SSlmixed.com Forum
Tech discussion => 4K,6K,8K Series => Topic started by: Jdm5149 on July 08, 2025, 12:54:43 AM
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Hey there. Have my console still in storage since the fall. Going insane. I purchased the Mpower from Toft and really itching to turn this board on. But in the meantime I tried to start up the computer. The supply had all lights on but only one fan was running. Unit was really dirty and I blew out dust to get it all out. Supply was running until I tried plugging in floppy drive to computer. After reseating cards I got a red light on the floppy drive card. Then after powering down a few times the +5 and -12 lights went out. Turning back on the +5 flickers then goes off and the -12 never comes on. I’ll most likely get the tangerine once I have board running but would really like to get the computer going beforehand. Any ideas Thanks
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I’m guessing I’ll start with the regulators on the daughterboard.
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The transformers on the daughter boards were known for failing open circuit, plus I found a few boards where the solder joints came away from the pads if you pushed hard on the components.
So a desolder/resolder of all joints was needed.
The orange capacitors definitely need replacement.
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Thanks. The +5 light is back again. Wondering if it just the leds that are the problem. Any idea on how to check and where to check the -12v in the power supply. Or even the led I’ve swapped the regulator cards and the -12 hasn’t returned. The +5 would go out on startup too but now has returned to steady red. Weird
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The attached pictures are from my training manual from 1988 but should be correct.
The Diodes D2 D3 and D6, arrowed in red, are across the outputs of their respective power supply strips.
If you can *safely* put meter probes across them, you should be able to measure the voltages for that strip.
The individual schematics for the different supplies show on the right hand side the letter of the Amphenol pin they are connected to.
If you are powering up the supply without the computer connected, then you can probe into the Amphenol direct.
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Thanks. I was looking into that yesterday. I have the service manual and those schematics also. I ordered new fans for the computer and concentrating on that. Also ordered a g+ drive to avoid those 8” ones. Hopefully it works or at least Alittle easier to get working. I guess over the weekend I will trace out the voltages. Thanks again !!
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Replaced all 6 fans in computer. One question. Should they be blowing air down into the cards or blowing air out the top from the cards. The 3 in the computer power supply also need changing but those seem really complicated to get to. K thanks
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I can't remember from the last time I changed the fans, but logic suggests that as hot air rises it would be sensible for the fans to suck air out of the cage.
I bow to Matts superior reasoning. :)
Yes, changing PSU fans is a bit tricky, I think you have to undo at least one of the crossbars and push them to one side to lift the fans out.
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Yes. Fans are blowing air into cards. That’s what I was thinking. Just wanted to be sure. The psu might have to wait. Those screws are real hard to get to and I’m still looking around for the -12v light being out. Measuring the outputs on the rear connector I get like 2. Something on all of the pins except for 2 that read around 6 and 7v. Maybe I’m doing something wrong. Waiting for new drive to show up to see if it boots up at least. Also ordered a Sony monitor to hook up. Also I have a remote keyboard but it didn’t come with cable. Seems it needs a scsi to ribbon cable kinda like the 3.5 drives. Anyone know which cable is needed Thanks again for all the reply’s
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For the remote keyboard to work, U need SSL's interface box that plugs into the 50 way keyboard cable that goes between the console and the computer. A DB 9 serial connector cable to Lema connector is needed to plug the remote keyboard into the interface box.
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The remote keyboard I have seems different than one o
In manual. It has a scsi output it seems like. The pic I took is too large to upload. I will try again.
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pics
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pic
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Your pic looks like a custom job, that someone has taken an "E" series keyboard out of a "E" Series 4K SSL console and mounted it in it's own box? The connector looks like a 50 Pin Centronix (printer connector) also known as a Blue Ribbon Connector. I guess it has keyboard data and power in that connector. The "normal" SSL external keyboard kind of looks like a old IBM mechanical keyboard.
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So hopefully just connect to the back of computer and it should be ok ? 🤞 gonna try and hunt down where the -12v is bad. I think I plugged the 20mb drive into the wrong card at the same time the lights on the -12 and +5 went out. Maybe I shorted something out.
