Card Cage Problem

[Bruce Graham]

Thanks Crash;
Don't know why I didn't see it other than Blind. Thanks. I will give them a look over.

Since removing the cover and and re-seating the card cage cables, then putting things back together, the console will not boot and work with any cards in anywhere. I/O or EFX. It does boot and audio flows, but stops (freezes).
The faults keeps changing so it is difficult to problem solve.
But hey, that is why we love these old boat anchors!
Cheers
Bruce

[RJH_MUSIC]

Crazy thought here but you mentioned something that sounds similar to what happened to me. You mentioned no LED lights anywhere? When you remove the cards does everything work okay. You might have a power problem have you checked the linear power supply and the Aztec power supply that provide 5 volts and 24 volts to the console they're both located in the CPU. Actually you did mention you tried to separate CPUs. So I'm wondering if one or more of the capacitors are bad on the inside of the console where the BFC comes in to the power distribution board. You might not be getting enough power when everything is installed.

[Bruce Graham]

Hi RJ;
It has been an ever changing faults with this.
Yes sometimes removing one card solved the issue, for 10 - 15 Minutes. The console froze. LED still on. No audio console not responsive. CPU Screen worked as it should.
Sometimes it would boot and work with no cards, again for a short period of time.
Next time, no amount of card removal fixed it.
Currently, no cards, it boots, gets to the last stage of "ready to go", there is a flash in the input meters and all LED's turn off.
Power Supply or capacitor(s) is my guess, but where? I will start with the BFC, then the CPU. I think that is logical.
Thanks
Bruce

[RJH_MUSIC]

I would look at the power supplies within the CPU power the desk. Remove the shield from the top of the power supply area in the CPU to reveal 3 power supplies. There is the CPU power supply at the rear of the case. With a unit facing you in the front you have the lps152 Aztec power supply which is vertically mounted in connected to the divider in the CPU this applies 5V power to the desk. And the third one which is connected to the Aztec power supply is a linear power supply circuit board which is mounted flat down next to the vertically mounted power supply. I first replaced the linear power supply and that did not work. And then I replaced the Aztec lps152 power supply. My problem I think was similar to yours because the unit would power on and work for about 15 minutes and then the desk would die but the software was intact. That means somewhere in the power supplies for the desk the 5V voltage is dropping. And I wonder if that's what your problem is.

[Bruce Graham]

Thanks RJ. I will check that out first before removing all the PC boards in the desk. I will also check the BFC capacitors as well.
It will be a while before I do this as I have other non audio projects going, from the Honey-Do list.
Thanks

[Bruce Graham]

Hey Anders et all;

Yes "ye old BFC wiggle" was done, if fact, as soon as I touched the connected, the console went dark. This could be part of it.

It has been a long road of many days working on this with 1 step forward and 2 back, sometimes, 3 back.

I have had things working only to have things fail after warm up.

Here is where I am at....

I have switched to software version 3.0 (long story), and the console boots normal until it gets to the final part of the boot where the faders go down. Once that happens the desk goes dark. The Solo like comes on solid. The LCD screen is still on and when I shut the desk down through the software it LCD following along, but the buttons on the desk do not eliminate.

Here's is what I've done
- Removed and cleaned as my connections inside the desk that I can without taking it apart.
- Replaced the Power Dist board and used power cables from spare parts.
- Did a slight Pin bend on the molex? power connectors on the Dist board, and teh pins on the 3 PC boards they connect to.
- Did a new "Start up" file in software
- Removed all I/O cards
- Removed all UFX and MFX Cards (they seemed to cause different problems depending on combinations and locations of cards).
- The Ye old BFC Wiggle" was tried but now it goes dead so I don't know if this could be it.

There is a few other stuff as well.

I have 2 CPU's. One CPU version 3.0, the other is version 5.1 no hack (Can't get FTP to work to copy the hack over).
No matter what combination I use, the results are no go. Sometimes what's above, sometimes something different to start but, it leads to the above.

