Roland RS-101 / RS-202 users please assist......

[chimney chop]

just got an RS-101 and love it BUT.....

there's a distinct hiss that's semi-noticeable during playing but when a key is released and the note decays fully...the hiss lasts for about 1 sec longer and then dies away itself.

is this normal?

if not, what needs to be fixed?


thanks in advance!

[nathanscribe]

Is it on all notes, or just certain ones? Does the Sustain setting affect it?

My first wild, stab-in-the-dark guess is that it's something to do with either the chorus or the output VCA. But that's just a guess. I've spent many hours inside my RS-101 as it was only half-working when I got it, so feel free to ask me anything you like about it.

[chimney chop]

Is it on all notes, or just certain ones? Does the Sustain setting affect it?

My first wild, stab-in-the-dark guess is that it's something to do with either the chorus or the output VCA. But that's just a guess. I've spent many hours inside my RS-101 as it was only half-working when I got it, so feel free to ask me anything you like about it.

yes, it's on all the notes and with the sustain higher the hiss lasts longer

[chimney chop]

also, i've just noticed that the hiss lasts significantly longer in the bass register.

on the treble register the hiss fades just barely after the note decay.

the bass hiss lasts a good while after the note decay.

any ideas?

[gearfixer]

My RS-101 does the same thing I have fully re-caped it and my guess is it is normal.

[chimney chop]

My RS-101 does the same thing I have fully re-caped it and my guess is it is normal.

so recaping it didn't affect the hiss whatsoever?

[gearfixer]

My RS-101 does the same thing I have fully re-caped it and my guess is it is normal.

so recaping it didn't affect the hiss whatsoever?

Right, it did not.

I do not find it bad enough to be a problem though.

[chimney chop]

My RS-101 does the same thing I have fully re-caped it and my guess is it is normal.

so recaping it didn't affect the hiss whatsoever?

Right, it did not.

I do not find it bad enough to be a problem though.

maybe it's just that yours and mine suffer from a common ailment.
seems like nathanscribe isn't having this problem.

SOOOO...are there any rs-202/rs-101 owners that DON'T have this problem?



playing live it's no big deal but recording is another story.

that hiss is just driving me WACKY on tape.

[mpa1104]

I have a 202 and can't say I've noticed this issue. Mind you, it was given a good clean, inside and out, when I first brought it home (it was pre-owned and not used for a long time), so whether that had anything to do with it. One of the level sliders is still a bit crackly, but otherwise, it's been a perfect gentleman.

[nathanscribe]

Haven't had chance to think much about this yet, sorry. But for information, I did a near-complete re-cap (well over 100 tantalum and electrolytics, but left the polys in the voice channels in place) and cleaned some contacts - and I also need to go back in an replace more of the voice-channel transistors (if you get random missing notes, that's likely the culprit - that or a single dodgy contact/wiring loom pin).

I never noticed it hissing exactly, but it's not the quietest keyboard out there.

Any chance you could record an example of what you're hearing?

[KB Crockett]

My RS-202 does it but i've never considered it a problem and presumed it normal behaviour. I do love the RS Strings.

[chimney chop]

Any chance you could record an example of what you're hearing?

http://snd.sc/s4NqBQ

[nathanscribe]

Ok, is it affected by using different combinations of sounds, or by how you set the Tone controls, or by how you set the Volume Soft?

I'm guessing it's a noisy VCA still, it doesn't sound immediately like it's chorused hiss, if that makes sense - which leads me to suspect it's coming from after the chorus. Maybe I'm wrong, I haven't got golden ears.

[chimney chop]

Ok, is it affected by using different combinations of sounds, or by how you set the Tone controls, or by how you set the Volume Soft?

I'm guessing it's a noisy VCA still, it doesn't sound immediately like it's chorused hiss, if that makes sense - which leads me to suspect it's coming from after the chorus. Maybe I'm wrong, I haven't got golden ears.

it's the same loudness no matter the tone combination or volume soft/loud setting.

so you're not getting this sound at all on yours?

[Sir Ruff]

NS - does that thing finally work? That seems like years ago I sold it to you... (er, it was - at least 3?)