From: Chase Smith <plus_321@...>
Subject: Re: [xpantastic] Stuck note / tunings fail
To: xpantastic@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, March 15, 2010, 8:51 PM
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@sbcglobal. net>
To: xpantastic@yahoogro ups.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@yahoo. com> wrote:
From: Chase Smith <plus_321@yahoo. com>
Subject: Re: [xpantastic] Stuck note / tunings fail
To: xpantastic@yahoogro ups.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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