I have parts to build another desk and will be diligent about cleaning, but I thought I would seek guidance before doing that. It would be a summer project. COVID 19 has stopped the world (almost) but it has given me the time to try to sort this out.

Back to the studio that doesn't work

Cheers
Bruce

[arjepsen]

Hey Anders et all;

Yes "ye old BFC wiggle" was done, if fact, as soon as I touched the connected, the console went dark. This could be part of it.


Bruce

Yeah, that doesn't sound good.
Refresh my memory - you mention having two different cpus, but do you only have one desk?
Could be the BFC connector on the desk has a connectivity problem?`
If you have a spare part for the power board attached to the bfc connector inside the desk, I would try changing that, and see if it made any difference. (you could also try taking it out of the desk and reeeeally give those pins a thorough cleaning with some kind of contact cleaner.

Sorry to hear your continued trouble with all this.

In any case, I hope you otherwise have a blessed easter.

/Anders

[Bruce Graham]

Hi Anders;

I have 3 desks (one in parts, two built) and 2 CPU's. One version 3.0 one version 5.1 (lost the hack. Long story).

I have swapped out the BFC Card on the desk. I have cleaned and cleaned, swapped cable, swapped consoles and CPU and no combination results in any difference. That is the confusing part. How can, what appears to be the same fault, go exist between so many combinations??????? ARGGGGGGGG.

RJH Music thought perhaps Power Supply which makes sense if we are talking one CPU and 2 desk, but I have 2 CPU's and 2 desks. So I'm not sure? The fault as mentioned is common between any combination of 2 CPU's and 2 Desks.

Not sure I want to sink anymore money into this. It's only a hobby.

Also looking at finding a replacement, (Not a d8B), and that is also a daunting task. Can't find much that would "drop into" my existing setting up, which is an HDR and analog gears. (Compressors, EQ, Reverb, etc). Not sure I am wanting to go the route of Computer Audio. I have SONAR Artist, but I use it for mastering only, to CD.

Happy Easter to you as well. I look after videoing a short version of our church services since this COVID19 thing has happened (taking all precautions). It helps give stability and makes connections for people who otherwise are cut off from our church family.

On a different note, The various Post Office's I have been able to get hold of can not find the way-ward package I sent you. I have more parts so I will try again with a tracking system this time. I will let you know when I ship it.

Cheers form Canada
Bruce

[arjepsen]

How can, what appears to be the same fault, go exist between so many combinations??????? ARGGGGGGGG.

Yeah, that is a had scratcher for sure!!
It does sound like the problem is related to unstable power, but a bit weird that it should be the same between all combinations.
I would probably try getting three seperate powersupplies, like the ones I built in to my desk, and see if they would be able to keep it from crashing, while a cpu unit would then jsut be connected through the serial cable.
But it can be a bit of a scary task, if you're not electrically inclined.

Happy Easter to you as well. I look after videoing a short version of our church services since this COVID19 thing has happened (taking all precautions). It helps give stability and makes connections for people who otherwise are cut off from our church family.

On a different note, The various Post Office's I have been able to get hold of can not find the way-ward package I sent you. I have more parts so I will try again with a tracking system this time. I will let you know when I ship it.

Yeah, it's nice to be able to follow - I just finished the late night easter service from my church online, but still wish I could've been there in person.

And I really can't thank you enough for all your trouble in trying to send me that part - it's REALLY nice of you - big thanks!

[captainamerica]

time, money and energy - the "tech parameters" that musicians have to deal with on a regular basis these days...on how sometimes I miss the analog days. The d8b does require "some" babysitting, which is why you need to think hard about how much of those tech parameters you want to invest versus spending time making music on a modern desk. For example, I spent 2 hours fixing an issue yesterday and lost valuable time on a music video that I am working on. A modern console may have helped but that would also require additional $$$ and a learning curve ---> which cuts into other things.
As a former Canadian who has been living in the US for ~ 25 years now...we all know about hard work when it comes to making music Good luck Bruce