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Fixed the -12v poking around top of thyristor made voltage reappear. Probably have to redo the wire. Waiting on G+ computer to arrive. Hopefully will work with my processor card. But for the keyboard. Which type cable will I need. Almost there 🤞
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Normally there is a 50 pin ribbon cable that plugs into the bottom of the keyboard in the console and then goes to the connector panel, usually under the patch bay. Then there is another 50 pin ribbon cable that plugs into that connector and goes to a 50 pin connector on the back of the computer, which goes to the back plain mother board on the back of the computer. Then I think it is a 20 pin ribbon that goes from the back plain mother board to the keyboard card in the computer card frame. I don't know how it is done on your console.
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Yeah. Thanks. Trying to work on computer without the console yet. The pics I uploaded show the remote I have. Seems like a custom remote. I received the G+ floppy drive. It came with the scsi to 50 pin cable. Do I plug it from the scsi output on drive directly to the 4/1000 processor card. When I do I get the red light on the processor card and then the green and yellow. Still no monitor yet so I’m just guessing here. Monitor arriving Friday. But is this the correct setup. The older drives that didn’t work plugged into the floppy card but that’s a smaller connection. K. Thanks again
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Yes. The 3.5" floppies plug directly into the processor board. U also need the cable to provide power to the floppy drives. This cable plugs into the main mother board inside the computer at the back on the left side.
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That’s the +5 cable that Drew’s into the drive. That’s connected. I get red light on processor and green /yellow on bus card. But it seems that the drive aren’t cycling. The reset button lights up and pressing it makes green light on bus card react.
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Is it the scsi out from the drive. Anyone have manual from the g+ drive. Don’t see any info on it
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heres a pic of the inside of G+ drive. looking at circuitboard the drives are connected to the Fan L&R. why not the drive leads ? anyone know if this looks right
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This is right. I think they used another pc board from one of there other products for this drive.
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K. Thanks. Drive doesn’t respond when turned on. No lights on front seems like the drive aren’t working
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Did you verify that there is power on the left hand (Program) drive? the drives are normally made by TEAC, but have special firmware on them from SSL. You really need to plug in a monitor/TV to see what is happening. You will get a full screen of junk that don't make sense before the computer tries the read the Program floppy drive, which must have a program dick in the drive.
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Monitor arriving on Friday. When I insert disc I hear it try to cycle. Got drive from retro untested. Disc was in the reel drive. Guess I will have to wait til then.
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A regular 3.5" Floppy drive won't work, as it won't have the SSL firmware on it. I've been down that road in the past.
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Replacements ?
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The SSL 3.5" drive is a TEAC FD-235HF IDE drive, with a TEAC FC-1 SCSI to IDE controller board. One required per drive, and set to drive numbers 0 and 1 IIRC.
Had plenty of drives die in the past. They are not common, and very specifically configured for this application. I have a contact who has a lot of NOS SSL drives, but would suggest it may be the Bus Driver card in the computer, which I have found to be the first thing to fail and prevent a boot sequence.
Anthony.
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Also, are you 100% sure that the processor board you have, was running a 3.5" drive previously?
I have seen situations where an eprom chip has been installed that effectively downgrades a processor board, so that it only runs 8" and Bernoulli drives.
Sure it may have a 50way IDE connector on it, but the 3.5" drive may not be enabled on the processor.
Anthony.
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Thanks Anthony. I’ve tried contacting you in the past. Great stuff your doing. Hopefully I can get this computer going. Want to learn the console with the original computer then decide what to do. I like the videos by CLA and Vance Powell. Like the ease of use they show when using the original computer and automation. The tangerine seems like the obvious upgrade but I want to learn every aspect of the original workflow.
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It’s a 4/1000 card with a blue 50pin connector. I bought the console with a 8”g and berl 20mb drive. The 8” drive did not work. I can take the processor out and take a pic and upload in a bit b thanks
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processor pics
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A thought just occured to me, you have to tell the computer in the master setup page that you are using 3 1/2" Floppies.
Otherwise it doesn't know they are there to boot from.
Details are in the Installation guide, which I unfortunately do not have.
Catch 22, you need a booted computer to set this up.....
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Yup. Monitor arriving today. Anthony is probably correct about computer not being set up for 3.5 floppies. Hopefully someone can look at pix and let me know. I tried buying manual from old post but purchase didn’t go thru. Probably unavailable. Really old post. If anyone can share that would be great. K thanks again
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Monitor arrived. Just get the scramble screen on startup. Green yellow light on. Reset from drive responds. I’ve seen in one boot up video where the yellow light switch’s to lower yellow when drive starts to scan. Is that the correct thing to look for.
