Kenton Pro 2000 Midi/CV converter Problems... Please Help!!!!

[moogmoog69]

Hi list, I recently integrated a Kenton Pro 2000 Midi to CV
interface/converter into my home studio (older MK 1 version). I bought the
unit used from a very trustworthy AHer but I am having some weird issues
with it and was wondering if anybody else has had the same problem with any
of Kenton's converters.

The unit powers on and will spit out control voltages/gates and such to my
synths for a couple minutes, then out of nowhere the unit just shuts off
(with power button in on position). This causes my synths to freak out and
everytime I have to un-patch the cv/gate cables going into the synths to
prevent my synths from spiraling out of control. When I go to turn the
Kenton back on.....Nothing. No lights or anything. So I start tapping on the
top of the unit and flip it over a few times and it turns back on usually.
But sometimes it won't turn on and I have to leave it in frustration until
it decides to work again. It is like clockwork how this thing is acting. It
always works briefly (sometimes up to 30 mins.) and just shuts off.... I
knock it around a little and it starts working again. Very annoying!! Its
like it has a mind of its own! This has happened probably around 15 times
and will not stop.

Things I have tried already:

1) Switch power outlets
2) Plug into a power conditioner
3) Swap IEC cables
4) Opened unit and checked for visible signs of damage.. i.e- busted or
loose caps/resistors/etc.. Everything looks intact
5) Visually examined the fuses- they don't seem to be blown.

I am wondering if somebody out there with more electronics knowledge than I
have might know whats wrong with it. If I can't figure it out I hope this
thing is repairable if I took it to a tech. It is a crucial piece of my
setup as you can imagine.

Thanks for the help- (eagerly awaiting your reply!)

Ryan

Teleprompter Music

Unique In New York Audio

[phono 1337]

if it was shipped it may well have taken a few knocks. Since you said
it was from someone reliable and that tapping on it can make it work
again i think its highly likely its got a cold solder joint somewhere.

If you have a soldering iron, just carefully reheat/reflow the
connections on the pcb it might just solve it.

Paul

On Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 11:54 PM, Ryan Wilson
<telepromptermusic@...> wrote:

> Hi list, I recently integrated a Kenton Pro 2000 Midi to CV
> interface/converter into my home studio (older MK 1 version). I bought the
> unit used from a very trustworthy AHer but I am having some weird issues
> with it and was wondering if anybody else has had the same problem with any
> of Kenton's converters.
>
> The unit powers on and will spit out control voltages/gates and such to my
> synths for a couple minutes, then out of nowhere the unit just shuts off
> (with power button in on position). This causes my synths to freak out and
> everytime I have to un-patch the cv/gate cables going into the synths to
> prevent my synths from spiraling out of control. When I go to turn the
> Kenton back on.....Nothing. No lights or anything. So I start tapping on the
> top of the unit and flip it over a few times and it turns back on usually.
> But sometimes it won't turn on and I have to leave it in frustration until
> it decides to work again. It is like clockwork how this thing is acting. It
> always works briefly (sometimes up to 30 mins.) and just shuts off.... I
> knock it around a little and it starts working again. Very annoying!! Its
> like it has a mind of its own! This has happened probably around 15 times
> and will not stop.
>
> Things I have tried already:
>
> 1) Switch power outlets
> 2) Plug into a power conditioner
> 3) Swap IEC cables
> 4) Opened unit and checked for visible signs of damage.. i.e- busted or
> loose caps/resistors/etc.. Everything looks intact
> 5) Visually examined the fuses- they don't seem to be blown.
>
> I am wondering if somebody out there with more electronics knowledge than I
> have might know whats wrong with it. If I can't figure it out I hope this
> thing is repairable if I took it to a tech. It is a crucial piece of my
> setup as you can imagine.
>
> Thanks for the help- (eagerly awaiting your reply!)
>
> Ryan
>
> Teleprompter Music
>
> Unique In New York Audio
>

[Fredrik Zetterling-2]

I had problems wih a couple of Kenton boxes, both were bought used
and rather old, ca 15 years.

I replaced all of the electrolythic capacitors to fix both units,
they had however slightly different symptoms, but intermittent and
rather sporadic behaviour.

The Pro 2000 was introduced in the 90's I believe so it could be
a problem with the caps, especially if the unit gets hot when in use.
(The lifetime of electrolythic caps is highly dependant on the
ambient temperature.)

/Fredrik