Mixer Cleaning

[Richard Crowley]

It is far more likely that there is a problem with one of the internal connections, typically a ribbon cable plug. It seems pretty unlikely that spraying anything will remedy that kind of problem. Unplugging and re-plugging the ribbon connectors is 100% more likely to fix the problem.

[abitofinger]

ok that seems easy. Thanks. Should I spray the ribbon connecter?

[Richard Crowley]

It depends on several things...
1) Exactly what kind of spray are you talking about? Some stuff actually does more harm than good.
2) Do you know what you are doing? Indiscriminately throwing liquid (or spray) around inside a piece of sophisticated electronic equipment is not without risk.
3) Is the connector actually DIRTY and needs CLEANING? Typically, the answer to this is NO because the problem is with the metal plating or how springy the contact metal is. Un-plugging and re-plugging is the most likely remedy. I wouldn't expect that cleaner spray would be of any benefit here.

[crosscutred]

The first thing I would check is the insert point. The normal on the jack socket. That would be the first place to spray stuff.

[Richard Crowley]

Certain vintages of Mackie mixers are notorious for failing internal ribbon cable connectors. Just as there was an era of bad electrolytic capacitors on many brands of computer motherboards.

Spraying cleaner into the external opening of a 1/4 inch phone jack will ALMOST NEVER actually clean the normaling contacts. And it is easy to test whether the intermittent problem is in the insert jack or not.

[crosscutred]

Originally Posted by rcrowley

Certain vintages of Mackie mixers are notorious for failing internal ribbon cable connectors. Just as there was an era of bad electrolytic capacitors on many brands of computer motherboards.

Spraying cleaner into the external opening of a 1/4 inch phone jack will ALMOST NEVER actually clean the normaling contacts. And it is easy to test whether the intermittent problem is in the insert jack or not.

That's right, if you're going to spray anywhere though.... so, for the benefit if the op, how does he perform this easy test?


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[Richard Crowley]

Does the channel cut out when heard through the insert output? If it DOES, that means the problem is elsewhere. If the channel cuts out ONLY when nothing is plugged into the insert jack, that would be a strong indication that the normaling contacts might be the problem.

[12ax7]

.

To check for this problem being caused by a bad/dirty insert jack, try plugging an insert cable into it, and then put a clip lead between the two tips of the plugs on the other end.

If it works properly that way, you've found your problem.

The culprit is usually right here:

...Although I believe the Mackies have a jack of a completely different design.

(Still, that's where it is.)

.

[abitofinger]

Originally Posted by rcrowley

It depends on several things...
1) Exactly what kind of spray are you talking about? Some stuff actually does more harm than good.

the spray is CRC QD Electronic Cleaner

I'll try to test the insert jack

thanks for the replies!

[abitofinger]

just tested the main insert jack.

i put an insert cable into the Right channel of the main insert.

The tip ts jack passes audio quite nicely
the ring ts jack passes static choppy very low amplitude signal.

i will now open it up and try to diagnose the main insert.

[Richard Crowley]

It depends on how you did this test. When you say "the ring ts jack passes static choppy very low amplitude signal" do you mean with the plug fully inserted into the jack? When fully inserted, the ring is an INPUT and testing it for output is not a valid indicator of anything.

[abitofinger]

ah yes so it is an input. Not sure why but I plugged the insert cable fully into the main insert, and both ends into a channel of the board. I then got signal fine using the boards LED signal light from the tip plug and for some reason the signal light lit up from the ring plug as well although the gain was cranked up.

i haven't figured out how to open and access the main insert jack yet but will look at that later this afternooon