Distorted sounds

[cangus]

Hi all,

Recently lent my EX7 to a friend. When it came back all the "real instrument sounds" are distorted almost unrecognisable - almost as if the AWM present samples were corrupt or distorted.

The pretty analog stuff seems OK (more or less) but the real stuff not.

I'm tried a reset and a reload from disk but this hasn't fixed anything. I wondered if anyone had any advice or had had a similar problem.

Chris

[cangus]

Hi Thanks for the reply

Running tge diagnostics says 2 of the ROMs are NG (not good) which fits in

wondered if anyone else had had a ROM failure -

is this typically a failure of the rom or is it more likely a supporting capacitor

any info of similar issues would be appreciated



Chris

[jima]

Hi Chris, can you please post the exact text of the error message and the IC numbers it refers to. There are two sets of ROM's associated with the EX sound generation cicuitry, one on-board containing the base samples (IC8/9 IIRC) and a socketed pair used for tone generator support. These latter are shipped as ROM's from the factory but are replaceable and are often upgraded with EPROMS without too much trouble.

[Miks]

@ Chris (cangus):
What a bummer to lend equipment to a friend and getting it back obviously damaged...
I'm no expert in regard to an EX7 as I have an EX5R. You should ask your 'friend' if he had opened the synth (for some reason) - maybe he pulled out one (or more) of those ROMs and putting them back into position somehow failed... maybe a bent (or broken ) pin, or the ROMs had been mixed up while putting them back... just a few thoughts... but I wonder if he would tell you the truth...

[Derek]

The pm was not my real intention.
Because I hoped Miks would answer here directly..
But he did not do that. Unfortunately.

Please give people a chance to respond. We are not watching the forums every second of the day.....

E.g this is my first browse after four hours in the studio figuring out what Rick Wright is playing in "Welcome to the Machine" and getting the sounds right, followed by an hour and half curry cooking for a hungry family....

[Derek]

@ Chris (cangus):
What a bummer to lend equipment to a friend and getting it back obviously damaged...
I'm no expert in regard to an EX7 as I have an EX5R. You should ask your 'friend' if he had opened the synth (for some reason) - maybe he pulled out one (or more) of those ROMs and putting them back into position somehow failed... maybe a bent (or broken ) pin, or the ROMs had been mixed up while putting them back... just a few thoughts... but I wonder if he would tell you the truth...

Hi, Chris. Sorry to hear about your troubles. The possibility in addition to what has been mentioned by Miks is that maybe a sharp knock or general transit has loosened a cable connector, so it is marginal.

If I were you, I'd open the synth up and check all the connectors, ensure that all socketed chips are firm (they can work loose over time due to a phenomena called "thermal creep"), noting Mik's point about looking for bent or broken pins

From you describe, it sounds like it could be a TG ROM issue if it as AWM sounds, but AN sounds are OK.

[Derek]

The truth of the "Distorted sounds" ???

I think a key component is your friend.
Did he already know of the "Distorted sounds" , he might have caused himself?
And maybe even tried to fix - as an amateur?

I can imagine that your friend got panic fear.
After doing or causing something bad with the EX7.
And experienced that "Distorted sounds" immediately afterwards.
A mechanical cause? Shock, fall, etc.?

If so, stay friends! In spite of everything.
-------------------------------------------------
Or was the transport / move too much for the EX7? Temperature, vibrations, etc.
Then your friend is not to blame.

Instruments attract magically!
Everyone wanted to play on my Rhodes in the rehearsal room.
What a feeling for me.
Amateurs at my Rhodes.

But the tritone they found immediately. C - F# ! What a wonderful sound!

And the point if this reply, and how it helps the OP is?

[Kbadms]

Hi! I'm new on this forum. I recently purchase an old EX5 but later noticed the sound (All voices) get distorted few seconds after sounding normal. The issue corrects itself once the voice is changed to any e but re-occurs few seconds after sounding normal. No error message displays on the screen. I need assistance from the experts on this forum with troubleshooting.

[Miks]

Hi Kbadms,

welcome on the forum.

Since the EX5/EX5R/EX7 are technically not 'as simple as a DX7' it may be difficult to maintain those machines - especially if you don't have the right tools and skills.

I would recommend to run the test program of the EX5 first to see if and what kind of error comes up. Therefor I've sent you a PM - so please DO check your PM's...

[azrevasive]

Hi! I'm new on this forum. I recently purchase an old EX5 but later noticed the sound (All voices) get distorted few seconds after sounding normal. The issue corrects itself once the voice is changed to any e but re-occurs few seconds after sounding normal. No error message displays on the screen. I need assistance from the experts on this forum with troubleshooting.

Could it be the output? A DC offset perhaps. Is Headphone output also distorted? I am no expert and I do not know if any schematics are available.

[Miks]

Could it be the output? A DC offset perhaps. Is Headphone output also distorted? I am no expert and I do not know if any schematics are available.

Yes, they are available...