Well,... the "mystery" was solved! I contacted the manufacturer of the display ( https://www.buydisplay.com ) and they immediately replied that the particular display model's backlight draws power from VDD through internal connection on the module's PCB. So, the pins 15 & 16, i guess were an afterth...

UPDATE SEPT 2025: Ok, I fixed the power supply issue by cutting the old plug and replacing it with another of different dimension, and now it fits nice and tight in the GEM input. I also realized that ALL but a few of the NEW jumper cables I had bought were bad : I did a continuity test with a digit...

Hello everyone. I haven't posted for a while, 'cause of many things going on that ate my time and more.... But here i go again with a small repair challenge i have: I recently got a rare GEM Realpiano expander from eBay at a bargain price, and i wanted to check if it really is the most realistic har...

Finally! I completed the A3000 FIX project! Made a final conclusions page that sums it up : 1) Reinforcing plate : works and protects the encoders' pcb solder joints. 2) Encoder selection : i collaborated with another user, and we concluded to a good selection of replacement encoders for the A3K. 3)...

Ok. i finally got the Bourns encoders, BUT i did a mistake and ordered the PEC11LL-422 5 F-S0015 instead of PEC11LL-4220F-S0015, so this means these are 5 mm longer! So i cut 5 mm off the shaft and they seem to be ok now. Please read all details here --> https://synthnitz.blogspot.com/2020/01/yamaha...

Thanks for your kind words. :) Actually i replaced the whole pcb which had good encoders (as i thought initially, anyway). The board that this A3K had when i bought it used, had many solder traces lifted, and most of the encoders were wobbly (one actually was dismantled !). You can see the pics i to...

Finally, my project is finished ! I ordered the fine-pitch nuts for the encoders, received them and mounted the metal plate to the A3K chassis. Please read all details here : https://synthnitz.blogspot.com/2019/10/yamaha-a3000-fix-part-3-final-maybe.html This is the result : https://1.bp.blogspot.co...

I guess i misread the instructions i've found, so the trimpot connection is WRONG! :oops: So, i made a corrected pattern : Alesis QS 6 pinout connections pattern-2ed_CORRECTED__.jpg Trimpot should have one end to ground (VSS) and other end to voltage (VDD) and the wiper (variation in resistance) con...

I read the instructions of the above links more carefully, and after some more researching (trying to learn some bits about electronics...), i completed the pinout patterns. So i made a 2nd pinout pattern for another LCD display with the connections on the side. I would appreciate if someone with kn...

.... Well, i made this pinout pattern, as an example https://i.ibb.co/VHMwGFW/Alesis-QS-6-pinout-connections-pattern-example.jpg On the right is the pinout of my new LCD (probably most standard 16X2 modules have the same pinout). I am not sure how to make the right connections. The youtube video : h...

i recently found a very cheap Alesis QS-6 with just a faulty display, and the seller does not want to fix it, just get rid of it. Before i buy it, i searched all over the web for information about replacing the LCD of the QS6 with a standard 16X2 display, and what i've found out is that it is a chea...

Links have been updated ! I added 4 more S4 Quadrasynth patches to be used with Kontakt 5. Download them for FREE here : https://synthnitz.blogspot.com/2019/08/alesis-s4-for-kontakt-select-instr2.html IMO they are very playable. If you have full version of Kontakt 5, you can edit them freely, add fx...

yeh it's just the best thing ever when we get those dingy little displays to shine brightly. 8-) Years ago I bought a used ESi32, totally did me head in, took me time to realise the backlight was dead. Eventually got a blue LED thing (or whatever it was) now can see the it from the other side of th...

I recently purchased an ALESIS S4 Quadrasynth for good money, just to add more 90s stuff in my studio, and also to see first hand what this fuzz was all about with this Rompler (its sounds used to be very popular in the nineties, them say..) Anyway, it has many usable sounds, and editing is fairly e...

Lately i got nostalgic of my younger years at school and the music vibes of the new thing called DX7.. Since then, i always wanted a Yamaha FM-synthesis hardware to fiddle with.. So, for the last 3 months i was up looking to find one (DX7 i or ii, or a TX7, or even a DX200), at ebay... Finally, i go...