Looking for Z8 Service Manual

I picked up a cheap Z8 with issues, freezing on Multi/FX screens, or any function that accesses the effects, works OK with the effects board removed.

Anyone have, or know where to find, a PDF of the Z8 service manual?

I had the same problem with my Z8.
I just took the card out .
Would be interested if you find a solution Simon.

Interesting.

I am thinking about buying another effects board to see if it has the same problem, but am reluctant to do so in case it is something on the main board that is causing it, and it is just a waste of money, as the Z8 was only $150.

Have you been able to test yours with a different effects board?

No I haven't although I could test the card in one of my Z4s. to see if the card works at all.
Just haven't got around to it.

I think my MPC4000 has the effects card too but I wasn't planning to pull anything apart any time soon.
Will let you know if I do.

If you do get a chance to test the Z8 effects board in one of your Z4s, or your MPC4000 effects board in your Z8, please let me know how it goes.

That might determine whether the problem is in the effects board, or the Z8.

I tried reflashing the Z8 1.45 OS, might try some older OS versions to see if it behaves any differently.

Hi Simon,
I have a Z4 with an effect card. I also have an extra fx card that you can borrow or buy if you want to pay for shipping from Washington DC to where you are.
THe fx work fine in the z4 no hiccups.
Shame, I never heard of this in the Z8 before.

Cheers,
Ian

SimonInAustralia wrote:If you do get a chance to test the Z8 effects board in one of your Z4s, .

You got me curious again but
I can now confirm that the effects card crashed my Z4 also.

But this is good news right?
Means the sampler is not at fault.

I can easily do without onboard effects anyhow.

Ian Canefire wrote: if you want to pay for shipping from Washington DC to where you are.

Ian

Er.... I think he might be in Australia. Just a hunch




Just kidding with you Ian..




.

No harm Pilchard,
Obviousness aside, Australia is large, I noted my city, I don't know his.

Z service manual...
I am hunting the web for this. No doubt you all have already tried looking.
One source online has it for $35. It's got to be free somewhere out here.

The 4000's service manual is online... maybe there are similar parts?
http://diagramas.diagramasde.com/audio/AKAI%20Professional%20MPC4000_Service_Manual.pdf

Wish I could help more. I am fond of the Z series.


Cheers,
Ian

Ian Canefire wrote: I have a Z4 with an effect card. I also have an extra fx card that you can borrow or buy if you want to pay for shipping from Washington DC to where you are.

Thanks very much for the offer Ian.

Would prefer to buy one, rather than borrow one at such a long distance, in case something goes wrong in shipping, or it doesn't work when returned.

I can buy a new one for $120 + $40 shipping, so probably best to go with that, if I have the spare $ at some stage (if I can stop wasting $ on shit on eBay for a couple of weeks).

*Pilchard* wrote:

SimonInAustralia wrote:If you do get a chance to test the Z8 effects board in one of your Z4s, .

You got me curious again but
I can now confirm that the effects card crashed my Z4 also.

But this is good news right?
Means the sampler is not at fault.

Many thanks for taking the time and making the effort to test it, and yes, that does seem to point to the effects board being the issue.


I have also since been contacted by PM from a lurker, thanks lurker , who has indicated that they have had the exact same issue with the effects board in an MPC4000, after not using their MPC for a while. They got it going again briefly with a clean of the contacts, but it reoccurred, and they are now also running it without the effects board.

So it looks like it might become a more common problem than it first seemed.


Thanks for the link to the MPC4000 Service Manual Ian, I had found that already, and will have a closer look at it when I get a chance.

The service manuals for these newer Akai products seem to be created electronically from the start, rather than scanned from a printed manual, so a PDF of the Z8 manual should be around somewhere. Might ask on the Akai community forums, see if I get lucky with Akai tech support.

No luck getting the service manual out of Akai, as expected...

Hi Simon, we do not have service manuals to share with end users. Authorized contracted repair shops would have this type of information.

I can suggest service shop if you let me know you location.

If you obtain a service manual through the web, it is from an unauthorized source just making money illegally. Service manuals typically have a 'you must be authorized to view this document' warning on the cover. This is something that only an authorized contracted repair shops should have. Obviously, there are many things on the internet that should not be there

That is ridiculous on so many levels I don't know where to start. I hope that's just some random, low level customer services rep rather than someone who has a clue.

While there might be a tenuous argument that they'd want to keep the service manuals for their active products locked up, I fail to see any purpose in refusing to share service manuals for discontinued products, when all people are trying to do is bring a dead piece of gear back to life. Surely that's a good thing for everyone; certainly anything that keeps Akai's so-called 'iconic legacy' alive is a good thing for them, but it seems the only legacy they want to keep alive is that they can be real dicks sometimes.

Oh, and 'Authorized Akai Repair Center' VST Service are selling it

http://www.vstservice.com/p-541-akai-z4 ... 4-z-8.aspx

So you'd assume they have Akai's blessing for this.

I'll ask around to see if anyone has one.

Thanks Tutor.

Yep, ridiculous seeing as VST sells it.

MPC-Tutor wrote:That is ridiculous on so many levels I don't know where to start

MPC-Tutor wrote:While there might be a tenuous argument that they'd want to keep the service manuals for their active products locked up, I fail to see any purpose in refusing to share service manuals for discontinued products, when all people are trying to do is bring a dead piece of gear back to life

Vestax are the same was enquiring about the service manual for my QFO and was told that they don't release service manuals to the general public, they only release them to authorised Vestax repair centres. Think it very poor after sales customer service that they can't send a pdf for a discontinued product, wtf do they think I'm going to with it? Start world war 3? I'm certainly refusing to send it to an overpriced authorised Vestax repair centre to be looked at when I could do it myself for a fraction of the price they would charge me if I had the service manual.

Good luck finding a service manual SimonInAustralia