Korg Forums

[wagtail]

Amazingly I have had an M-Patch 2 for 7 years, in spite of consistent problems:
- imbalance between left and right speaker
- scratching mute switch and speaker selection switch
- having to constantly spin the main volume knob to clean it with the wiper

SM Pro Audio has been less the inspired in helping me as this unit had all these problems from the start, and they allowed for no exchange and did not acknowledge what we all now know is fact.

I have even considered swapping out the main "big knob" volume control, if that would cure the problems. Why I would stick with this is beyond me, (it is designed well with inferior parts) except the alternatives are sub-par (Mackie Big Knob) or cost prohibitive (Cranesong).

Has anyone had success "fixing" this piece and, if so, what were your fixes, especially on the main volume pot?

Does anyone have a reasonable alternative. I mainly use this for the mute switch (which I don't have on my digital station), the two sets of balanced outs and being able to place it in various positions around my desk, rather than being fixed to the board.

Thanks for your attention.

Dave

[wagtail]

I repeatedly contacted SM Pro Audio, where they assured me they would send me a new main volume pot. They were clearly not happy with me posting here, since they feel this has, in general, been a reliable unit (10,000 + units sold).

I understand their concerns and did not mean to disparage their company in any way, just register my problems with this unit. I have since disassembled the unit for the 5th time, cleaned all contacts and lowered the volume output on my D16XD, which requires me to set the volume pot on the SM Pro higher. This seemed to remedy the situation.

What is less satisfying is that the rep at SM Pro never sent the replacement switch, in spite of insisting twice he would,
and was less than agreeable in the e-mail correspondence, a needlessly unhelpful attitude.