EMU 1820m is dying?

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mauryw
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2010/08/08 10:06:23 (permalink)

EMU 1820m is dying?

My EMU 1820m is going on 10 years old.  I came back from vacation, fired up my DAW and found that the EMU was making spontaneous clicks and pops almost digital clipping on every channel..  Muting the channels created quiet until I played back an mp3 and the cracks and pops were there again.  The meters show the activity in both left and right, but they are not in sync.  The device managers says the PCI card is working normally so the issue is probably in the outboard electronics.  Creative tech support does not exist.  Any ideas on what is wrong and how I can fix it?

Larry Williams

A process can not be understood by stopping it. One must flow with it and become one.

SONAR Platinum x64, WIN 7 Pro x64, i5-2500K, z68 mobo, 8 Gb RAM, Roland Quad-Capture, 2 SSds, 3 SATA HDDs
#1

15 Replies Related Threads

    Jim Roseberry
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    Re:EMU 1820m is dying? 2010/08/08 10:45:30 (permalink)
    Hi Larry,
     
    • I'd pull the PCI card... and uninstall the driver.
    • Reboot sans Emu card/drivers
    • Now, reinstall he PCI card and drivers.
     
    If that fails, the unit is likely defective.

    Best Regards,

    Jim Roseberry
    jim@studiocat.com
    www.studiocat.com
    #2
    Fog
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    Re:EMU 1820m is dying? 2010/08/08 11:28:31 (permalink)
    the obvious thing to ask , is did anything change..e.g. drivers / updates.. for anything.

    my soundcard started to pop / click after I added a new pci scsi card years ago..

    psu couldn't take the draw from the additional card.. I would check that out also , if you have added anything recently..

    look where the psu joins the mobo.. see if there are any marks.

    I also run win7 64 bit.. and my card drivers for my ozone don't work as should.. maybe it's because of a windows update etc.. but they do stutter.. pop n click

    #3
    Duojet
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    Re:EMU 1820m is dying? 2010/08/08 17:14:52 (permalink)
    upplug and replug the cord that connects the dock to the PCI card, at both ends. It has worked for me before. It may reset things.

    Intel Core2Duo e8400
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    4GB Ram
    Windows 7 SP1 64 Bit
    EMU 1820m

    DFHS2, BFD2, Battery3, Amplitube2, GuitarRig3, Kontakt4, Ampeg SVX, Line6 PodXT
    #4
    ivanSC
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    Re:EMU 1820m is dying? 2010/08/08 17:35:13 (permalink)
    good luck, but if it stays broke can I buy your dock unit for spares, please?
    #5
    jm24
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    Re:EMU 1820m is dying? 2010/08/09 10:27:36 (permalink)
    This may not be the card, but some other stuff interfering.

    Review stuff running with task manager.

    get dpclatency checker to look for clues.

    Unplug, plug in the dock: WITH THE COMPUTER UNPLUGGED: not just off.

    If your computer is not on an ac strip which is occasionaly off, it is always on. I have found a need for some puters to be de-powered regulaly for best performance. Clears all the caps, and the network card, which is what is waiting for boot signal.

    And if still no joy: do what Jim suggested.  With the latest (beta) drivers.
    Uninstall the driver and patchmix before pulling the card. UNPLUGGED.

    J

    post edited by jm24 - 2010/08/09 14:37:04
    #6
    Earwax
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    Re:EMU 1820m is dying? 2010/08/09 22:59:34 (permalink)
    mauryw


    My EMU 1820m is going on 10 years old.  I came back from vacation, fired up my DAW and found that the EMU was making spontaneous clicks and pops almost digital clipping on every channel..  Muting the channels created quiet until I played back an mp3 and the cracks and pops were there again.  The meters show the activity in both left and right, but they are not in sync.  The device managers says the PCI card is working normally so the issue is probably in the outboard electronics.  Creative tech support does not exist.  Any ideas on what is wrong and how I can fix it?

    If you have not tried this forum (Multimedia Production Forums) try these links -
     
    Here
     
    or
     
    Here
     
    Search the rest of the forum. Lots of discussion/threads about 1820m audiodocks dying or otherwise misbehavin'.
     