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pics of jumpers in g+ drive
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Sorry can't remember re the LED condition on start up.
Difficult to tell from the pictures, but it seems to look as if the Jumpers are set the same??
They should be set for 0 and 1 as Anthony said, again I can't tell you what those positions are though. :(
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Thanks. I’m thinking the processor card isn’t the correct. From reading posts it says a 4/1000C board was card for G+ computers. Going to storage and getting the 8” g drive. I bought board being advertised as e console with g computer. Maybe have to get those going first. Thanks
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Success. I guess I needed both floppy and ber20mb drive connected at same time. Monitor comes up with first fader not connected. Press execute to start program. Guess I need to make cable for the keyboard to connect and at least see setup. Thanks all!! Think I’ll still pursue the g+ though since 3.5 would be better.
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If there is a separate manual for the g+ computer I’ll be glad to pay for it. Thanks
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k. happy to get this running. i took apart custom remote and plugged that directly into keyboard card. thinking now maybe i could have used cable that came with g+ drive to blue connector on remote. maybe next. but computer boots and able to get onto screens. need to fix one drive in floppy that had a broken plastic pc that holds floppy down. it was broken in two. at least i know that computer is running. waiting for the 3 fans for power supply so thats about it !! still wanna upgrade to the G+ drive so if anyone has the manual or the correct efrom or processor card required im interested. k thanks again to all.
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Good for you. That is a great start.
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Thanks. Console has been in storage since October. Have to wait til I move to install. I have the Toft Mpower for the board and really want to learn the original computer workflow. Hopefully replacing the fans and cleaning out the units will help keep it going. Gotta upgrade to the g+ because of the 3.5 floppies. Have older samplers and keyboards and older ibm computers with 3.5 floppies. Kinda like that old school workflow. I resurrected a Sony Dmx-r100 which I got for 200$. Got it working with new power supply and got it working with pro tools using midi time code. Mix’s saved on floppy’s. Still a great digital mixe. Planning on using it for keyboards and demos patched into the ssl eventually. 🤞 only thing concerning is the power supply for the computer. Amount of electricity $$$. And keeping it in another room. The tangerine is great but there’s something so simple about that ssl screen
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Installed fans in computer power supply. Hopefully it’s correct. Fans on right side. Drawing air thru supply from vents on left side. K hopefully Matt or someone else can approve. Thanks !!
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To be honest, I've never used an original SSL computer power supply. Ditched them and built switchmodes that don't have any fans.
Anthony.
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I purchased the Mpower for the board. Does anyone sell power supplies for the computer ? That would be great
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Flipped them and now hopefully correct. Manual says forced air from right to left.
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To be honest, I've never used an original SSL computer power supply. Ditched them and built switchmodes that don't have any fans.
Anthony.
Also interested in if you had any advice or source to build it, you made it yourself`?
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Update. Purchased a Mitsubishi 8” drive and swapped out bad drive. Swapped out circuitboard from broken drive and now have both program and reel drives working. Computer working with 8” floppies seller gave me. Still looking to get the 3.5 drive working. Swapped out lower cards like shown in manual and still no luck. Bruce at desk doctor says I have the 4/100c card needed but still no luck. But excited I have at least a working computer. The seller did state that floppy drive was not working but now it is Thanks everyone again !!
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Can anyone explain how to upgrade to the 3.5 drives. I have the 8” floppy working on its own. I’ve disconnected the 20mb drive. I reconfigured the lower cards like in manual to use only the 3.5 drive but no lights come on in drive. Is there a jumper or anything that needs to be switched ? Someone stated prior that there’s a option in the software with the 8” floppy but I don’t see it. I was told all I had to do was connect new 3.5 drives to processor card. My 3.5 drive also has a dc in and a dc out on the back.
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There are variations in 3.5 inch drives, so you mmay not have a compatible model. The fact that you have a separate dc jack is a flag.
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Thinking it might have to be connected to the 8” floppy
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In the computer screen, IIRC....
SSL [EXECUTE]
BERNOULLI [EXECUTE]
"OK wise guy don't do anything stupid..."
