What to check on a Microwave XT

[DonPuzo]

Hi forum members,

I'm gonna buy a Microwave XT in the next days, and I will go to the buyer house to check the instrument.

Could you please give me some advice about which things should I check? Which are the known issues? I'm not very experienced buying second hands synths, your advice would be very helpful.

Thank you

[tvsky]

encoders would be the main issue , make sure they all work , turn smoothly , their data values move up and down correctly , don't skip or jump

[TitusRaindrops]

Check the board revision. Revision 3 is the most recent and has an updated output DAC. Check the encoders and make sure they hold their values and don't skip backwards/forwards when twisting them. If they do, try cleaning them by twisting the encoders in both directions for several minutes. See if it clears up on its own. Check for sticky buttons. The nextel paint seems to trap stuff around the edges of the buttons and can cause them to stick.

That's about all I can think of specific to this model.

Check out the official Waldorf XT FAQ here:

http://faq.waldorfian.info/faq-browse.php?product=xt

[Oli]

Originally Posted by TitusRaindrops

Check the board revision. Revision 3 is the most recent and has an updated output DAC. Check the encoders and make sure they hold their values and don't skip backwards/forwards when twisting them. If they do, try cleaning them by twisting the encoders in both directions for several minutes. See if it clears up on its own. Check for sticky buttons. The nextel paint seems to trap stuff around the edges of the buttons and can cause them to stick.

I think the rev 3 wasn't sold with a Nextel chassis. Maybe some though. From memory, you can find the revision through the Global menu, scrolling through system params. There is also a software version which you can check, though this can be updated via MIDI.

I think the orange paint is nicer than the rusty brown Nextel. Nextel is textured, softer, not as robust.

I seem to recall the painted version, with tapered Alps knobs, also provided a better dust coverage for the chassis holes. It's been many years since I had my hands on that version though.

[Liquid360]

Originally Posted by DonPuzo

Hi forum members,

I'm gonna buy a Microwave XT in the next days, and I will go to the buyer house to check the instrument.

Could you please give me some advice about which things should I check? Which are the known issues? I'm not very experienced buying second hands synths, your advice would be very helpful.

Thank you

Dude, you will love programming the XT, no matter what rev it is.

The later models had more DSP ram, mostly for longer delays and whatnot. But mine is a Nextel rubber paint (with the plastic "surfboard" over the screen) model, and it's a rev 3, just one of the last ones made with that hardware. So looks don't mean dick when identifying one, it's only available briefly on the screen when you power it on.

[TitusRaindrops]

I too have a Nextel rev. 3 board XT with the blue surfboard.

[cosmos]

All knobs/encoders, make sure they are smooth and run parameters perfectly.
LCD screen, make sure its not faded and its clear.
run all voices , push the synth to max & look for hardware bugs, crashes, weird noises (clicks)and such..

[WOLF424]

Originally Posted by cosmos

weird noises (clicks)and such..

Mine had weird pops/clicks that dissappeared with changing the input gain to greater than 1. Anybody know anything more about that? Can't check the rev as I'm at work now. It just left me with a feeling that it might implode some day, being Waldorf and all that...

[cosmos]

Originally Posted by WOLF424

Mine had weird pops/clicks that dissappeared with changing the input gain to greater than 1. Anybody know anything more about that? Can't check the rev as I'm at work now. It just left me with a feeling that it might implode some day, being Waldorf and all that...

check rev, OS version and post back.

i also had clicks on my old Q+, Waldorf did fixed that with a simple update from them. it had something to do with internal clcoking and DA convertion..

[WOLF424]

Originally Posted by cosmos

check rev, OS version and post back.

i also had clicks on my old Q+, Waldorf did fixed that with a simple update from them. it had something to do with internal clcoking and DA convertion..

Seems to be Os 2.33 Board#2

[DonPuzo]

I just wanted to thank you for all your help! Probably in two days I will be a XT user!

[login]

I am also going to test a microwave xt soon. How do I check the rev?

Also it would be an exchange for my Machinedrum mkII UW+ and some money, how much would you ask for?