![]() Once mechanical variables are eliminated - rubber tire in good condition, no reel-table friction (see November 2001 Mix) and a happy reel motor - then the problem may be caused by the power supply voltage, which determines fast-wind speed. In a recent case, I immediately noticed that the machines didn’t fast-wind at the same speed. Whenever multiple ADATs are in the shop at the same time, I check them as a System in a Master/Slave configuration. Here’s a fairly simple solution to a common ADAT service issue. The repair biz ain’t over yet, but if you’re over 40, go to the drug store and buy some reading glasses…įortunately, most repairs don’t require swapping SMDs. I will share some SMD tips later in this column. Sure, 99.99% of you will never change an SMD, and it’s not my goal in life, but the refined skill has saved money on specialized tools and minimized the need to replace very expensive circuit boards. Last year, one of my online geeks sent me a can of nuts followed by a Sony instructional video about using conventional tools to replace surface-mount components. These components can be difficult to replace - especially when compared to a vacuum tube or an IC op amp - but the next wave (micro SMD) may render circuit board repairs a thing of the past. The current technological wave squeezes entire circuit boards of discrete components - circa 1990 - to less than a handful of ICs, most in the form of Surface-Mount Devices (SMDs). On the surface, this may seem an acceptable trade-off, but many audio designers and manufacturers began their careers in the service industry, ours in particular, because of vintage circuitry’s popularity. This trend hardly encourages people to consider service as a profession. While we’ve enjoyed more powerful and affordable toys, the miniaturization process has reduced the serviceability (or financial practicality of repairing) many high-tech products. Last year, one of Paul Lehrman’s “Insider Audio” columns discussed the effect of mass production and miniaturization on the repair industry. Greetings, Earthlings! This month, I’ve got a voltage tweak for Alesis ADATs, a headphone amp boosting mod for HHB’s PDR1000 PortaDAT and tips on replacing surface-mount chips using conventional tools. ![]()
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