Out of the frying pan, into the fire (Pictures included)

Hi, new member, been lurking for a while.

So I bought my first MPC, a 3000, on ebay, decent price, reasonable condition.......
Once in a while the screen would flicker a bit, so I would jiggle the power cord a bit, and it would stop.
After owning it a couple of months now, the screen has lost all light pretty much permanently, although the text is there really faint.

Now comes the really bad bit......
Thinking it may just be a loose connection, I open up the machine, and there is one cable unplugged from I don't know where, but it comes out of the display area, like the one next to it in the photo


In the power supply area a load of white stuff around some components, as if they were leaking batteries:




Sorry for the long post, but I have several questions, if you can answer any of them, please help

1 Is the leaky white stuff responsible for the display going off, or a separate issue?
2 Is it to late after 10 weeks to do anything through ebay/paypal?
3 What is the estimate for repair by a pro?
4 Could I repair it myself?
5 Is the loose cable unimportant? An unused ground or something?

If you can help on any of the above please share your advice/ opinion, I will be most grateful.
Cheers,
John

I don't know about the other questions but for question #2, after 10 weeks of use, it's yours now.
In the last picture, if your capacitors where bad, the cross on top of them would be protruding/bulging upwards. the white stuff around it might be some sort of sealant to keep the capacitors in place free of movement.

As for the wire connection in the first pic, can you take another pic of that area not so close up? then we can see where the wire can possibly it goes to.

Hi, thanks for your input.
I really hope it is just a sealant, that would be awesome, that was my biggest concern.
So, the flickering screen could mean the screen needs replacing, or it could be something else, is there a way to find out what?

In the other picture, the loose wire and the one next to it both come out of the display.
They both fit exactly into the connector where the one wire is plugged in, but no where else inside the whole MPC.
So 2 wires, only one connector on the board......

lokiO wrote:1 Is the leaky white stuff responsible for the display going off, or a separate issue?

Not responsible, not an issue, it is glue from the manufacturing process.

Glue is there either to hold large components to pcb during manufacture/testing/etc., or to hold them in place to prevent vibrations in transport/use causing dry solder joints.

lokiO wrote:2 Is it to late after 10 weeks to do anything through ebay/paypal?

Yes.

lokiO wrote:3 What is the estimate for repair by a pro?

$6000.

lokiO wrote:4 Could I repair it myself?

Yes/No/Unsure.

Maybe you need a new LCD backlight, or maybe since it was flickering, there might be a bad connection somewhere.

You probably need some basic test gear and skills to work out if there is still power to the LCD backlight or not.

lokiO wrote:5 Is the loose cable unimportant? An unused ground or something?

Not sure, I only have one cable like that coming out of the slot under the display.

Maybe the original backlight was replaced, and one is the original/unused connector/cable from the original LCD backlight?

The loose/unconnected cable in your photo looks like the original/factory LCD backlight connector/cable.

I would guess that the connector/cable next to it is for a replacement LCD backlight, as the cables and connector used do not look like the factory part next to it.

SimonInAustralia wrote:
The loose/unconnected cable in your photo looks like the original/factory LCD backlight connector/cable.

I would guess that the connector/cable next to it is for a replacement LCD backlight, as the cables and connector used do not look like the factory part next to it.

Thanks for your reply, your thoughts on the wire make total sense, cheers.

So now I am thinking that maybe the previous owner replaced the backlight because of the flickering, and when that didn't fix the issue, sold the MPC to me.

I realise now I should have returned it first time the screen flickered, lesson learnt.

So I reckon its a power issue, does anyone have any suggestions for my next move?
Send it to a tech my only option?
Anyone know of a good tech for MPCs in the UK?

In case you are unaware, the display contrast rotary knob is also a push button switch to turn the LCD backlight on/off.

If you have not done so already, give it a push or two, see if that turns the backlight on.

lokiO wrote:Anyone know of a good tech for MPCs in the UK?

Clint always mentions a fella called Jazzcat, so it might be worth trying to get in touch with him.

I got my 4K fixed by Synth Prof, but the turnaround time was months and not weeks. I would only use them if you struggle to get it fixed elsewhere.


http://www.synthprof.com/

Get in touch with Matt at Jazzcat

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jazzcats- ... 9503294538

Coz wrote:Clint always mentions a fella called Jazzcat, so it might be worth trying to get in touch with him.

Jazzcat also has an MPC3000 so he'll be able to sort that issue for you. I suspect it could be the invertor and/or the backlight foil, or maybe a bodge job affecting either. If the OP isn't a Facebook user send him a PM here. Not sure what part of the UK you're in but if you're in the South-East counties/ London area he's who I'd recommend for any sampler/ synth service or repairs.

memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=56657

If you're confident enough, you may even be able to affect the repair yourself especially if it's just replacing the backlight which another Matt will supply on eBay for around £20 or so.

Thanks everyone for your helpful replies, TBH I was freaking out a little bit before, but now I'm thinking this is not such a big issue after all.

I've sent a message to Jazzcat as advised, hopefully I'll be back up and running soon.

Cheers

I have looked at pics and details

White stuff is glue to prevent high v caps vibrating

Extra cable is the remains of the original EL foil wire (2pin)
I know this because the plug space is occupied by an unofficial plug associated with a good replacement foil kit.

The old (extra cable) is only there because the previous owner didn't fancy chopping the cable ties that link it to the other wires.

Due to the flickering and new type foil I suspect it is only an inverter issue.

Maybe a dead inverter or damaged pcb/track.

Don't panic it's an easy fix and whilst it's done we can remove the stay cables and give her an mot check for your piece of mind.

I have pm'd you my number

Should be a whilst you wait and drink tea job.

All the best
Jazzcat

Nice one, much appreciated

I contacted Synthprof once regarding a repair, took a few weeks to get an email back from them and I didn't find them particularly interested in helping me out. It was a three month wait just for them to look at it. Took the sampler to Jazzcat, sent him the parts, the repair was done within 24 hours. Long live my ASR-X..

Best thing is Jazzcat also makes beats so he understands the machines and the importance of having gear that works as it should. He can also sell gear to an army of satisfied customers, DJs and UK producers should the need arise.

Service with a smile from one beat digger to another!

Thanks for the recommendations guys!

clint246clint wrote:I contacted Synthprof once regarding a repair, took a few weeks to get an email back from them and I didn't find them particularly interested in helping me out. It was a three month wait just for them to look at it.

Synth Prof are obsessively into fixing old analogue synths and only patch up drum machines as a sideline. MPCs are just "too new" for them in most cases. They're also just a husband and wife team and by all accounts they are permanently snowed under with work. When she dropped it off here we just talked about synths for an hour and MPCs and Akai for less than 2 minutes!

There was a few things I was less happy about though.

I sent them a number of tact switches to replace the most used buttons with and they didn't carry out the work. I probably wouldn't have noticed but somewhere along the line (before I bought it) the 'zero' button had been slightly caved in, and it came back in the same condition. I also asked them to replace the fan with a 'silent' one and that also got overlooked.

Finally, she turned up here minus the box I'd sent it in and the power lead was missing. Nothing major, but you don't really come across solid MPC 4000 sized boxes too often in your everyday life.

Other than that I was just happy to have this old beast up and running again. The work he had done internally was of a very high standard.