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Discussion about the Korg PolySix synthesizer

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Re: Polysix randomly changes parameter settings.

Re: Polysix randomly changes parameter settings.

2007-12-13 by synthmdl76

Update, 
Ive narrowed it down to the VCF section of parameters.  

I disconnected connector 1 (on board 376)
This disabled the VCF and EG params. (As i can still mod. all other
params.)
Now when I change the prog with the bank selector I can play the
selected sound and it remains ok.  then when I plug connector 1 back
in, thats when I get the random jumps in the VCF

I just plugged connector 1 back into the 376 board and the cutoff was
jumping again.  

if I mess with the cutoff I can get it back working.  so Im thinking
something on the board that the cutoff knob is on is acting up. 
unless the 376 is sending the cutoff jumpy signals.

there's a Ghost in the Machine Roxanne!

Re: Polysix randomly changes parameter settings.

2007-12-13 by gil_we

can you see any battery leakage ?


--- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "synthmdl76" <synthmdl76@...> wrote:
>
> Update, 
> Ive narrowed it down to the VCF section of parameters.  
> 
> I disconnected connector 1 (on board 376)
> This disabled the VCF and EG params. (As i can still mod. all other
> params.)
> Now when I change the prog with the bank selector I can play the
> selected sound and it remains ok.  then when I plug connector 1 back
> in, thats when I get the random jumps in the VCF
> 
> I just plugged connector 1 back into the 376 board and the cutoff 
was
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> jumping again.  
> 
> if I mess with the cutoff I can get it back working.  so Im thinking
> something on the board that the cutoff knob is on is acting up. 
> unless the 376 is sending the cutoff jumpy signals.
> 
> there's a Ghost in the Machine Roxanne!
>

Re:[PolySix] Re: Polysix randomly changes parameter settings.

2007-12-13 by erema@libero.it

Hi Gil,
I inform you that I made the payment
Ciao
Emidio
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> can you see any battery leakage ?
> 
> 
> --- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "synthmdl76" <synthmdl76@...> wrote:
> >
> > Update, 
> > Ive narrowed it down to the VCF section of parameters.  
> > 
> > I disconnected connector 1 (on board 376)
> > This disabled the VCF and EG params. (As i can still mod. all other
> > params.)
> > Now when I change the prog with the bank selector I can play the
> > selected sound and it remains ok.  then when I plug connector 1 back
> > in, thats when I get the random jumps in the VCF
> > 
> > I just plugged connector 1 back into the 376 board and the cutoff 
> was
> > jumping again.  
> > 
> > if I mess with the cutoff I can get it back working.  so Im thinking
> > something on the board that the cutoff knob is on is acting up. 
> > unless the 376 is sending the cutoff jumpy signals.
> > 
> > there's a Ghost in the Machine Roxanne!
> >
> 
> 
>

Re: Polysix randomly changes parameter settings.

2007-12-13 by synthmdl76

Sorry I meant board 367 not 376

Im checking the TP voltages righ now, then im testing the RESET.  If I
move VR1 when the cutoff is jumping that seems to effect the jumping


--- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "synthmdl76" <synthmdl76@...> wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text
>
> Update, 
> Ive narrowed it down to the VCF section of parameters.  
> 
> I disconnected connector 1 (on board 376)
> This disabled the VCF and EG params. (As i can still mod. all other
> params.)
> Now when I change the prog with the bank selector I can play the
> selected sound and it remains ok.  then when I plug connector 1 back
> in, thats when I get the random jumps in the VCF
> 
> I just plugged connector 1 back into the 376 board and the cutoff was
> jumping again.  
> 
> if I mess with the cutoff I can get it back working.  so Im thinking
> something on the board that the cutoff knob is on is acting up. 
> unless the 376 is sending the cutoff jumpy signals.
> 
> there's a Ghost in the Machine Roxanne!
>

Re: Polysix randomly changes parameter settings.

2007-12-14 by synthmdl76

"dinked" around with D/A adjustment (page 19 of service manual).
when I switched the switch (SW1) from normal to test and did as the
service manual states, lights 1 and 5 where lit and some times lights
5 and 8 would flicker.  moved pots vr 6 and vr7 a bit and it started
to work again... hope this fixed my problem.

--- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "synthmdl76" <synthmdl76@...> wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text
>
> 
> 
> Sorry I meant board 367 not 376
> 
> Im checking the TP voltages righ now, then im testing the RESET.  If I
> move VR1 when the cutoff is jumping that seems to effect the jumping
> 
> 
> --- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "synthmdl76" <synthmdl76@> wrote:
> >
> > Update, 
> > Ive narrowed it down to the VCF section of parameters.  
> > 
> > I disconnected connector 1 (on board 376)
> > This disabled the VCF and EG params. (As i can still mod. all other
> > params.)
> > Now when I change the prog with the bank selector I can play the
> > selected sound and it remains ok.  then when I plug connector 1 back
> > in, thats when I get the random jumps in the VCF
> > 
> > I just plugged connector 1 back into the 376 board and the cutoff was
> > jumping again.  
> > 
> > if I mess with the cutoff I can get it back working.  so Im thinking
> > something on the board that the cutoff knob is on is acting up. 
> > unless the 376 is sending the cutoff jumpy signals.
> > 
> > there's a Ghost in the Machine Roxanne!
> >
>

Re: Polysix randomly changes parameter settings.

2007-12-14 by synx508

--- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "synthmdl76" <synthmdl76@...> wrote:
>
> 
> 
> Sorry I meant board 367 not 376
> 
> Im checking the TP voltages righ now, then im testing the RESET.  If I
> move VR1 when the cutoff is jumping that seems to effect the jumping
> 

The fun thing about the battery leakage problem is that it can do many
different things. The SIL pullup resistor near IC30/31 can go open
circuit for certain lines, the lines can go open circuit to the
microcontroller, they can go short (or effectively short for small
signals) to other lines. The short problem is the hardest to track
down and is also the reason that it's best to physically remove any
tracks that appear to have been damaged. Once the corrosion has got
into a track you can be sure it has also leaked under the protective
coating on top of the board - this causes the PCB itself to become
conductive!

If you have a 'scope you'll quickly be able to find a problem on one
of the lines that feed in and out of IC30/31.

I don't think it can be emphasised enough that battery leakage is a
tricky thing to fix if you're not already experienced in the many ways
it can mess with your brain while you fault-find. It can be quite
difficult to estimate the amount of repairs required, of the 3 I've
done the cleanest looking was the one with the most damage. If I came
across another unmodified polysix I'd remove IC30,31 and the
microcontroller's socket and replace them all with sockets, cut and
hard wire all the lines in and out of IC30,31 and perhaps the SIL
resistor and maybe do the same for the CMOS stuff beside the battery
before I even powered it on. ...or maybe I'd just rip its guts out and
work on that Polytwelve project that I keep in a dark corner of my
brain (which would be two 366s hanging off a modern microcontroller
board).

Re: Polysix randomly changes parameter settings.

2007-12-17 by synthmdl76

Thanks for the awesome response... I just did a lot more soldering. So
far im not getting the random cutoff and the parameters seem good and
solid. Their is one remaining issue.

When I power it on, the presents work fine.  But in manual mode it
takes a minute for the cutoff to open.  what do i mean by this? i have
all the parameters set in a basic setting so i get a nice buzzing
sawtooth wave.  when I power it up when its been sitting for a while
and set it to manual, its like the filter cutoff is set to level 5, I
can barely hear it.  then after a minute (like it need to warm up)it
works fine.  now get this, before the warm up when the cutoff is not
working I can control the cutoff with the PW/PWM knob in the VCO
parameters. odd eh?
then after its warmed up I can shut it off and turn it back on and it
works fine.  its like a cap or a resister my be getting bad and it
needs to warm up.  I want to get some of that electronic cold blast
stuff to spray around to see if I can locate the suspected part.

