Mac trouble Shooting and Repair and Protools Repair

[Philly Stress]

Okay, I want to learn how to repair Mac computer systems and Protools LE's and HD's as well. Where can I learn how to repair Macs, and where can I learn to repair to Protools Systems???

[Gm7Cadd9]

learning to repair hardware is always a tough thing. Apple offers multiple certifications ranging from help-desk to full fledged applecare certified on all gear including laptops. I am sure to be digi certified you have to work for them.

But on the software side of things learning to fix Macs and how they work with digi hardware is pretty easy of you work with them day in and day out. I find that the most fixing you do is when someone first buys a system and has no idea how to hook it up, generally you will see someone shell out thousands on an HD3 rig and then hook up the cards in the wrong order. You will find that you can fix most everyones problems through some basic troubleshooting, and the ones you can't fix, you should be able to isolate where the problem is.

For instance when someone says their mac doesn't work, or it won't turn on you need to know what is wrong, if the light comes on but there is no startup chime could be bad RAM, or misallocation of RAM. If the light comes on then quickly off with no startup chime then it's the logic board and probably just needs to be reset. Or maybe the computer chimes and stays on but the monitor stays off, then it could be the video card or the monitor. You get the idea.

To learn more about the apple side of things check out their website:

http://www.apple.com/training/

if you don't want to shell out money for training and official certification just browse their answerbase, same goes with DIGI, figure out the most common DAE errors and what causes them.

-Roy

[Philly Stress]

Originally Posted by Gm7Cadd9

learning to repair hardware is always a tough thing. Apple offers multiple certifications ranging from help-desk to full fledged applecare certified on all gear including laptops. I am sure to be digi certified you have to work for them.

But on the software side of things learning to fix Macs and how they work with digi hardware is pretty easy of you work with them day in and day out. I find that the most fixing you do is when someone first buys a system and has no idea how to hook it up, generally you will see someone shell out thousands on an HD3 rig and then hook up the cards in the wrong order. You will find that you can fix most everyones problems through some basic troubleshooting, and the ones you can't fix, you should be able to isolate where the problem is.

For instance when someone says their mac doesn't work, or it won't turn on you need to know what is wrong, if the light comes on but there is no startup chime could be bad RAM, or misallocation of RAM. If the light comes on then quickly off with no startup chime then it's the logic board and probably just needs to be reset. Or maybe the computer chimes and stays on but the monitor stays off, then it could be the video card or the monitor. You get the idea.

To learn more about the apple side of things check out their website:

http://www.apple.com/training/

if you don't want to shell out money for training and official certification just browse their answerbase, same goes with DIGI, figure out the most common DAE errors and what causes them.

-Roy

Thanks for the link. What learning to repair high end Consoles Like the SSLs and Neves?? SSL's in Particular!

[Gm7Cadd9]

Originally Posted by Philly Stress

Thanks for the link. What learning to repair high end Consoles Like the SSLs and Neves?? SSL's in Particular!

A knowledge of electronics and soldering, and the manuals. But you might be surprised, I have heard the SSL and Neve manuals cost in the hundreds of dollars. Where I work we have an SSL 4000 G+ and a Neve VX console. When something goes wrong (as it always does) we have our in house electronics guy come in and fix it and make a class out of it, but when the master section volume control goes out or we start getting crazy crosstalk we have to call desk doctor, who charges quite a pretty penny.

We have found that when an LED goes we have to special order them, but you can't just order 1-2 or them they need a bulk shipment in order to ship, so you end up paying for like 50 or more, then sometimes you find out they don't even make the part/light anymore. Fixing Neve and SSL is a great skill to learn, but dangerous... For instance, we once had a Mackie D8B here, and it was always breaking, and there was only one guy in LA who really knew anything about them, and he made a killing for a while, but now hardly anyone uses a D8B, so you have to keep up.

I used to troubleshoot macs on OS 9, and it was like learning all over again when OS X came out. Our Neve's computer runs on Windows 3, if and when the automation/recall computer decides to die (and it will) it will cost over 10,000 just to replace it. The power supply costs even more!

If you want to get into that kind of repair realize that it is very specialized, and while it pays well it requires a lot of effort to keep up to date and compete with the pros like desk doctor.

-Roy

[Philly Stress]

Originally Posted by Gm7Cadd9

A knowledge of electronics and soldering, and the manuals. But you might be surprised, I have heard the SSL and Neve manuals cost in the hundreds of dollars. Where I work we have an SSL 4000 G+ and a Neve VX console. When something goes wrong (as it always does) we have our in house electronics guy come in and fix it and make a class out of it, but when the master section volume control goes out or we start getting crazy crosstalk we have to call desk doctor, who charges quite a pretty penny.

We have found that when an LED goes we have to special order them, but you can't just order 1-2 or them they need a bulk shipment in order to ship, so you end up paying for like 50 or more, then sometimes you find out they don't even make the part/light anymore. Fixing Neve and SSL is a great skill to learn, but dangerous... For instance, we once had a Mackie D8B here, and it was always breaking, and there was only one guy in LA who really knew anything about them, and he made a killing for a while, but now hardly anyone uses a D8B, so you have to keep up.

I used to troubleshoot macs on OS 9, and it was like learning all over again when OS X came out. Our Neve's computer runs on Windows 3, if and when the automation/recall computer decides to die (and it will) it will cost over 100,000 just to replace it. The power supply costs even more!

If you want to get into that kind of repair realize that it is very specialized, and while it pays well it requires a lot of effort to keep up to date and compete with the pros like desk doctor.

-Roy

It there an East Coast equilvent to Desk Doctor??

[Gm7Cadd9]

off the top of my head I can't think of any, but I am sure there is something. Try checking the yellow pages of any major city, New York or Nashville maybe...Miami is a stretch but you may have luck. Like I said it is a very specialized industry. Who knows you might be the first in the area and make a killing.

-Roy