     

    Pain - the absence of things hoped for, the evidence of catastrophes unforeseen.
    #7
    mauryw
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    Re:EMU 1820m is dying? 2010/08/10 06:48:00 (permalink)
    Thanks for all your feedback and advice.  I tried all the things you suggested.  In the process I found that the EMU box started hissing.  There was no odor or heat generated, but a soft steady hiss.  I disconnected the box and rebooted.  I got a warning from the Patchmix that it had insufficient hardware to work.  When I connected the box, all the lights on the box including both the green and red LEDs on the mike inputs turned on; the box was silent.  Upon reboot, all the lights went off except for the 44hz indicator and the box started hissing.  The channels in patchmix were flashing on and off red and spontaneous activity was apparent.  So, I believe my box is dead.
     
    Ivansc, if you want the box I guess you can have it.  How much are you willing to pay?  If you use the parts, can you fix mine?

    Larry Williams

    A process can not be understood by stopping it. One must flow with it and become one.

    SONAR Platinum x64, WIN 7 Pro x64, i5-2500K, z68 mobo, 8 Gb RAM, Roland Quad-Capture, 2 SSds, 3 SATA HDDs
    #8
    mauryw
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    Re:EMU 1820m is dying? 2010/08/10 07:18:46 (permalink)
    So, I read all the info on failed capcitors.  I will take a look and probably get them repaired.  Thanks for all the links!!!!

    Larry Williams

    A process can not be understood by stopping it. One must flow with it and become one.

    SONAR Platinum x64, WIN 7 Pro x64, i5-2500K, z68 mobo, 8 Gb RAM, Roland Quad-Capture, 2 SSds, 3 SATA HDDs
    #9
    jm24
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    Re:EMU 1820m is dying? 2010/08/10 08:31:31 (permalink)
    When I have the external clock connected the dock does the christmas tree thing. And patchmix acts as you have described. I then restart the puter and all is well.

    But the hissing?   Maybe it is angry you left it alone during a time of need.

    Post a message at the production forums for who does the best job testing and fixing.

    J
    #10
    Earwax
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    Re:EMU 1820m is dying? 2010/08/10 18:10:23 (permalink)
    mauryw


    So, I read all the info on failed capcitors.  I will take a look and probably get them repaired.  Thanks for all the links!!!!

    Glad it helped.
     
    Best,

    Pain - the absence of things hoped for, the evidence of catastrophes unforeseen.
    #11
    mauryw
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    Re:EMU 1820m is dying? 2010/08/11 07:54:13 (permalink)
    So, is it easy to unsolder and resolder or should I pay $65 to have an Electronics Technician do it? Do you recommend a place to send it?

    Larry Williams

    A process can not be understood by stopping it. One must flow with it and become one.

    SONAR Platinum x64, WIN 7 Pro x64, i5-2500K, z68 mobo, 8 Gb RAM, Roland Quad-Capture, 2 SSds, 3 SATA HDDs
    #12
    jm24
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    Re:EMU 1820m is dying? 2010/08/11 09:42:24 (permalink)
    search the production forums for reference information

    Although I could prolly do the soldering, I would hire a tech.

    It may not be the caps. May not be only the caps. A tech with knowledge of the emu stuff is preferable.
    #13
    dstrenz
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    Re:EMU 1820m is dying? 2010/08/11 17:44:53 (permalink)
    I sometimes get the christmas tree light thing after the computer comes out of standby. It's just out of digital sync. A quick fix that always works for me is to go into PatchMix Session Settings and toggle the clock rate to 48KHz to get it sync'd, then change it back to 44.1KHz.


    Some of My Stuff
    #14
    mauryw
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    Re:EMU 1820m is dying? 2010/08/19 09:12:01 (permalink)
    Yea!!  I got the capacitors within 3 days, and bought a 700 degree soldering iron for $8 and desoldering braid for $4.  Removing the solder took longer than the You Tube demos, but the old caps came out; one was clearly swollen.  The new ones went in with a snap.  I reassembled the unit, plugged it in and it was immediately recognized as a functional converter!

    Thank you for all your excellent advice and encouragement.  The EMU has done me well and now I don't have to buy another converter (the EMU is no longer available).

    Larry Williams

    A process can not be understood by stopping it. One must flow with it and become one.

    SONAR Platinum x64, WIN 7 Pro x64, i5-2500K, z68 mobo, 8 Gb RAM, Roland Quad-Capture, 2 SSds, 3 SATA HDDs
    #15
    jm24
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    Re:EMU 1820m is dying? 2010/08/19 10:04:13 (permalink)
    You're a braver man that I, gunga Larry.
    #16
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