digi002rack problems - PT wont read 002!

[alecmcmahon]

I have a somewhat complicated question to ask. I own a Digi 002 rack and Pro Tools 6.4. Anyway, I was cleaning out my hard drive the other day going through some old files and deleting what was unnecessary anymore and out of nowhere, Pro Tools locked up and the Sample Rate lights on the front of my Digi went off. When I tried to re-open Pro Tools, I was greeted with an error telling me that Pro Tools couldn't read the Digi hardware, and to make sure everything was connected. I checked my connections and everything was fine. However, the link light near the 1394 firewire ports in the back of the Digi was off.

So my initial thought was that there was something wrong with the firewire card. So I grabbed my laptop and borred a 6-pin to 4-pin firewire cable from my friend and connect my notebook to the PC used for all of the recordings. I then opened the 1394 networking screens on both of the computers and found that they were both sending and receiving packets to one another. Okay, so the firewire card is just fine.

Next I thought that maybe the firewire cable itself was busted. So I installed Pro Tools on my laptop and hooked it up to the Digi. And guess what? I had the same problem as before. The Digi wasn't connecting to my laptop. So now I don't think my problem has to do with the firewire cable we were using.

So anyway, I'm guessing there's something wrong with the 1394 ports on the Digi, but I'm not really sure. The Digi powers on fine because the mute light comes on, but the sample rate lights do not and neither does the link light in the back. I tried both 1394 ports and neither work.

The only recent hardware change was the addition of a Behringer 8-port Ultragain. I unplugged the optical wires connecting it to the Digi and tried again, and I still had the same problem. There was no software needed for the Behringer, so I don't believe anything could have interfered with the firewire drivers on the PC.

To make the situation even stranger, about 5% of the time when I start up Pro Tools, the Sample Rate an Link lights come on, and Pro Tools will work. But after about a minute or so, it just cuts out again and those lights turn off and Pro Tools locks up.

I haven't called Digidesign up yet with my problem; I figured I'd come here first. If anyone has any idea how to fix this problem, it would be greatly appreciated. Also, if there's any confusion about my thread, just ask and I'll try to clarify anything I said that may have been unclear. Thanks.

 

[SonicAlbert]

I seem to remember reading somewhere about a ribbon connector that can come loose in some of the 002R's. If your 002R is out of warranty you might want to pop the top off and see if all the ribbon connectors are firmly seated. Of course, you would ground yourself properly and also unplug the 002R before doing this! Don't touch any chips, just see if the ribbon cable is seated firmly.

If your 002R is still in warranty then I think you'd probably want to go the Digi service route and not open the unit up is that would void your warranty.

 

[reshp1]

Yeah, this sounds like a text book case of the "power harness problem." Does the Digi power up and doesn't let you turn off the mute button sometimes? Or if it does work ok temporarily, does it occasionally reset and "click"

Well the good news is that it's a pretty common problem and Digi actually has a kit that they can send you to fix yourself (without voiding the waranty). Give Digi Tech support a call and they should hook you up with the part you need.

I just had this happen to me last month and although it was annoying, Digi got a part overnight to me and the fix was pretty easy to do. Even if the 002R is out of waranty, you might be able to find a authorized Digi dealer that has a stock of these repair kits, since it is a really common problem

 

[taperocket]

Just so you know, I'm not that convinced that the new cable will help much, I think its a hardware issue that digi is giving a fake fix for. I had them send me the new cable, and I replaced the cable cleaning all the connections and I still have the issue like before...annoying

 

[reshp1]

Just so you know, I'm not that convinced that the new cable will help much, I think its a hardware issue that digi is giving a fake fix for. I had them send me the new cable, and I replaced the cable cleaning all the connections and I still have the issue like before...annoying

It fixed mine right up, but it's only been about a month. I've heard of quite a few people who've had this problem on the DUC forum at digi, and at the www.protoolsforum.com and the replacement harness was a permanent solution. There's other things that could cause these symptoms, such as a bad firewire port in the 002R. Have you let Digi know that their harness didn't fix your problem yet? Maybe they can give you a RA number so you can get it serviced.

 

[jonnyc]

I have heard of many people having defective firewire ports and it was almost always misdiagnosed as a power harness problem. Call digi tell them you think it could be a firewire problem see what they say.

 

[Amped]

Nowa days, Digidesign will send you a power harness AND a new upgraded power supply that you can install yourself without voiding any remaining warranty. The harness looks the same as the old, but the power supply is definately a different animal...