M50 with no audio output, unless...

Discussion relating to the Korg M50 Workstation.

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Pram
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2010 11:53 pm
Location: Almada, Portugal
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M50 with no audio output, unless...

Post by Pram »

Hi everyone,
I have my M50 for over a decade now. Besides the top metal panel starting to get some spots and bits of rust over time (tips to restore the panel are welcome), I had a shocking experience 2 days ago.

After turning the M50 on, no sound comes out of it, both Program and Combi mode. I tried looking into the different sections and in Program C I could hear a rhythmic short buzz every 4 seconds, nothing more.

After some attempts, I decided to connect it via Midi to Ableton Live, on a project I needed to complete for my band.
M50 was able to read the data from the Project, and if hitting a key, it would indeed play now. BUT the sounds are not behaving as before on the M50, with Combis for example only playing an piano or elect. piano type of sound. Disconnecting the Midi brings the M50 back to the "muted" state: no sound whatsoever.

Appreciate if anyone could drop me a few hints. I'm in the middle of a production process that requires me to get the M50 back to normal, to finnish the songs recording for my band.

Thanks very much in advance!
voip
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Post by voip »

Spots of "rust" on the top panel sounds ominous. Could this mean that the M50 has been kept in damp or humid conditions, or in a corrosive atmosphere, or had something spilt on it? Does the diplay work correctly? Does pressing the keys cause MIDI messages to be sent to MIDI out?

Troubleshooting this kind of fault requires a good knowledge of these types of device, together with specialised test equipment. You could of course try a series of boardswaps, but this can be expensive.

.
Pram
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2010 11:53 pm
Location: Almada, Portugal
Contact:

Post by Pram »

Thank you Voip.

The issue has been almost sorted. Factory reset loading the preload pcg after some other troubleshooting and it's working again.
Odd is that when I load the last backup it goes back to the original state. So I guess it has something to do with global settings that caused that.

Regarding your questions, the little spots of rust are on the panel, because it has become a bit worn out / oxydated with time. Nothing spilled on it as far as I remember, but some years of rehearsals and gigs caused with perhaps not as much love cleaning it up as it deserved caused that.
midi is and was working fine, display panel also ok. it was really just the sound that was not playing.
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