workaround.
The machine is not unusable w/ malfunctioning switches and pots this way 
and until recovery is reality.
>
> > b.t.w.,- if someone needs processors for Xpander/Matrix-12,- you\ufffdll
> > find \ufffdem in Matrix-1000s (and eventually Matrix-6,- I\ufffdm not sure).
>
>  As far as I know, there are six CEM3396 IC chips inside. I don't
>  remember Xpander using those - is there something I should know?

Don\ufffdt misunderstand processor and chip.
The IBM processors used in a Xpander /Matrix-12 are also rare.
THIS is what you find also in a Matrix 1000.
Thanks Karl, now I know it and keep my Matrix-1000.

It was just only a example of searching and finding cheaper synths to 
pull components for the expensive flagships.
So, there\ufffds not always a need to buy a 2nd identical model of a damaged 
synth for parts,- but this still depends on the wanted part(s).

I didn\ufffdt investigate up to now, but I\ufffdm sure there were other synths of 
other manufacturers using CEM3374 as OSCs.

Maybe this is a chance to look for if this type of chip is urgently needed.