TR76 dropouts?

[Kukulkan]

Hi, I use my TR76 for many years and I'm still happy with it. Now I'm in a new live band and in the last band practice I noticed some dropouts during holding a note or chords. It feels like someone does a MIDI reset, stopping all sound immediately for a few microseconds.

I did not manage to find out for sure if the release phase of a sound (or effects like reverb and delay) also stop or if simply the playing of the notes is stopping (like releasing the keys on the keyboard). But I have the strong feeling that it completely mutes, cutting the release phase of the sounds, too. Like an immediate reset of the sound engine.

The dropouts happen every now and then, it may happen only once in an hour or even after a few minutes. It is completely random.

As I use it only in COMBO mode, I don't know it this also happens in PROG mode. If I try to reproduce, it only happens very rarely. But annoying in live for sure.

My setup is simple, I only use another keyboard connected to TR76 MIDI-IN as second keyboard (sending on channel 2).

Any idea what the reason might be? Any chance to repair such? As it is hard to reproduce and test, it is important if this is a known issue somehow?

[stuartpryer]

Hi,

Intermittent faults are really tricky to track down. Possibly caused by a faulty connection. Does it happen with headphones. Have you tried using different cables?

Cheers stuart

[Kukulkan]

Thanks for your fast reply, Stuart.

No, I did not yet play with headphones, as I use the TR76 in live situations only (band). But I tried other cables to the PA and it did not help.

If I play the keyboard again directly after I notice a dropout, it plays again immediately. IMHO, it is not related to cables.

[stuartpryer]

Hi again.

You could try resetting the instrument to factory settings. Reload just the factory pcgs and play it for a few hours and see if problem reappears.

My guess if that fails is either its a dirty / corroded connection internally. Or a failing capacitor? With the former you could open it up and reseat the various cable connectors after applying contact cleaner.

With failing components its more difficult. You would need to get a specialist to check it out but if its intermittent its not going to be easy for them to trace.

Cheers

Stuart

[Kukulkan]

Thanks again, Stuart.

I think I will make a system backup to the SD card and then open the keyboard. Will re-plug all plugs and cables where possible and also looking for corrosion and domed capacitors. Keep fingers crossed I find something. If I find something, there is a chance to fix it.

If that does not help, I will do the factory reset and restore the presets I need. I will report here next week.

[Kukulkan]

Unplugging all internal cables and reconnecting them with contact cleaner did not help. The problem remains. There is still a dropout about every one to two hours.

I now replaced this keyboard with another one. So sad