Patches and discussion for Ensoniq VFX family

----- Original Message -----

From: whoi.geo

To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2012 7:48 PM

Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] VFX-SD cartridge failure

Hi1

My first post...bought a used VFX-SD...(one of the later ones as the
connection between the under-keyboard circuit boards is a 2-layer socket)everything works perfectly...however I had ordered a NOS Voice Crystal cartridge from a store in Florida, the case for the cartridge arrived broken, I plugged it in and the keyboard didn't recognize it
contacted the seller...he had no VFX to test it on.

I contacted the California guy, he said bad cartridge, bad cable,
bad motherboard (not able to tell if this was in order of likelihood)
I removed the cable and cleaned both sockets and the pins on the MB
with gold deoxy...still no joy...

Anybody ever had a bad cable for the cartridge?

How about the MB being bad such that it doesn't recognize that a cartridge is installed?

Your thoughts please...

SOS

>
> i would say bad cartridge even if it is nos 
> 
> get money back was most proberly broken before sent
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: whoi.geo 
>   To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com 
>   Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2012 7:48 PM
>   Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] VFX-SD cartridge failure
> 
> 
>     
>   Hi1
> 
>   My first post...bought a used VFX-SD...(one of the later ones as the
>   connection between the under-keyboard circuit boards is a 2-layer socket)everything works perfectly...however I had ordered a NOS Voice Crystal cartridge from a store in Florida, the case for the cartridge arrived broken, I plugged it in and the keyboard didn't recognize it
>   contacted the seller...he had no VFX to test it on. 
> 
>   I contacted the California guy, he said bad cartridge, bad cable,
>   bad motherboard (not able to tell if this was in order of likelihood)
>   I removed the cable and cleaned both sockets and the pins on the MB
>   with gold deoxy...still no joy...
> 
>   Anybody ever had a bad cable for the cartridge?
> 
>   How about the MB being bad such that it doesn't recognize that a cartridge is installed?
> 
>   Your thoughts please...
> 
>   SOS
>

>
> 
> ---- "whoi.geo" <sonofspy777@...> wrote: 
> 
> =============
> Hi1
> 
> My first post...bought a used VFX-SD...(one of the later ones as the
> connection between the under-keyboard circuit boards is a 2-layer socket)everything works perfectly...however I had ordered a NOS Voice Crystal cartridge from a store in Florida, the case for the cartridge arrived broken, 
> 
> ==================================================
> Long shot here:
> 1) is the cartridge broken so badly the it will fit in the socket backwards? There's no index on the contacts, just the diference in the thickness of the sides of the cartridge that makes it fit one way.
> 2)The copper traces on the PC board in the cartridge are very small. If the board is cracked at all, that might do it.
> 3) Just finished fixing an Ensoniq SQ80 (ancestor of the VFX) Someone had removed the cartridge socket from the slot in the case and had put it back UPSIDE DOWN. Same synptoms: synth worked and sounded finem but did not recognize the cartridge.
> 
> Bill
>

Thanx Jammie,

I worked out a partial refund with the seller...I plan on making the
cartridge into an EEPROM by making a few changes to the circuit...
I have a 2nd cartridge I ordered coming from another source..so if
IT works it will be clear that the 1st cartridge is bad..

My feeling is that it is the cartridge...

thanx again for your response...

sos

--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, "jammie" wrote:
>
> i would say bad cartridge even if it is nos
>
> get money back was most proberly broken before sent
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: whoi.geo
> To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2012 7:48 PM
> Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] VFX-SD cartridge failure
>
>
>
> Hi1
>
> My first post...bought a used VFX-SD...(one of the later ones as the
> connection between the under-keyboard circuit boards is a 2-layer socket)everything works perfectly...however I had ordered a NOS Voice Crystal cartridge from a store in Florida, the case for the cartridge arrived broken, I plugged it in and the keyboard didn't recognize it
> contacted the seller...he had no VFX to test it on.
>
> I contacted the California guy, he said bad cartridge, bad cable,
> bad motherboard (not able to tell if this was in order of likelihood)
> I removed the cable and cleaned both sockets and the pins on the MB
> with gold deoxy...still no joy...
>
> Anybody ever had a bad cable for the cartridge?
>
> How about the MB being bad such that it doesn't recognize that a cartridge is installed?
>
> Your thoughts please...
>
> SOS
>

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: tomlinson6050@roadrunner.com 
  To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com 
  Cc: whoi.geo 
  Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2012 8:58 PM
  Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] VFX-SD cartridge failure


    

  ---- "whoi.geo" <sonofspy777@...> wrote: 

  =============
  Hi1

  My first post...bought a used VFX-SD...(one of the later ones as the
  connection between the under-keyboard circuit boards is a 2-layer socket)everything works perfectly...however I had ordered a NOS Voice Crystal cartridge from a store in Florida, the case for the cartridge arrived broken, 

  ==================================================
  Long shot here:
  1) is the cartridge broken so badly the it will fit in the socket backwards? There's no index on the contacts, just the diference in the thickness of the sides of the cartridge that makes it fit one way.
  2)The copper traces on the PC board in the cartridge are very small. If the board is cracked at all, that might do it.
  3) Just finished fixing an Ensoniq SQ80 (ancestor of the VFX) Someone had removed the cartridge socket from the slot in the case and had put it back UPSIDE DOWN. Same synptoms: synth worked and sounded finem but did not recognize the cartridge.

  Bill

On May 3, 2012, at 10:14 AM, john bluhm <falconjohnney@...> wrote:

> In the 90's, I bought a used VFX that had the keyboard problem as well as a torn ribbon cable that connected to
> the Cartridge port. Though it was used, the dealer I bought it from managed to talk Ensoniq into a warranty
> repair. We shipped it to Ensoniq, three weeks later it came back with every problem the same. I took it home
> and repaired it myself cutting an 1/8" off the ribbon cable, and then I re-attached it to the socket. Worked fine
> ever since.
>  
> However, before you get to far into attempting a repair, maybe you could find a ROM cartridge on Ebay to test
> your cartridge port. The ROM cartridge can easily be converted to be an EEPROM cartridge. Instructions for
> doing this are on this site, I believe. You do have to be able to solder.
>  
> Just a couple of ideas. Good luck.
>

>
> In the 90's, I bought a used VFX that had the keyboard problem as well as a torn ribbon cable that connected to
> the Cartridge port. Though it was used, the dealer I bought it from managed to talk Ensoniq into a warranty
> repair. We shipped it to Ensoniq, three weeks later it came back with every problem the same. I took it home
> and repaired it myself cutting an 1/8" off the ribbon cable, and then I re-attached it to the socket. Worked fine
> ever since.
>  
> However, before you get to far into attempting a repair, maybe you could find a ROM cartridge on Ebay to test
> your cartridge port. The ROM cartridge can easily be converted to be an EEPROM cartridge. Instructions for
> doing this are on this site, I believe. You do have to be able to solder. 
>  
> Just a couple of ideas. Good luck.
>

>
> 
> Finally received the 2nd cartridge from eBay...
> 
> This one works fine...guess I'll convert the other cart to
> 
> an EEPROM...
> 
> thanx for eveyone's help!
> 
> 
> SOS
>

>
> I am sorry, but I missed the thread about the EEPROM conversion. Where can I find a detailed description for that? 
> 
> Thanks!
>   
> --- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, "whoi.geo" <sonofspy777@> wrote:
> >
> > 
> > Finally received the 2nd cartridge from eBay...
> > 
> > This one works fine...guess I'll convert the other cart to
> > 
> > an EEPROM...
> > 
> > thanx for eveyone's help!
> > 
> > 
> > SOS
> >
>