SSlmixed.com Forum
Tech discussion => 4K,6K,8K Series => Topic started by: StefanNowak on July 12, 2012, 08:41:41 AM
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Hi guys,
I've just installed a 4000G in my studio and we're having a hard time getting the TR to work.
We've checked underneath the keyboard and all is fine there according to the meter. We also pulled the cards out of the computer, cleaned them, reseated chips and still no luck.
You'll see on the video the screen is all funky, eventually the screen does smooth out after a couple of hours of the computer being on however there is no response at all.
Thoughts?
http://imageshack.us/clip/my-videos/651/kogs.mp4/
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Stefan video does not work..or is it just for me?
Mattia.
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Yes it's not working, I'm having some trouble with imageshack... seems a bit funky too!
Stef.
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try the following:
http://tinypic.com/
http://videobam.com/
let us know!
Mattia.
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How's this?
https://www.yousendit.com/download/QlVpSkhaMGtVbStjZDhUQw
Stef.
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nope...it looks like the file it's 12KB in size...
why dont you send me the video via www.wetransfer.com and I will try and upload it?
Mattia.
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Ok, Try this!!
https://www.yousendit.com/download/QlVpSkhaMGtVbStjZDhUQw
Stef.
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(http://videobam.com/storage/1/thumbs/b/by/bYGKG/current.jpg) (http://videobam.com/bYGKG)
ok, on the system are you just typing to call up the recall software?
it looks like the TR card is not controlling the interrupts of the video card correctly.does the internal (small CRT) screen work at all?
I am not an expert on this, but my 4064 is doing something similar because of recall card not working properly.
Mattia.
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Yes I'm just typing "PLAY TITLE" ex.
The console's CRT is not working but I've connected another monitor up to show the info, it is working properly.
Stef.
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This may be an obvious comment but have you set all the channel addresses on the 2 dip switches in each channel.
Also ..
Have you changed the console configuration on the program disc from the previous owner, if not Get a copy of an old recall from them and see if it plays cus it seems you dont know if the prob is recording or playing the setup.
john
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Howdy,
The console config hasn't changed and I'm loading the program disc that was the latest rev for the console config, so everything is kosher there.
Stef.
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Im almost 100% sure you have a problem with the computer PSU, check the small control boards, switch a couple around and see if it disappears (but you will ofcourse get another problem :) I cant remember which of the cards I repaired to get rid of this problem!
Sometimes you can see one of the leds glowing not so intense on the front panel which could give you a hint of which card it is!
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Great, will check it out this week!
Stef.
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Any news on this?
I am very curious to understand!
Mattia.
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Not yet, we've not had a chance to follow this up yet.
We have a few clues however, the first thing we will be doing is cutting the ribbons, they're currently 30 metres long, we're going to also put new connectors on them also.
We'll see how that goes, then go inside the computer next.
We'll be getting back to the TR in the next 2 weeks, my tech has been busy and we've set up other areas of the studio so it's ready for sessions.
As soon as I have news I will definitely post info.
Stef.
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I've seen that video mess before. What box are you using to covert the video?
The SSL outputs video at 50hz sync, and most of these screens sync to 60hz. When I was getting sync issues, my TR looked exactly like this.
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Hi Dan, I'm using the Dramastic convertor box.
Something interesting I've just noticed... I have put a centre VDU in the console and now notice some stuff when saving a setup... perhaps there is confusing on the SAVE rather than the recall.
Here's a link to the pic.
https://www.yousendit.com/download/QlVqa3NhV3JrWTgwTWRVag
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The console screen is warning you that your VCA thumbwheel settings are conflicting so I can't see that would explain your problem with the RGB display... Showcase's power supply comment is a good starting point if you have a multimeter handy to check the voltage rails, they are silkscreen printed on the motherboard if you lower the front panel to the computer. Dan could also be right about synchronisation, I don't know the Dramastic converter but any LCD TV with a scart socket should handle 50Hz RGB if you want to try an alternative display.
My feeling is that the fault may be related the Hi-Res Graphics (HRG card) in the five card TR computer sandwich. If I understand correctly, (and feel free to chip in if I am wrong:-) ) The 82e89 card provides an interface between the SSL computer and the Research Machines Z80 CPU card, this CPU card drives a Research Machines VDU40 40x24 character display and a Research Machines HRG card (320x192 pixels in colour!!) The Research Machines design allows the bottom lines of the picture to come from the VDU40 - this is the stable text box you see on your screen, the upper part of the picture should be the familiar colour graphic image of knobs and switches that is generated by the HRG card.
