Reseating the MPC4000 FX board

Any tips on accessing the MPC4000 FX board?

Fired up the machine recently, unable to access any FX. When I select an FX, nothing happens, the field remains as it was. Search of the forums reveals that reseating the FX board is the first thing to do. However when I opened the machine, it appears the FX board is buried deep at the back right when viewed from the front.

Has anyone actually done this and can advise on how best to access the FX board? Looks like a lot of delicate work, which isn't something I enjoy doing myself TBH.

Thanks in advance guys.

It is delicate work, and you need to be kind of firm too.. yet still gentle enough when pulling the boards apart not to break anything... Putting it all back together is also a pain in the ass... Doesn't mean it's difficult, just alot of stuff to unscrew/unhook etc. Alot of the nuts on the back also need to be taken off.. topmost board taken out, board under that pulled from stiff daughterboard connectors to lowest board.
I had the same non working fx board, reseating didn't fix anything in my case.. not to say it won't to the trick in any one elses case.

I need to open mine up soon and put new Ram in. Not something i'm looking forward to

Replacing the ram is an easy fix in the 4K... I managed it so it must be! It's just a case of finding something to keep the hood propped up while you do it.

Coz wrote:Replacing the ram is an easy fix in the 4K... I managed it so it must be! It's just a case of finding something to keep the hood propped up while you do it.

Long handle wooden spoon!

Sounds like removing the whole top panel is going to be necessary for getting to that FX board. It is nervous work, because there's always that fear that something else will stop working by taking the machine apart.

That fear is irrational 99% of the time, but do the job slowly. The most in depth I've gone into the 4k so far was removing the 8 outs board to fit my SPDIF board. I thought it would take an hour...

Good luck with the FX - hope reseating it works.

RAM is much easier, but you may have to press downwards on the DIMM harder than you expect to get it fully into the slot. I added a DIMM into the outside slot closest to the side of the case so I was able to support the PCB a little bit with finger tips near the PCB mounted RAM slots whilst pressing down on the DIMM.

Yeah getting at that FX board isn't a job for the fainthearted.

Will see if forum member Beatdiggerjazzcat can remedy this for me over the weekend, he's a great MPC tech over here in the UK (West Sussex). Look him up on Facebook if your MPC needs attention.

Fingers crossed it's not something more serious than a reseating of the FX.

MPCdawk wrote:Sounds like removing the whole top panel is going to be necessary for getting to that FX board.

You don't need to actually remove the top panel, a long wooden spoon is the trick as you mentioned.

To the OP, let us know how it goes, I'm curious what it is too.

a drumstick works well too for propping open the top.

regarding the ram installation i would recommend thoroughly cleaning the ram slots (with contact cleaner and compressed air) prior to installation. i ended up with all kinds of weird (and random) noise that ended up being a dirty ram socket.

szr wrote:

MPCdawk wrote:Sounds like removing the whole top panel is going to be necessary for getting to that FX board.

You don't need to actually remove the top panel, a long wooden spoon is the trick as you mentioned.

@ szr

I do use a drumstick to prop the top panel open on most MPC's, can you elaborate on your statement about not having to remove the top panel to get at the FX?

Meant that you don't actually have to take the top off ... as that requires more stuff to be disconnected... which is not nessesary for this operation...I had a 2nd person to help by holding the top panel so it didn't fall off the unit while taking the boards in/out..
As I found it had to be propped up almost at a 90degree angle.. which you would not want to do with a drumstick etc. at that time...

Ok so jazzcat took the 4000 apart checked the FX board, all appeared to be ok. Reassembled the joint and so far it's been working as normal again. Able to select and edit FX A-D just as expected. No obvious fault identified.

For the record, the FX board is attached to the underside of the lowest PCB at the rear right of the machine (as viewed from the front with top open). A lot of other PCB's had to be removed to get to it. Not something I ever want to do myself, but jazzcat made it look 'easy'.

Jazzcats akai repairs (UK), search google or Facebook.

Thanks for the update.. glad you got it working again, guess in my case my fx board is prob fried.. but prob would have never used it anyway.

Well the FX did freeze the machine a couple of times after we put it back together, and I could only select FX A and B, but after a few reboots it was fine for A to D.

I'm none the wiser as to what the issue was, but glad it appears to have been resolved through removal and refitting of the PCB's and options (8 outs and ADAT).

Had the same prob with the fx locking up my 4k.. Just selecting the fx from the menu was all it took.

After doing some internal housekeeping in the mpc, and reseating the fx board the lockups where also fixed in my case..
so since then the chosen fx just don't work, without the locking up

Glad to hear you're back in business with a simple fix, well simple in itself, but not so easy to execute for the non-electonic types.

It probably would have taken me 39 hours...