Uptown 990 computer EXPLODED!!

[alexhornbake]

So I'm assisting on a session this evening, and we are mixing the last song of the night, when all of the sudden I hear and see what sounds like an M80 going off to the left of the console. Smoke fills the room, I run and grab a fire extinguisher... luckily no fire. We check all the power amps, and then look at the automation computer which is now turned off.

So yea, I gotta figure out how to fix this thing... I open it up, a large capacitor on the motherboard exploded. I guess I gotta go track down a 386 motherboard with ISA slots on it, has anyone had to replace their uptown computer, or motherboard? Any particular brand motherboard, ours had an old 33Mhz AMD chipset.

I will call ATI tomorrow, which I found through a search is the company that own uptown now, but if anyone knows of other companies possibly selling motherboards or uptown parts (who knows if any of the other cards were taken down with the motherboard).

Any help, much appreciated.

[manthe]

When I think about how many 386/33s I've tossed in a dumpster....I feel guilty now.

I have little to offer but condolences and well wishes. I REALLY hope you solve the problem.

There is one listed here:

Odyssey Pro Sound - Used List

listed (for an A$$LOAD of money) with an Audient ASP8024 24x24, Maybe they'd split it out??

[ToddF]

Sorry to hear this.
I am always procrastinating getting another computer setup and ready to go in case ours goes down. I better get on it.

I would think a used computer retailer would have a few of these computers or Ebay etc.

You should be able to put in the Uptown card, load the software and hopefully be good to go. Hopefully you have the software somewhere.

Don't try to use a different speed/model computer. We had issues with that in the past.

You can ask ATI/Uptown what computers you can use. Please let me know what they say so I can be prepared.

Good Luck, Todd

[bunnerabb]

I found this.

He seems to deal in old computers.

[samwinston123]

Find out if there are any computer recycling centers/businesses in your area. You technically aren't allowed to throw computers in the regular trash, so there should be something set up in your area to take old equipment. Call them up and see if they have any of the parts you need. There is a company next door to the studio I work at that takes old computers and they have a stockpile of old legacy stuff.

[alexhornbake]

first off, thanks for the condolences.

I already started scouring Ebay, looks like there some old POS computers on there, heck I may Re-Cap it... hahaha never thought I'd be re-capping a vintage computer.

I'll keep you up to date on how this turns out, also going to stop by goodwill tommorrow, they usually have a few clunkers laying around.

[APOHStudios]

Sorry to hear about that! As soon as you said M80-type explosion, I immediately thought "A cap blew", which a little later you confirmed. I have a few old pc's laying around, let me take a look and see if any match your needs.

I will PM you tomorrow evening on if I have one or not.

[alexhornbake]

Went down to the Blue Ridge Computer Recycling center, man, what a trip, stacks of old computers, sorted through about 50 of them to find 2 that were old enough to have enough ISA card slots for the uptown cards.

So i installed the "new" motherboard, computer booted up and it recognized the fader cards, and sync card, but when I connect the computer to the console the automation software freezes up.

The new computer is an Intel Pentium MMX 166Mhz, it has 3 ISA slots and runs MS-DOS off of the old computer's hard drive.

I know this may be out of the scope of most Gearslutz, but any help, or suggestions of another forum that is more repair/tech oriented would be greatly appreciated.

[manthe]

Originally Posted by alexhornbake

Went down to the Blue Ridge Computer Recycling center, man, what a trip, stacks of old computers, sorted through about 50 of them to find 2 that were old enough to have enough ISA card slots for the uptown cards.

So i installed the "new" motherboard, computer booted up and it recognized the fader cards, and sync card, but when I connect the computer to the console the automation software freezes up.

The new computer is an Intel Pentium MMX 166Mhz, it has 3 ISA slots and runs MS-DOS off of the old computer's hard drive.

I know this may be out of the scope of most Gearslutz, but any help, or suggestions of another forum that is more repair/tech oriented would be greatly appreciated.

I am an IT 'engineer' ,doing it for 15 years now. I am a network, security and encryption specialist now, but I started out building and repairing 8086s and 286, 8MHz
machines with ISA card 'RAM' where you popped E-prom chips onto a daughter card to 'upgrade' to 16k of RAM.

I *might* be of some assistance and would be happy to try. PM or e-mail me if you like.

[alexhornbake]

ATI was really helpful, they are sending me a pdf of the Installation manual, a copy of the software, and they had a few tips for fixes that I'm going to try tomorrow. There is a mix session on Saturday, anyone want to volunteer to explain to the client that the automation system is down if I can't ge this thing back up?

Also, if you have a 990 system, you can stock up on any 386,486,Pentium, or Pentium II computers with ISA slots, and they should work just fine according to ATI.

peace.

[jslstrat]

Originally Posted by ToddF

Sorry to hear this.
I am always procrastinating getting another computer setup and ready to go in case ours goes down. I better get on it.

I would think a used computer retailer would have a few of these computers or Ebay etc.

You should be able to put in the Uptown card, load the software and hopefully be good to go. Hopefully you have the software somewhere.

Don't try to use a different speed/model computer. We had issues with that in the past.

You can ask ATI/Uptown what computers you can use. Please let me know what they say so I can be prepared.

Good Luck, Todd

Hey Guys,
I am ready to purchase a 990 for my Trident 80B..I have allready thought about this issue. The good thing Is! I know a guy who scraps computers for a living! And I mean hundreds! Of them..He salvages them here in Seattle.So If you guys could post what we need I will get ahold of him and tell him to start saving certain models of PCU! So please start a List and I will see what he has or can come up with! He Is the best connection I know of for old computers drives etc........
Lets get a Uptown 990 info/thread going.......John

[alexhornbake]

ATI was really helpful, they are sending me a pdf of the Installation manual, a copy of the software, and they had a few tips for fixes that I'm going to try tomorrow. There is a mix session on Saturday, anyone want to volunteer to explain to the client that the automation system is down if I can't ge this thing back up?

Also, if you have a 990 system, you can stock up on any 386,486,Pentium, or Pentium II computers with ISA slots, and they should work just fine according to ATI.

peace.

[jslstrat]

Any Info for a mid to late 90,s Uptown 990 fader automation system (complete)32+1 stereo fader. Exposed
motor p&g faders to fit my Trident 80B would be much appreciated! Please PM me! Thank You,
John

* I now have a Uptown 990 System...Thank You, John

[jslstrat]

Originally Posted by alexhornbake

ATI was really helpful, they are sending me a pdf of the Installation manual, a copy of the software, and they had a few tips for fixes that I'm going to try tomorrow. There is a mix session on Saturday, anyone want to volunteer to explain to the client that the automation system is down if I can't ge this thing back up?

Also, if you have a 990 system, you can stock up on any 386,486,Pentium, or Pentium II computers with ISA slots, and they should work just fine according to ATI.

peace.

Alex who did you talk with? At ATI about the Uptown stuff? I have had no luck getting any replies or call backs? If you could send me a PM to let me know who you talked with directly?
Much appreciated. Thank You, John