Thanks everyone for reading... I hope other get use out of this post





--- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "synx508" <philyahoo@...> wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text
>
> --- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "synthmdl76" <synthmdl76@> wrote:
> >
> > 
> > 
> > Sorry I meant board 367 not 376
> > 
> > Im checking the TP voltages righ now, then im testing the RESET.  If I
> > move VR1 when the cutoff is jumping that seems to effect the jumping
> > 
> 
> The fun thing about the battery leakage problem is that it can do many
> different things. The SIL pullup resistor near IC30/31 can go open
> circuit for certain lines, the lines can go open circuit to the
> microcontroller, they can go short (or effectively short for small
> signals) to other lines. The short problem is the hardest to track
> down and is also the reason that it's best to physically remove any
> tracks that appear to have been damaged. Once the corrosion has got
> into a track you can be sure it has also leaked under the protective
> coating on top of the board - this causes the PCB itself to become
> conductive!
> 
> If you have a 'scope you'll quickly be able to find a problem on one
> of the lines that feed in and out of IC30/31.
> 
> I don't think it can be emphasised enough that battery leakage is a
> tricky thing to fix if you're not already experienced in the many ways
> it can mess with your brain while you fault-find. It can be quite
> difficult to estimate the amount of repairs required, of the 3 I've
> done the cleanest looking was the one with the most damage. If I came
> across another unmodified polysix I'd remove IC30,31 and the
> microcontroller's socket and replace them all with sockets, cut and
> hard wire all the lines in and out of IC30,31 and perhaps the SIL
> resistor and maybe do the same for the CMOS stuff beside the battery
> before I even powered it on. ...or maybe I'd just rip its guts out and
> work on that Polytwelve project that I keep in a dark corner of my
> brain (which would be two 366s hanging off a modern microcontroller
> board).
>

Re: Polysix randomly changes parameter settings.

2007-12-18 by synthmdl76

I found out that IC 1 pin 3 (the data pin) on the 370 board reads -2.3
and before it warms up.  that as it warms up and I can hear the cutoff
open, the voltage goes to -2.1 or so and stays stable.  
Maybe this ic1 14051 is bad.



--- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "synthmdl76" <synthmdl76@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks for the awesome response... I just did a lot more soldering. So
> far im not getting the random cutoff and the parameters seem good and
> solid. Their is one remaining issue.
> 
> When I power it on, the presents work fine.  But in manual mode it
> takes a minute for the cutoff to open.  what do i mean by this? i have
> all the parameters set in a basic setting so i get a nice buzzing
> sawtooth wave.  when I power it up when its been sitting for a while
> and set it to manual, its like the filter cutoff is set to level 5, I
> can barely hear it.  then after a minute (like it need to warm up)it
> works fine.  now get this, before the warm up when the cutoff is not
> working I can control the cutoff with the PW/PWM knob in the VCO
> parameters. odd eh?
> then after its warmed up I can shut it off and turn it back on and it
> works fine.  its like a cap or a resister my be getting bad and it
> needs to warm up.  I want to get some of that electronic cold blast
> stuff to spray around to see if I can locate the suspected part.
> 
> Thanks everyone for reading... I hope other get use out of this post
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "synx508" <philyahoo@> wrote:
> >
> > --- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "synthmdl76" <synthmdl76@> wrote:
> > >
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Sorry I meant board 367 not 376
> > > 
> > > Im checking the TP voltages righ now, then im testing the RESET.
 If I
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> > > move VR1 when the cutoff is jumping that seems to effect the jumping
> > > 
> > 
> > The fun thing about the battery leakage problem is that it can do many
> > different things. The SIL pullup resistor near IC30/31 can go open
> > circuit for certain lines, the lines can go open circuit to the
> > microcontroller, they can go short (or effectively short for small
> > signals) to other lines. The short problem is the hardest to track
> > down and is also the reason that it's best to physically remove any
> > tracks that appear to have been damaged. Once the corrosion has got
> > into a track you can be sure it has also leaked under the protective
> > coating on top of the board - this causes the PCB itself to become
> > conductive!
> > 
> > If you have a 'scope you'll quickly be able to find a problem on one
> > of the lines that feed in and out of IC30/31.
> > 
> > I don't think it can be emphasised enough that battery leakage is a
> > tricky thing to fix if you're not already experienced in the many ways
> > it can mess with your brain while you fault-find. It can be quite
> > difficult to estimate the amount of repairs required, of the 3 I've
> > done the cleanest looking was the one with the most damage. If I came
> > across another unmodified polysix I'd remove IC30,31 and the
> > microcontroller's socket and replace them all with sockets, cut and
> > hard wire all the lines in and out of IC30,31 and perhaps the SIL
> > resistor and maybe do the same for the CMOS stuff beside the battery
> > before I even powered it on. ...or maybe I'd just rip its guts out and
> > work on that Polytwelve project that I keep in a dark corner of my
> > brain (which would be two 366s hanging off a modern microcontroller
> > board).
> >
>

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