You are not logged in. Please login or register.
Robots for Robots → General Hardware / Software Discussion → 707 Stopped working Via Midi???
My 707 has stopped working via midi. It's working in sync mode ok but I'm unable to control it via the midi keyboard, I've checked the midi channels and changed cables etc.
I'm using Logic 8 and it has always been fine although I was never able to get it working properly with Ableton in anything other than sync mode.
Driving me up the wall, does anybody have any ideas?
Thanks in advance Robots.
As far as I experienced it can be two things: either the batteries are about to die or it's a loose midi connection (even a loose screw on the back can already give trouble).
So first try new batteries and do a factory reset (by holding down both the 'track write' and 'pattern 1' buttons whilst powering up), then see that everything is okay internally.
No joy changing the batteries and doing a reset. I'll try opening her up tomorrow and checking if anything is loose. If it was a loose midi connection would that also mean that it would stop slaving to Logic? Because that's not happening, it's working in sync mode fine.
So, I opened up the 707 and there was a crew floating around in there that had come off the circuit board. Don't know if that has caused the problem.
Everything was working fine until I tried to get the midi working with Ableton, I then took the machine to a friend's studio and I couldn't get it working via midi there either. I'm wondering if it could be something that happened there whilst resetting his amt8. Am I way off the mark thinking that that could have sent some signal to the 707 and messed things up?
Pulling out what is left of my hair 
It sounds like a failed optocoupler. They fail over time or can be killed due to voltage spikes, static discharges etc. I'd follow the traces from midi in back to this
More than likely it'll be in a socket, so you can just pop one out and replace, no desoldering or anything. Ground yourself off before touching anything (you're probably already aware of that)
also make sure that it's not installed backwards
I point at the optocoupler cuz of the identical problems I had with my Teebee.
edit
I looked at a schematic to verify but you can see the optocoupler/isolator here
It's working in sync mode ok but I'm unable to control it via the midi keyboard
Do you mean the Midi-sync works or just the Din-Sync?
It sounds like a failed optocoupler. They fail over time or can be killed due to voltage spikes, static discharges etc. I'd follow the traces from midi in back to this
More than likely it'll be in a socket, so you can just pop one out and replace, no desoldering or anything. Ground yourself off before touching anything (you're probably already aware of that)
also make sure that it's not installed backwardsI point at the optocoupler cuz of the identical problems I had with my Teebee.
edit
I looked at a schematic to verify but you can see the optocoupler/isolator here
Ahh, that sounds interesting. Thanks Orbweaver.
I'm not sure I'm all that confident about replacing that myself 
I'm curious to have a go but I wouldn't want to screw the machine up completely. Do you know by any chance know what type of optocoupler I would need? I did a quick search online but was none the wiser.
Also if that was the issue would that not also affect the machine working in sync mode? As I'm using it with Logic as master clock through the midi in socket.
Gweilo wrote:It's working in sync mode ok but I'm unable to control it via the midi keyboard
Do you mean the Midi-sync works or just the Din-Sync?
Hi Olivier, I mean that the machine works in sync mode as a slave to Logic but through the midi in port. Hope that makes sense.
It's still working with Logic then? The way I read it, it looked like it was toast all together after taking it to your friend's place.
Outside of that and possibly a loose connection (something that might not be too obvious) it's kind of beyond me. If you're not comfortable getting too into it, its probably best to have a tech look at it.
Yes, it works with Logic as master in sync mode but sometimes it's useful when I'm arranging a track using midi parts to be able to control the 707 via midi so as I can launch the track in the middle of the song without the 707 going out of time. (This also means I have a record of the drum programming in the piano roll if the batteries give out or I have to revisit a track.)
Anyway, I think I've found someone who can look at it for me and I've found a work around for the moment. Thanks for all the help, mate 
Did you try connecting another device to the midi port you usually use for your TR707? I know that in Ableton, sending sync or not on/of signals requires different configuration (remote vs sync).
In my experience, if something goes wrong with midi it's mostly the software screwing things up rather than the actual midi hardware.
Did you try connecting another device to the midi port you usually use for your TR707? I know that in Ableton, sending sync or not on/of signals requires different configuration (remote vs sync).
In my experience, if something goes wrong with midi it's mostly the software screwing things up rather than the actual midi hardware.
Yep, tried that. I think it's the machine.
Robots for Robots → General Hardware / Software Discussion → 707 Stopped working Via Midi???
Powered by PunBB, supported by Informer Technologies, Inc.
Currently used extensions: pun_approval, pun_admin_add_user. Copyright © 2009 PunBB