d8b mulfunction with youtube video

[muratasil]

i think the video explains it all...
any suggestions, diagnostics to ease my pain ?
i tried taking all the cards out, contact cleaned everything etc.
d8b has 3 optical and 1 analog, 1 UFX ,3 MFX cards installed as you saw on the video. Connected to a 2408mk3 via optical.

peter thnx for the youtube explanation at the beginning of the forum.

thnx in advance.

murat

[NigelC]

First glance looks like a clock issue. Which unit is the clock master the D8B or the MOTU (assuming you are using Apogee Clock card not the stock version which has no BNC in).

Maybe you have incorrectly set clock?

As a test make the D8B clock master in the setup screen (set to Clock Internal at either 44.1 or 48khz) and temporarily disconnect ADAT connections. If this works make sure MOTU is set to clock via ADAT and choose the right setting (44.1 or 48khz are all the D8B can send out). Make sure at least one ADAT input on the MOTU is connected to the D8B to clock from.

[muratasil]

Nigel,

clock set ok and i checked everything one more time. the other thing is that the faders started sticking. i think it's dying on me..

thnx for all the help. let me know if something else comes to your mind.

best,

murat

[muratasil]

i forgot to say yes i have the apogee with the bnc and d8b is still malfunctioning without the adat connection.

[synthjoe]

If you insert a master effect, does the CPU download it properly (message on the desk, etc.)? If you operate the controls with the mouse on screen, does the mixing engine seem to work properly?
Since the problem does not seem to be related to sync, I'd guess that one of the two serial ports carried by the DB25 cable has problems. Is it always the same pattern coming up on the level display and faders, or does it change each time you restart? My first atttempt to fix would be measuring the DB25 cabe pin-for-pin and check the connectors for any intermittent occurrence. It could also be the ribbon cable carrying the serial signal inside the console (or inside the CPU box).

My 2 cents...

[High C Double G]

Most certainly clock related. Remember the d8b wants to be booted first before any other pieces of equipment located in your studio. FIRST boot the d8b then start turning things on after the d8b is up and running. I actually have a certain "boot order" I adhere to; it is... d8b, master clock, DA converter, HDD's, Recorders, Computer, then everything else. The main items not to turn on before the d8b is anything digital.

If you were already following the "d8b is the king of the castle" rule. Sorry about that. This is what it looks like.

Other than that, there is some clock issue that is causing this.

All my best,
Michael

[bones]

Murat,
You wrote that you contact cleaned everything etc....did that include all of the ribbon cables inside the board?. My d8b has an almost identical malfunction about every 11-13 months. I remove the bottom panel, pull and clean all of the ribbon cables and related PCB connections. Board runs great for about a year, then I get to repeat the cleaning. Just a thought.

Cheers

Bones

[muratasil]

hi everyone,
day 3 and still the same.
thnx for all the response. I'm trying all the suggestions one by one.

synthjoe, the board accepts and loads effects normally. no problem there. but I changed the db25 with a brand new one anyway. i was very excited while changing it actually but nope...

highC-GG, i currently unplugged the adat cables and am booting d8b alone. no sync related issues i think ??? at this point, it might be anything but the power supply. I even tried to boot it up without the apogee card just to see what's happening. But you sure are right; d8b is very picky with the boot-up sequence.

bones, you might be on to something . that's the only thing i haven't tried so far. if cleaning all the ribbon connections don't resolve the issue, i 'm suspicious of the apogee card but this is very unlikely i think. Any of you guys had a bad clock card and changed it ???
one other thing that's started last night is the sticky fakers issue. if i push and hold them for a second or so the motor releases and the fader starts moving also on the monitor. cleaning the ribbons might do the trick ?? it might be just one basic thing or couple of things might be happening at the same time. so I'm a bit frustrated and confused at the moment.

I know this is just a tool/gadget and i don't wanna sound sentimental or naive but i really don't wanna put this board in the basement. with all the sound quality issues, technical struggles etc., i spent many hours in front of this grumpy bastard and i love it. also a possibility/idea of converting the d8b to a 24ch. usb controller http://www.d8bforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=175 is very exciting. I'm sure most of you feel the same.

my schedule for tonight is hectic and I need a break but, I'll open the board first thing tomorrow morning and start cleaning the ribbons. I think we'll take it from there.

I do appreciate all your support. I currently live in Istanbul and no one I know has a d8b (Actually last night I wondered how many people still owns and using a d8b?). I'm not sure if the local Mackie tech shop has enough experience and knowledge with d8b. I called them about another problem last year and had an interesting conversation on the phone.

best,

murat

[High C Double G]

Hi Murat,

What was the last known clock setting? I would tap the delete key and check the BIOS for the heck of it. I am not sure about loose ribbons causing this behavior but Bones board acts this way and his solution works for him.

What I noticed is that it looks like the d8b is not searching for a clock signal so it is probably set to it being master.

Did you re-seat the data cable and BFC cable and really tighten it? do you have your keyboard, mouse, and monitor connected? RAM is a known problem maker if it is bad. If the MOTU is powered off I would think it would be okay to leave the cables plugged in. Good luck.

I have been fortunate to have very little trouble but many have had nothing but trouble... many more times than not it is the ribbon cables. Have you seen this? http://www.sonido-7.com/d8b/maintenance.html#Post9
It is located at #9 in the "Top Ten list of common problems" under the heading "look here first" in the DataBase.

Hope this helps,
HCDG (a.k.a. Michael)

[synthjoe]

My bet would be on the ribbon cable at this stage, particularly on the ones going from the DB25 connector to the brain board. Maybe the other end inside the CPU would be worth a check, too. Waiting keenly to learn about the final solution!