Anybody ever fixed a TASCAM MIDIIZER?

  • Thread starter Thread starter altruistica
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altruistica

altruistica

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I've just bought a Tascam Midiizer from an Ebay seller and I suspect the unit might be knackered. The unit arrived in a filthy condition, stinking of smoke (never a good sign). Anyway, I've read through another poster's posts about getting the cables right (it came with 2 cables that do check out pin wise so at this point I don't suspect the cables) and also the back-up battery. I think if this unit is left off for years, the battery drains and maybe that's the reason for the inconsistent results I'm getting.

This video shows what happened when I first powered it up:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ral06xipv0

Basically, I didn't have the leads connected to anything because I wasn't sure how it was going to power up, given the state it arrived in. On first power up, all the leds lit and then the unit just hung.

Ok, so I've since attached it to my TASCAM MSR-16 and it sometimes initialises and will read code from tape. But sometimes it just hangs and stays lit with all the leds showing. It hasn't yet ever managed to contol the MSR16 from the transport controls on the Midiizer, something I would have thought it would do staright away if the unit was fully functioning. The manual states as much. I'm pretty sure I have all the toggle switches set correctly and the fact that it sometimes connects makes me think the unit has some problem possibly in the power department, a faulty cap or such like.

The problem is, I paid top dollar for this Midiizer, which was advertised in 'very good condition'. I am not going to open it up and start attempting to fix it. I'd rather instigate an Ebay dispute and sort it out that way if the unit is proved to be faulty. At this point, I really need someone who has lots of experience with this unit to let me know what the expected behaviour is of a unit if it's not connected to anything.

Any help much appreciated.

Al
 
Depending on how much you paid for it, why don't you contact the seller and suggest that he refund part of the money to help with the repair? Then get a good tech to have a look at it, it may just need a good clean and sone cables re-seated. The problem with returning it is you still have to find another one.

Alan.
 
I used to work on them in a previous life.There are socketed PROMS.Start by re-seating them...
 
Hi Guys,

Thanks for those replies. I've made another video to show a little more what the problem is and can be seen here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvom_5OknFU&feature=youtu.be


I've emailed the seller to inform him what the problem is and I'll wait on his reply. As I said, I don't want at this stage to be rooting about in a unit I've just purchased. If he agrees to a partial refund, then I may have a quick look, but my gut instinct says this is going to need a tech to look at it.

Al
 
Hi guys,
The Tascam Midiizer needs a few spare parts. I've tried contacting Tascam UK but they haven't replied (which usually means they have no parts for this legacy product).

I'm looking for the rubber domed carbon contacts that fit underneath the top panel switches. It could be that these contacts were used in different products of that era. Since these parts are not listed in the manual I can't give a part number.

I've just emailed Tascam US to see if they can help. Has anyone ever come across these contacts and have a source .

Any help offered would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Al
 
looks like the micro controller is not initializing well all the time. Things to check:

Ribbon cable seating inside - disconnect and reconnect
Lots of socketed chips, remove and reseat all of them
Power supply
PCB solder fractures

Something may have happened on shipment. Don't remember if these ones have EPROMs or PROMs. If they are EPROMs you maybe hitting an issue where the program retention is coming to an end due to the age of these puppies. I have one, i could open it up and take a look. I think someone mentioned already that those are PROMs. I would check the stuff above, it maybe an easy fix.
 
Thanks fgonza2,

I'm currently trying to negotiate a partial refund on this unit in order to fund a tech having a look at this unit. The original Ebay ad said 'In pristine condition'........funny what some people constitute the word 'pristine' to mean.

Al
 
The 2 EPROM's load the program, operating the MTC code & transport respectively. They are on the lower PCB board.

Did you get the accessory cable with the unit, I'm assuming that the phono rca cables & connectors are fine, have you put the MSR16 into sync mode?

If the various leds to the right of the green screen don't light up there must be some kind of communication issue? The third time you switched it on you got the flashing lights which is normal on startup. It should read Welcome to Tascam Midiizer then Accessory 2 or similar!

If the transport is not working that means one of the EPROM's might be faulty, or has lost it's data, it could also be the battery. I have two Midiizers, one needs the EPROM program rewriten which I worked out by swapping out a working EPROM chip but I don't have the facilities to do that. Tried to get a part from Tascam but no luck.

I can't view your first video, it says private, the second one is fine?

Where are you based?
 
Last edited:
Hi tracentdental,

I'm based in Manchester, UK.

Since this thread, I eventually got a partial refund and managed to get the Midiizer fixed. The battery needed changing. I've since bought another Midiizer (NOS) along withan IF-1000 for interfacing with the MS16. I've been really busy sorting out a new desk for the studio, which got sorted this week so I'll be getting back to finishing the installation in the next month. The NOS Midiizer powered up fine, but had a strange quirk where the display was 'offset' . I'll make a video once I'm back in 'sorting out the Midiizer' mode. The other Midiizer I tried again after having it fixed and seem to remember it did something quirky again. I've now got all the equipment that I want, so more time can be now spent getting it all playing with other nicely over the next couple of months.

Thanks,
Al
 
Hi altruistica, Good news you managed to get hold of a working midiizer.

Seems that there's a few others needing service and repair out there, hopefully they will be back working sometime!
 
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