call for adrian, mpcuserguy, or other 4k internal masters...

guys,
my 2nd hand 4k arrived with a big problem:
it works fine 100%,i checked almost everything, but it doesnt output any audio. and doesnt record anything too.
it do resample audio if u trigger some sample in the record page.
so it seems like an I\O card problem...

it is under warranty so i sent her to the official local akai service (keep in mind im in italy)...
two weeks ago....
after a week they told me they couldnt find the problem so thay requested the electrical schemes of the 4k (!!!! what da flowers? they dont have it there???)
i had it in pdf format so i mailed them teh service manual.
waited a couple o days.
rang em.
they told me thay still cant find a solution...
im startin to be a LITTLE angry... i have some dates already set up to play (october\november)
i repeat, im under warranty so they surely will fix it one way or another but my problem is : WHEN???
i fear i'll have to cancel the gigs if i let em do what they (apparently are unable to) do.

so my question is:
during your work, have u ever encountered such a problem? can u give me some advice so i ring them lazy lame-azz and inform them how they have to do their job?
thanks in advance for every little help u can give me!

a frustrated 4k (still not) newbie.

I have never seen or heard of a problem like that. Perhaps one of the Chinese kids forgot to put in one of the boards.

Since you are dealing with an authorized AKAI service center and they can't find a problem, I would ask for a replacement.

I'm sorry to hear about your misfortune. You're absolutely right about
them requesting the electrical schemes of the 4k;
Hmm... Sounds strange. Why should you have to send specs to an authorized center? Especially when in the past AKAI would have an end user sign a release form for the service manual and schematics.

To me, it sounds like some of the assembly isn't installed correctly.
Missing pcb's, data cabling miswired, or like adrian said the board just simply isn't there.

If it weren't under warranty that would be a different matter; then you would open it up, check if boards are missing, cables disconnected(a very common problem even with new musical equiptment-especially speakers), or for any other oddity !

I concur wholeheartedly with adrian regarding the requset for a replacement; I think you should ask them for a sparkly new one.

I hope it works out for you. I know how frustrating this could be.

This is interesting, please keep posting.

Just trying to help,
MPC USER GUY

thanks for the attention guys.
problem is:
the warranty aint the original akai warranty, as the piece is 2nd hand, but its a warranty comin from the store where i bought it.
in fact they are payng for all the repair, but i think it will be hard to get a new one this way hehehe
given that it wasnt under original warranty, and that im used to open my instruments and mixers to inspect and clean every now and then, before carriyng it to the assistance, i opened it and checked all cables i was able to see, and all connections were ok.
well, i'll wait and see.
this afternoon i called the shop where i bought it and they were very surprised the problem aint yet solved, so they told me they gonna put some chilli sauce in the assistance guys rectum to make em hurry up a lil bit...
i'll keep ya all informed of further developments...

I wasn't aware that you had already opened the unit. OK...

When you say you get no sound, is that from every output?
Or is it just the headphone output? How about the main outs?

MPC USER GUY

I was just wondering, maybe it could be the output settings within the programs? "KG MIX" screen outs set to individual outs? Mixer screen,
output assignments to individual outs? You probably already checked this out.

Just trying to think of every other non-hardware possibility.

As far as hardware, the culprit sounds to me like a faulty
pc i/o adda block (top); Because this block connects the Record gain and Main Volume pots as well as the Headphone pot fron the host USB pcb.

The other POSSIBLE culprit could simply be incompatible or poorly seated memory. Belive it or not. I have heard and seen some pretty crazy things
a simple memory stick can do. Maybe you have too?

If it's the PCB i/o ADDA board that failed, it's not too bad, if it's the cpu pcb(below it) it's a problem. The only reason I say that is because the price of the CPU PC board is about as much as that new fangled MPC500.

Either way as you said it's covered by some sort of warranty and they should either repair it(free of charge) or give you your money back. I hope.

Sorry to go on like this, I just want to help.