[Setup] [EXECUTE]
"Do you want to see more?"
#
Will take you to the screen to enable drives.
Anthony.
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👍👍👍will try tomorrow. 🤞🤞🤞
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As Anthony says, that is how to access the master setup page I mentioned and enable the 3 1/2 floppy drives.
I do remember there was a technical bulletin/info that described all the various master settings you could change
on that setup page. Unfortunately I forgot to take a copy of it before the desk was sold, anybody got a copy??
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I got into that window and mini was not enabled. I enabled and rebooted but 3.5 drive did t start up. I think the dc out needs to be connected to the 8” floppy but I don’t have that cable. I also went back in and disabled the 20mb and now I can’t get back to the window with the commands Anthony gave. Any other commands to get to that window. Thanks
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Seems I messed up I guess. Now I have to get back to that screen to enable the 20mb drive at least. Then worry about the 3.5
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going thru the manual i found the same commands as Anthony stated . great memory !! i also read further and saw disc test. i tested the program drive and got 5 Hard Errors. could i have corrupted the disc i guess. i got to that setup page once and couldnt get back to it. where can i get master program discs or at least a working one. thanks.
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Anyway of making 8” program discs. Or someone have a copy willing to sell. Thanks
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I bought my 8" program disk copy off Recycled Audio. It cost a lot (GBP100 i think)
Always remove the disk before turning the computer on or off, as it can potentially damage the disk, which seems like has happened.
Anthony.
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Thanks Anthony. Seems like the 3.5 drive I bought doesn’t work. At least I got the 8” going for now. Could the 4.01 img file be written onto a 8” floppy.
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Still no luck on getting a proper 8” program disc. Was thinking is it possible to power the Mitsubishi drive with power from the computer then hooking up 50pin to 30pin adapter and trying to use drive in dos to write new disc from 4.01 img file. Been watching videos of how techs hook up 8” drives to work in newer computer. Also would reel discs need to be formatted and how would that work
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The 8" disks must be preformatted to IBM standard. It's not straightforward the setup. I spent many, many hours working it out.
If you like, I can copy you an 8" program disk at a discount. Send me a message.
Anthony.
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If there is a separate manual for the g+ computer I’ll be glad to pay for it. Thanks
Im pretty sure you need G+ computer for 3.5" drives
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I have the 4/100c processor card. That’s all u need I think. Just think the drives are done
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Testing riibbon cables that came with console and drives. Should I get continuity on all the respected pins. Or are some left disconnected ? Checking to see if that’s why certain ribbons give me a keyboard error if I’m using that cable. So far the cable that came with the Bernoulli drive has some open pins. K. Thanks
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You should be able to see physically if wires are cut, otherwise all pins should connect.
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Yeah. The cable for the Bernoulli drive had some opens. Didn’t go thru cabling from computer to console yet. They are real dirty and and it’s a long run. Have them all rolled up in a box. I ordered idc ends and crimper. Gonna test and label them then try cleaning them off with fantastik. Then I’ll test and see what needs troubleshooting.
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K. Received 10 ibm floppies that seller stated had software on them. I inserted into drive and “labeled”. Is that the same as formatting?? Or would future discs needs to be formatted on external drive
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Made a new ribbon cable to test. I wired up the keyboard and I get keyboard error. Is every cable wired differently or are they all the same. Point to point. Kinda weird to me.
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You need to put the connectors on the same way round, and be very carefull you crimp them square to the cable. Then test.
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K. Putting computer back into storage and will wait til in have console installed. The 8” drive is working and I have bought 2 extra drives for backup. I still can’t get back to that master setup page. Anyone have ideas about that. Do I need the Bernoulli drives connected ?? After I type SSL execute it goes to a blank line No # Hitting execute again brings up screen watch Bern what your doing line. Then type setup execute which gets me to do I want I see more. Hitting the # button just sends me back to # K. Thanks again for all the help !!!
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At the blank line, after SSL [EX] that's where you type BERNOULLI [EX]
It's like a hidden password.
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Haha lol. Thanks again !! I wasn’t seeing Bernoulli being written so I never took it after that. Thanks again. I’ll all computed out !! Gonna pack it up in storage for now but happy that I have a working computer to start with when I finally get this console up and running. Gonna be almost a year in storage. Uggh.