My OSCs are going out of tune constantly, help!

lunaire · Joined: Jan 23, 2009 Posts: 19 Location: Sao Paulo

Im sure some people have had the same problem, both oscilators are not stable anymore, they will jump a few semitones every now n then making my life hell , i have tryed the system reset stuff some while ago, I dont think it helped at all.
The real problem is I live in Sao Paulo, Brazil and Im terrified just to imagine how much those fuckin local alesis (its not even alesis, its a general kind of technician) tech support will charge me for something that might be not that complicated.
Anyway, I hope someone here can tell me if it is and how much to expect (if I was in the States) to pay for the service. Will I need to change components?
Hope someone can help, cheers!

sunny pedaal · Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 12:00 pm Post subject:

are there certainvoices who have the problem more than others? see in the voxmon. to find out.
you have temptuning and/or backgrountuning on?
you tune after15 minute?, how long will they then stay in tune?

hrastprogrammer

If voices "jump a few semitones" every now and then, but auto-tuning works OK and doesn't produce any faulty voices, then it looks like very strange problem which occurred on older one of my two Andromedas, as well.

I have a problem with Modulation Wheel ... It seems like MW signal is somehow "leaking" into another signal path on left front panel PCB ...

First, it is "leaking" into Pitch Bend signal path because MW produces PB data during the first 1/3 when you move it.

Second, it is "leaking" into signal paths of some knobs on the left of the panel affecting the last parameter selected. For example, if you use OSC Semitone knob then some random "semitone jumps" can be experienced now and then. The problem can further be increased if you eventually have "random parameter jumping" problem on your machine.

I solved this by disabling Modulation Wheel ... Turn the synth off, move MW to the max. position, turn it on holding soft button 5 to do MW and Ribbon calibration, then move MW back a little and leave it there.

Also, move all knobs to their physical zero position to prevent possible "random parameter jumping" and check if all this works for you ...

Of course, only replacing the left front panel PCB can truly solve the problem.

lunaire · Joined: Jan 23, 2009 Posts: 19 Location: Sao Paulo

Yes, it does not matter the voice im using, making me think its not about them at all, i have noticed that osc 2 will jump semitones more frequently then osc 1 also .. damn, how much you guys think it costs to fix this?

Im also auto tuning it imediately after I turn my andy on , an it aparently works fine, until a few seconds or minutes (its random really) when oscilators will start to jump semitones, usually just 1 or 2, but sometimes it jumps even like 20+ semitones . .

sunny pedaal · Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 11:54 am Post subject:

when you're in guarantee: probably nothing, otherwise maybe a few hundert dollars, (that is if it's nothing is just set on a wrong button/switch/modulation or so)

jonkull · Joined: Sep 22, 2006 Posts: 164 Location: Burbank, CA

hrastprogrammer · Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 10:22 pm Post subject:

This is not a tuning problem. It won't "jump 20+ semitones" (almost 2 octaves) no matter how much out-of-tune it is ...

sunny pedaal · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 12:42 am Post subject:

yes, looks more like a mainboard problem, would certainly sent it to proper servicestation

jesperkyd · Joined: Apr 04, 2009 Posts: 1 Location: USA

I had the very same problem a few weeks ago and was able to fix it myself. It turns out that some of the controls are too sensitive and so I just took the nobs of the oscilator tuning buttons and now it works perfect.

I suggest you boot your Andromeda up in test mode and then you will be able to see which controls are too sensitive, that is which buttons keeps moving. Once you find out which controls have a problem, try taking the actual nobs of. Hope this helps,

Jesper

systemlfo · Joined: May 10, 2009 Posts: 5 Location: Sydney Australia

Hi mate,
I too have the problem of an osc randomly detuning- up 5 semi, down 2 etc.. I tried reloading the os & using the unauthorized 13b version but nothing worked.
I have been able to stop it detuning by religiously auto-tuning on power up, 10 minutes later & every hour or so after that. Reset the voice as soon as it detunes & eventually the osc stabilizes.
I only have to auto tune on power up & 10 mins later now & my osc 2 doesnt stuff up. (only osc 2 on my A6 had this problem)..
I joined this site just to reply to your message because I know what a bitch that problem is & the Alesis support just say- "get it serviced"...
Good luck buddy

elmacaco · Joined: Jul 21, 2007 Posts: 29 Location: NY

Do not ignore the advice about not autotuning on power up!!!!

Before panicing or doing anything, turn temp tuning and background tuning off. Now turn your Andromeda on and don't autotune it. Let it sit and warm up for 20 - 30 minutes (this is longer than usual just because of the problems) Now, play your andromeda, don't auto tune it at all. Is it in tune? Out of tune? ok now if it is out of tune, press the auto tune. Now see if you have the tuning issue you described.

Also, are you running through a power conditioner? Is your electrical situation good? If you get weird power fluctuations that might cause problems and a power conditioner will help. Brown outs can be big problems.

systemlfo · Joined: May 10, 2009 Posts: 5 Location: Sydney Australia

Its forgetting to auto-tune that caused the problem. As I said - my osc 2 is now stable from the routine of auto tuning & I suspect that his starts jumping almost straight after power up, not after it is nice & warm..

elmacaco · Joined: Jul 21, 2007 Posts: 29 Location: NY

Having to autotune 3 times a session is way too much.

What I have heard from the developers is not to autotune until it is warmed up, if you auto tune before, the system sets the correction based on the cold circuits and then later applies the offsets and makes it do the weird tuning dance you mention.

Let me guess, you have background tuning set to on right?

That's the routine that can cause this problem. It may not be the cause of your problem, but it is worth checking out as if it is so it will take away the hassle of having to auto tune so much.