This causes total system failure on a Pa2x

Rob Sherratt · Post by **Rob Sherratt** » Thu Jan 14, 2010 3:03 pm

CAUTION!

There is a "modified" .SET file produced using Baboosh's latest software and based on Keith Ball's monster project Style collection for the Pa2x/Pa800. During loading, it causes complete and total system failure on every Pa2x it has been tested on (mine, Keith Ball's, and it was also sent by me to Korg labs in mid December). The same "modified" .SET file loads fine on a Pa800 (Sam/ assyrianpianist) - so this indicates that the fault lies squarely with the Pa2x version of the OS and not with the Pa800 version of the OS.

I am NOT saying that there is anything wrong with Baboosh's .SET file management software. The fact that the same .SET file loads fine on the Pa800 means that the problem lies in the Pa2x variant of the OS only.

What I mean by "total system failure" is that the Pa2x is rendered completely inoperable with SSD corruption, and it may also lead to LED failures (although the LED problem may be a separate issue). During the "total system failure", the scanning/multiplexing software ceases to pulse the LED's at low power (normally about 10%), and any enabled LED's glow very brightly with 100% power applied. Two LED's burned out on my Pa2x at the same time as the system failures occurred. The Pa2x would no longer boot up, and the SSD had to be reformatted with Pa2x_format.pkg and the system software and resources had to be reloaded from Pa2x_os_res_v201.pkg. The blown LED's still have to be replaced, and my Pa2x is out of warranty.

I have published this information, despite my preference to work behind the scenes with Korg, because at time of writing, there has been no response to me from Korg despite my attempts to allow them to test this failure mode for themselves and to allow them to respond in private. The LED failure problem has been ongoing for at least 2 years. With respect to the management team in Korg, it is time that Korg gave this top priority instead of developing new products like the SV1 and meanwhile absconding the company's responsibility to fix the known problems of the Pa2x.

If anyone in Korg or any Korg retailer reads this and you want to receive a copy of the .SET file to see how serious the problem is by loading it on your Pa2x, then I will send it to you on receipt of an email which indemnifies me from responsibility for any damage it will cause to your own Pa2x.

Korg, it is now up to you to publish a response on this thread, and to develop an OS update and a fix to the LED circuitry that resolves this matter. I consider this to be an extremely serious product warranty matter for all Pa2x owners and for all Korg retailers who sell the Pa2x. In accordance with USA and European product liability legislation, Korg must accept responsibility for these known manufacturing faults, and provide a new OS and an LED circuitry modification that is issued free of charge to all Pa2x owners, no matter whether the owners' Pa2x is in warranty or not.

Until the issues with the Pa2x OS failures and LED circuitry are resolved, I advise all Pa2x owners to be very cautious when loading .SET files. You can also refer the matter to your retailer if you wish, and like I said above, I will be glad to provide your retailer with the example .SET file that causes the catastrophic failure to occur. I advise the owner not to try it for yourself!

Best regards,
Rob

paul · Post by **paul** » Thu Jan 14, 2010 5:42 pm

Hi Rob,
I agree with you.......also I am suffering with this LED failure.

Where is PAOLO these days. I did PM him on this issue also...but no replies so far

Paul

neverkorgagain · Post by **neverkorgagain** » Thu Jan 14, 2010 9:47 pm

is it just me or im thinking that...
korg + cheep chinese parts and production = litle higher profit, but faulty keyboards, and risk of lossing customers... they shold made these keyboards from rice, so we can eat them when they start showing known problems...

dont get me wrong, i was korg fan for a long time, but i will be korg customer again when they rise quality of their products. I now other korg customers will agree!!!
regards.

mrniceneasy · Post by **mrniceneasy** » Thu Jan 14, 2010 10:08 pm

Hi Rob, you can count me in Support with you on this matter. As you say I've been on the receiving end of this strange OS behaviour also loading the Set Banks, although I have to say no blown LED's as I was quick to shut down the keyboard. They did however appear to glow very brightly for the few seconds that I had the error. I'm happy that none actually blew.

paul · Post by **paul** » Thu Jan 14, 2010 10:37 pm

ANY LEGAL ACTIONS WE CAN TAKE AGAINST KORG!!!

I am getting worried whenever I take the stage to perform.

paul

neverkorgagain · Post by **neverkorgagain** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 12:33 am

paul wrote:ANY LEGAL ACTIONS WE CAN TAKE AGAINST KORG!!!
l

try to do wht my nick says

machetero104 · Post by **machetero104** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 4:28 am

I am not a expert in digital circuitry, but in some place in the PA2x there is voltage regulation issue. The fact that the same SET can be loaded in the PA800 with out problem tell us so.
Basic digital circuitry works with zeros and ones (5v-0v or xV-0V) in my understanding. For some reasons the LEDs, that use very low amounts of voltage and current, are receiving a higher amount and are getting fry.
I wonder if it is a problem with the voltage adapters use in Europe VS the ones use in united states. I don't think that many LEDs issues has been reported in the north america where the standard is 120v.
I was thinking to purchase a PA2x, but I will hold my PA800 for some time now. That is for sure.

machetero104 · Post by **machetero104** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 5:11 am

Well, I was wrong about the PA2x and the LED issue here in the states.
After reading some other post I see same issue as in Europe.
No body have complaint about the LED issue on the PA500 or PA588?

Rob Sherratt · Post by **Rob Sherratt** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 7:22 am

Hi machetero104,

I have never seen a single complaint about LED failures from anyone with a Pa800, Pa500 or Pa588. However for the Pa2x it is still the major problem that occurs when the keyboards are between 6 and 18 months old.

About the .SET file that I have that causes the OS on the Pa2X to crash and the LED's to fail. This is caused by a software crash in the Pa2X version of the Korg OS, which then screws up the LED multiplexors causing too much current to pass into several LED's. It has nothing to do with voltage regulation.

Regards,
Rob

Fransman · Post by **Fransman** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 7:31 am

No problems with LED's on my PA500 so far.
They all work fine for almost 1,5 year now.
In fact, not 1 complaint about failures whatsoever. (Knock on wood).
And I use the instrument several hours each day (I'm sort of a keyboard addict).

But I don't gig, so the instrument is always in the same place.
Maybe that makes a difference. (carrying around, temperature differences?).

I'm sorry to hear about the blown LED's in PA2X Pro.
Must be very frustrating.
It's a shame for a top-of-the-market arranger.
I sure hope Korg will provide you all with a solid & free solution!

Nor · Post by **Nor** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 6:07 pm

Me too...just got my new PA2X after selling my old PA800, in few days the LED problem occurs in my PA2X and what this just the 1st week of my PA2X......What a shame! why that happened to me? I paid for he keyboard and all extra fees......bordel de merde!

KORG PLEASE FIX THAT WITH YOUR O.S!!!

Vex · Post by **Vex** » Sun Jan 17, 2010 3:16 am

I have 2 dead led's after 2 months using my new pa2x!

jckeeys · Post by **jckeeys** » Sun Jan 17, 2010 4:51 am

I have my PA2x 1 month short of 2 years and several LED's have gone out!! I will be takiing it in to an authorized service center Monday (I have a 2yr warranty which ends in Feb) The service center informed me there is a service bulletin about this issue and the PC boards will have to be replaced.