After 30+ years, the solder begins to break down and hairline fractures appear. This occurs at a higher rate for components which generate a lot of heat like Bridge Rectifiers, Power Transistors, Large Electrolytic Capacitors, Power Input Jacks, DIN Connectors, MIDI Connectors and Audio Sockets which get a lot of use. The best approach is to use a magnifying glass and carefully inspect the backside of the circuit board. If you spot any suspect areas, re‑flow a hefty amount of NEW solder. Some of the synths, samplers and external accessories I have found with an unusually high number of solder fractures are:
ALPHA JUNO GR‑1 JV‑880 JX‑10 MKS‑70 MKS‑100 PG‑800 S‑220 S‑50 S‑550
Also worth mentioning...
I receive a lot of eMails and field many questions at synth related forums and also on Facebook. The most common question I get about problems with a synth has to do with errors when trying to load Patches and Tones. About 99.9% of the time, the problem always turns out to be a crappy MIDI interface. If you have a cheap‑o MIDI interface which looks similar to the one shown below... throw this piece of shit in the trash! Do It Now. Seriously! This thing is total junk and you get what you pay for. Inexpensive MIDI interfaces like this are unable to properly regulate the buffering of MIDI data. They will work fine with simple messages such as CC, Note On, Note Off, etc... however, when you try to send SysEx messages which are much longer, the SysEx data cuts off after only sending a few bytes. The "Midi Buffer Full" error message is also a common sight. Investing in a higher quality MIDI interface will solve Load/Save errors and other communication problems. Also, if you experience errors when transferring Patch and Tone data from a computer to a synthesizer, DON'T use a USB hub. Plug your MIDI interface directly from the computer to the synthesizer. Why? Some external USB hubs fail when multiple USB devices are attached because there is not enough power to share. Small power sags will suddenly cause one or ALL of the attached USB devices connected to the hub to fail, often accompanied with a "disconnect" signal
These MIDI interfaces have been tested and will work with large SysEx Dumps✓ ESI Midimate II ✓ MOTU 823 mk3 ✓ ESI Midimate eX ✓ RME FireFace UC 2X2 ✓ M-Audio Profire 2626 ✓ Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 2nd Gen ✓ Tie Studio MIDI 1i1o ✓ Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 2nd Gen ✓ Yamaha UX 16 USB/MIDI ✓ Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 3rd Gen ✓ iConnectivity mioXC 1x1 ✓ Miditech MIDIface 4x4 ✓ iConnectivity mio 1x1 ✓ Miditech MIDIface II Thru These MIDI interfaces are shit and don't work with large SysEx Dumps (some might with a special driver) ✗ AVID/M-Audio Fast Track Pro ✗ M-Audio MIDISport 1x1 ✗ Lekato MIDI USB ✗ M-Audio MIDISport 2X2 ✗ Fore MIDI Interface ✗ M-Audio MIDISport UNO ✗ DigitalLife MIDI-C01 ✗ M-Audio Uno ✗ Hosa USM-422 MIDI ✗ Hosongnic, Urweonu, HiFangeow, etc... |
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Safety Precautions and Disclaimer
Modifications made to any factory stock equipment will always pose an element of risk. Sometimes mistakes are made which are irreversible. Improper soldering and handling of electricity can cause serious injury and damage the synthesizer. Use caution when handling static sensitive devices and the PCB. Make sure you are properly grounded, working on a static-free workbench or table and wearing eye protection during any soldering tasks. The author is not responsible for any damage or injury resulting from this DIY info. Use this DIY information at your own risk. And, I can't stress enough, the importance of wearing eye protection while soldering. That stuff flies everywhere sometimes!
Modifications made to any factory stock equipment will always pose an element of risk. Sometimes mistakes are made which are irreversible. Improper soldering and handling of electricity can cause serious injury and damage the synthesizer. Use caution when handling static sensitive devices and the PCB. Make sure you are properly grounded, working on a static-free workbench or table and wearing eye protection during any soldering tasks. The author is not responsible for any damage or injury resulting from this DIY info. Use this DIY information at your own risk. And, I can't stress enough, the importance of wearing eye protection while soldering. That stuff flies everywhere sometimes!
The Information On This Page Is Current As Of