MPC USER GUY

thanks.
i checked all software solutions before...
no audio out neither from headphone, main outs xlr, main outs 1/4" trs
and no in from both audio ins....
i checked if the memory was correctly seated, and apparently it was, i have 1 256megs board on that...
monday i'll call em and tell em to remove the ram and check it with the on board ram alone...(crossing fingers)
but i think is the ad\da or pcb stuff...also cause the emory was correctly managed by the mpc(apparently, so i'll ask em to check anyway, would b great if it was only a ram issue isn it hehe)

anyway thank u very much for the help, i appreciate it.
stay tuned for more thrillin!
giona.

Hello once again! I've been doing some checking and I want to verify something with you:

Can you access your hard drive and your optical drive?

If you put an ordinary CD-A in the optical drive, can you hear the music?

When you load samples, do you get any errors?

Just curious


MPC USER GUY

Another thought:Try reinstalling your OS. or did you already do this?


Just Trying to help out,
MPC USER GUY

MPC USER GUY wrote:Hello once again! I've been doing some checking and I want to verify something with you:

Can you access your hard drive and your optical drive?

If you put an ordinary CD-A in the optical drive, can you hear the music?

When you load samples, do you get any errors?

Just curious


MPC USER GUY

hi my friend!
HD, CDRW workin
samples bein loaded correctly,cant hear audio from the cd coz the analog out of the cd wasnt connected.

came with OS 1,71
i tried downgradin to 1,70 and noway, then reinstalled 1,71 and no no no way...

You said: "cant hear audio from the cd coz the analog out of the cd wasnt connected." So you did find it disconnected? That being the case, there is a possibility that some of the other cables are also. They may LOOK like they are well seated but MAYBE they are not.

By the way before you touch anything, I think it's a good idea to keep one arm/elbow touching the unit at all times so you don't short anything out.
You probably already know this.

Why don't you very carefully, check each and every connection to make sure they're connected properly. For the ribbon data cables, just place a slight amount of pressure on the black plastic connector end to make sure it's WELL seated in it's recepticle on the IO board. Again, You probably did this. Just checking.

Hmm... if you look at the PCB IO board(not the ADDA) which is directly
behind the HDD, do you see "P15" short pin posts? They look like three
short golden toothpicks. There should be a shorting jumper on the left 2 pins. Also, on the PCB IO ADDA, on the lower right there is a "P22" post set the jumper there should be to the right in the "set" position.
let me know if any of THESE jumpers are missing which is a problem.

hyena, I hate to say this, but if you are also having MIDI problems, this is sounding more and more to me like the CPU PCB. And in that case, being that this is 2nd hand, maybe you should get your money back. And when you look for another one, bring your headphones, a cd, a program w/samples, and your experience with you to the music store and don't leave with it(MPC4K) until you have fully checked it. Hey, It's your money, your time. Don't let them rush you. I know how they can be.

Now on the other hand, if it is difficult finding one where you're at, then keep it with the understanding that you will most likely have to replace several parts. That isn't such a bad idea but it could be a costly one.

Keep on Postin'

Just trying to help,
MPC USER GUY

thanx again.
midi out was totally ok, midi in, well it seemed to have midi sync issues with cubase sx 3 but i cannt be sure as i didnt checkd it extensively...
anyway, the store assured me they will do everything to fix it, now im startin to think i need to send it to some more experienced tech.,,

i cannot check the boards now coz its in in the hands of the assistance rite now. i'll ttry to suggest em to check those things...!thanx again

breakin news:
they told me now they r sure is the card.
they have to order it out of italy and it will take at least 60 days.
i'll have to cancel 3 shows.
damn...

I'm sorry to hear that you have to cancel shows-that's horrible.

I'm glad that they found the faulty card. But 60 days to order? Sounds
a little long to me. But they're paying for it so I guess it's worth the wait?

Soon you'll be back in business!

Take Care! I hope it turns out great!


Just trying to help,
MPC USER GUY