Xpantastic!

You are very lucky that you didn\ufffdt burn anything !

That\ufffds why you should use a DI !

WT

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chase Smith" <plus_321@...>
To: <xpantastic@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 2:51 AM
Subject: Re: [xpantastic] Stuck note / tunings fail


> I'm sorry, but I made a really stupid mistake here.  When I was working on 
> the song, I ran out of channels on my mixer so I plugged into where I 
> would usually have my pc stereo out (channels 23 and 24).  I had never 
> used these channels in this configuration for synths, but I had wired them 
> with XLRs instead of 1/4" so I could use the preamps if I needed them. 
> Well, I either accidentally flipped the switch for phantom power or it was 
> on the whole time and the computer didn't mind.  So the Xpander was 
> freaking out because it was getting something like 46 V at the output 
> which it obviously didn't like.
>
> It's kind of embarrassing to admit this, but I'm just happy that there are 
> not major issues here.
>
> Again, thanks a lot for taking the time to read my emails and help me out.
>
> Thanks,
> Chase Smith
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Karl Schmeer <shire03@...>
> To: xpantastic@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Mon, March 15, 2010 2:27:12 AM
> Subject: Re: [xpantastic] Stuck note / tunings fail
>
>
> Hi Chase,
>
>
>> strange.  It will tune them, but as soon as a plug in a cable for the
>> voices or cvs, it will fail the tunings (this was in multimode).
>
> Ahhh, a good clue, Is the mixer / CV generator plugged into the same power 
> outlet as the Xpander. You could have a ground loop problem.
>
> Other possibilities:
>
> The mixer could have a problem. But that seems unlikly. A more likly 
> situation is the cable has a short in it and plugging it in shorts the 
> outputs to ground.
>
> What are you plugging into the CV jacks? This pedel or midi/CV device 
> might have a ground problem or overvoltage for that matter.
>
> Before plugging the mixer or CV generator in to the Xpander again I would 
> get a Voltmeter and check the tip and ring of the cable. Check for shorts, 
> and continuity to ground.
>
> This could be a loose ground connection inside the Xpander. All the 
> problems (now) seem to revolve around the potentiometer display board.
> Now reseat the chips and check cables on that board. Also look closly at 
> where the jacks are soldered into the circuit board. A loose solder 
> connection here could also cause the symptoms you describe.
> If you have a soldering Iron, you could reflow the solder on all the
> output and CV jacks.
>
>
>
>>Also, maybe worthy of note is that whenever I turn it on and it doesn't 
>> >tune, I can tell as soon as I turn it on because it sort of pops and 
>> >makes a sound like a machine starting up or a computer being turned on. 
>> >It is usually pretty quiet when I turn it on.
>
> If a malfucntioning cable, or device is plugged into the Xpander when you 
> turn it on, this makes sense. If not I think you may have a power supply 
> problem. I know you said it was recently re-capped but (sorry) that is the 
> most likly.
>
>>I am hoping this information is characteristic of a problem you have seen 
>> >before.  I have no trouble replacing components, but my diagnosing skills 
>> >are limited.
>
> These exact symptoms are new for me. However anytime chips can randomly 
> come loose from the sockets, symptoms can be strange. I have seen other 
> things behave badly ( freaking out when something is plugged into it)
> And it is almost always a ground problem.
>
> Anyway try these things, let me know : - )
>
>
> Best Luck
>
> Karl Schmeer
>
>
>
> --- On Mon, 3/15/10, Chase Smith <plus_321@...> wrote:
>
>
> From: Chase Smith <plus_321@...>
> Subject: Re: [xpantastic] Stuck note / tunings fail
> To: xpantastic@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Monday, March 15, 2010, 1:07 AM
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Thanks a lot for helping me out here, I really appreciate it.
>
> I opened it up and press on all the socketed ICs and reseated the 
> connecting cables.  After I did this I was able to get it to tune all 
> voices, but it's really strange.  It will tune them, but as soon as a plug 
> in a cable for the voices or cvs, it will fail the tunings (this was in 
> multimode).
>
> It was off for while and I just turned it on and plugged in the main LR 
> cables and put it in single mode and it is passing all tunings and seems 
> to work fine as a poly synth.
>
> However, whenever I plug into any of the voice outputs, the pitch and 
> amplitude seem to be glitchy for all of them.  It's like they are being 
> modulated randomly (it kind of reminds me of how the pitch would waiver 
> before I recapped the PS).  The output of the master is fine though.
>
> Also, maybe worthy of note is that whenever I turn it on and it doesn't 
> tune, I can tell as soon as I turn it on because it sort of pops and makes 
> a sound like a machine starting up or a computer being turned on.  It is 
> usually pretty quiet when I turn it on.
>
> I am hoping this information is characteristic of a problem you have seen 
> before.  I have no trouble replacing components, but my diagnosing skills 
> are limited.
>
> Thank You,
> Chase Smith
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: Karl Schmeer <shire03@sbcglobal. net>
> To: xpantastic@yahoogro ups.com
> Sent: Sun, March 14, 2010 10:06:15 PM
> Subject: Re: [xpantastic] Stuck note / tunings fail
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Hi Chase,
>
> Sounds like the final VCA is stuck open.  For all voices if in mono 
> keybooard mode.
> You may have tried this, but
>
> What happens when you change patches? Same issue?
> Is the Xpander keyboard mode set to mono?
> If so what happens when you change keyboard modes?
>
> Check the VCF/VCA page. and make sure the final VCA
> is turned all the way down, and all modulations are turned off or down.
>
> If it's not the above, then reason dictates a hardware problem.  This may 
> be as simple
> as opening up the Xpander and reseating the IC's, on the analog board. All 
> chips are in sockets and this is easily acomplished. Just push on them 
> all, to make sure none have come loose. While your at it check to make 
> sure all connectors are
> Try these things and see if it helps. Let me know what you find, and we 
> can go from there.
>
> Best Luck
>
> Karl Schmeer
>
>
>
>
>
> --- On Sun, 3/14/10, plus_321 <plus_321@yahoo. com> wrote:
>
>
> From: plus_321 <plus_321@yahoo. com>
> Subject: [xpantastic] Stuck note / tunings fail
> To: xpantastic@yahoogro ups.com
> Date: Sunday, March 14, 2010, 8:51 PM
>
>
>
>
> I powered down my xpander and it was working perfectly (pass every tuning 
> all the time after I recapped the ps years ago). I turn it on a few 
> minutes ago and it behaves like there is a note stuck. Playing midi notes 
> will change the note that I hear. Also all tunings fail.
>
> I tried a system reset, it did nothing. I tried to change the pedal stuff, 
> but it did nothing. I'm really hoping someone has an idea of what this is. 
> I really want to finish the song I was working on and I kind of need this 
> instrument.
>
> Thank You,
> Chase Smith
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
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