The fact that you can see the text suggests that the SSL computer can successfully talk to the Z80 card and that the Z80 to VDU40 link is fine. If Showcase and Dan's suggestions don't fix the problem, you might try re-seating the ribbon cables going to the HRG card. If the display eventually stabilises after a few hours then it could be a thermal problem such as a dry-joint or suspect component, a few squirts of freezer spray around the HRG card would be my hunch, but you know how wildly off hunches can be :-)
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Hey! Dr Paul, your reply convinces me, this is going to be the premier SSL hangout on so many levels.
Thank you for your awesomeness.
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Thank you guys.
Once the display does even out after warm up there is still no response from moves..
When the display is flickering and mad I do get some response (not correct a lot of the time) but there is some response on the screen when I move pots on the console.
Stef.
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I dont think these 2 problems are related to each other
Some (at least newer) monitors are more sensitive than others and will flicker whatever you do but not like this so I still think its a CF82E98 card in the computer PSU!
Do you have other problems, like with floppy not loading some times?
The other problem (with adress switches of in setup), could be because of dust down in just ONE of the channel slots, which can cause a shorting will take out most of the TR in every channel, it shoudlnt damage anything but you need to make sure everything is fine down there, just saying...
...I dont know if this could work but maybe worth a try:
Configure the console to only 8 or 16 channel, then turn the other buckets of, see if the TR starts working, if it does then there`s probably dust in one of the other channels
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Hi Dan, I'm using the Dramastic convertor box.
Something interesting I've just noticed... I have put a centre VDU in the console and now notice some stuff when saving a setup... perhaps there is confusing on the SAVE rather than the recall.
Here's a link to the pic.
https://www.yousendit.com/download/QlVqa3NhV3JrWTgwTWRVag
Wasnt the VDU card present before?? Without it, it will never work
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The centre VDU (CRT) was taken out, I have since replaced it with a 5.5 LCD.
Stef.
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The centre VDU (CRT) was taken out, I have since replaced it with a 5.5 LCD.
Stef.
Ok, I thought you meant the keyboard/VDU card, which also is à common source for TR problems
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Aw Sintech you are too kind, thank you, I have the same feeling about this forum. Jim L. hopes to get some more of the SSL guys on board too, I was at a seminar last Thursday listening to the encyclopedic Chris Jenkins!
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Hi Stefan, I hadn't realised TR wasn't working once the TR screen eventually stabilised. It may indeed be that you have two faults although Showcase's power supply hunch could still explain any amount of console weirdness.
You have maybe tried the following data acquisition tests but if not, they might give the forum members a bit more info to help with the diagnosis...
using one of your Program disk copies go into the Maintenance Menu and navigate to the Total Recall settings, set TR tolerance to 1 ( hopefully you've now cut down your 30 metres of ribbon :-) ) I would also suggest setting "use channel address switches" to NO to prevent incorrect DIP switch settings screwing with you whilst we try to work out what is going on.
Now go into the Diagnostic Tests menu (!TES EX) followed by T to get to the Total Recall tests. Type O to see the 10 bit AtoD values being read from the first half of the controls (down arrow to show second half, the fader SEL buttons select the channel you want to look at). A square should appear next to any changed or jittery reading.
Typing T will get you to the threshold setting test and you should see the number of any control you change.
Have a play and see if if things are behaving as they should be!!
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Thanks mate.
I won't be looking at the TR for another week or 2 as I have sessions this week! First thing we're going to do it cut the ribbons and put new connectors on them... wouldn't hurt regardless!
Thanks for your help and suggestions, this forum rocks!
Stef.
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Thanks mate.
I won't be looking at the TR for another week or 2 as I have sessions this week! First thing we're going to do it cut the ribbons and put new connectors on them... wouldn't hurt regardless!
Thanks for your help and suggestions, this forum rocks!
Stef.
If the power cables are this long aswell, they need to be shorten, 30 m is too long and it/they will build up some resistance which results in a little voltage drop, and therfore a little less headroom actually!