Topic: Edirol/Roland R-44 (part six)

[bhadella]

Thanks for the info boys!  I went with the big one as I'm gonna be on the conservative side (festivals) and may use it to power the USBPre 2 at the same time. 

[Laurent]

Hello, I just received a mint looking unit from east Europe. It powers up properly, everything seems fine except it doesn't process any sound from mics

It can read a .wav at SD root through headphones properly, nothing out of the deck speakers (if the holes on top are indeed speakers).
Also I have no readings from the inputs whether they are analog XLR inputs Shure SM58+AT853 (With or without Phantom) or mic In input.
Version loaded is 1.10, I didn't try to update yet. SD compatibility seems alright since it plays a WAV file.
Plug power is not the original Roland AFAIK but seems to juice it up properly and I get the same result on Batteries anyway.

Is the deck toast somehow?
Am I missing something?
I feel this should be obvious, I am only started with the manual yet but can't see anything complicated.
Is there any maintenance solution in case I don't get a full refund or get a refund but can keep the deck somehow?

Thanks

[beatkilla]

Hello, I just received a mint looking unit from east Europe. It powers up properly, everything seems fine except it doesn't process any sound from mics

It can read a .wav at SD root through headphones properly, nothing out of the deck speakers (if the holes on top are indeed speakers).
Also I have no readings from the inputs whether they are analog XLR inputs Shure SM58+AT853 (With or without Phantom) or mic In input.
Version loaded is 1.10, I didn't try to update yet. SD compatibility seems alright since it plays a WAV file.
Plug power is not the original Roland AFAIK but seems to juice it up properly and I get the same result on Batteries anyway.

Is the deck toast somehow?
Am I missing something?
I feel this should be obvious, I am only started with the manual yet but can't see anything complicated.
Is there any maintenance solution in case I don't get a full refund or get a refund but can keep the deck somehow?

Thanks

I would start by doing a factory reset

https://support.roland.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005731923-R-44-Executing-Factory-Reset-Restoring-Factory-Default-Settings

[Laurent]

Thank you for your answer, it is a good idea. I have done one in the process to no avail unfortunately.

I suspect a component is burnt or a connection is broken inside. It powers up and plays sound, just can't get a signal from any input. I tried the jack connection and xlr but since the internal mics are silent as well, the problem is deeper than that.

[mepaca]

Hello, I just received a mint looking unit from east Europe. It powers up properly, everything seems fine except it doesn't process any sound from mics

It can read a .wav at SD root through headphones properly, nothing out of the deck speakers (if the holes on top are indeed speakers).
Also I have no readings from the inputs whether they are analog XLR inputs Shure SM58+AT853 (With or without Phantom) or mic In input.
Version loaded is 1.10, I didn't try to update yet. SD compatibility seems alright since it plays a WAV file.
Plug power is not the original Roland AFAIK but seems to juice it up properly and I get the same result on Batteries anyway.

Is the deck toast somehow?
Am I missing something?
I feel this should be obvious, I am only started with the manual yet but can't see anything complicated.
Is there any maintenance solution in case I don't get a full refund or get a refund but can keep the deck somehow?

Thanks

I would start by doing a factory reset

https://support.roland.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005731923-R-44-Executing-Factory-Reset-Restoring-Factory-Default-Settings

I would assume that the inputs are enacted and phantom is on if using condenser microphones. Sorry if I'm stating the obvious.
I just like to go for the lowest hanging fruit first.

[Laurent]

I made this 3min video for the seller. I make a terrible job at describing anything but you can probably pick most of the obvious config on it.
The AT853 used for testing is a condenser but should give a slight input without phantom I guess. It doesn't give anything even with phantom on as seen in the video. The other mic is a SM58 dynamic mic and the level doesn't even blink during the test.

The deck is doing back in a couple of days. For now I don't think it's worth trying to negociate a price and service it. It looks pristine and I feel it's most likely a very tiny issue on a component.

[Gutbucket]

The problem is that the recorder never goes into record mode in your video, and will not pass signal until it does.  It needs to be either in record/pause [hold pause down while pressing record, rec button should start blinking] or recording [rec button solid red] to pass signal to the onscreen meters, SD card, and/or the outputs.  The hold switch looks to be not engaged, which was the first thing I looked for. 

Try a factory reset, then see if you can get it into record/pause or record mode.

Some clarification, but not the core issue-
The SM58 does not need or want phantom but will need more gain before levels are high enough to move the meters, which in that screen mode go down only to -40dB, meaning soft sounds may not ping the meter, but you should see other indications of recording on screen and via a red illuminated record button. AT853 need phantom power before it will produce any output.

[beatkilla]

That's what i was thinking too,i never saw the unit in record mode or standby record mode.

Can you record to the SD card?  Do you get a silent file?

[Laurent]

Thank you for the advices. None can possibly be dumb as the final solution may be completely dumb.

As you suggested there is only metering in record mode I used this new bit of info: I pushed harder on the record button! The record function operated and now I do have normal meterings while recording

The Record button is annoyingly hard and sort of "sticky". Quite unprofessional if you ask me. Does it sound normal for a R-44?

Maybe there was a liquid spill at some point or plain lack of usage... I remember the wheel first was jerky which corrected itself as I used it some more. Thinking about pouring a bit of isopropyl and praying for the best

Now I have to make a decision about keeping it or sending it back. Does nimh AA batteries last enough on the field? I plan on using 4 phantoms, 96/24 and recording for say... 2h straight. Maybe there are external power solutions that will do?

[audBall]

Glad to hear of the success at getting levels from the microphones. I'd personally recommend against pouring alcohol (regardless of purity %) as it could potentially mobilize a foreign substance elsewhere within the unit, assuming a spill is what actually occurred. I would only apply alcohol if I had the ability to clearly see the surface area it was being applied to and could be wiped clean afterwards.

[Ozpeter]

Maybe pump the record button for a few minutes to free it up mechanically?  But others might say, Bad idea...

[capnhook]

In this kind of case, if I have a chance to send it back, I do

[capnhook]

#1 died in a terrible torrent-storm...I could only protect the other rig..   

#2 and #3 are out and about as often as we are.

#4 sits on the shelf, waiting to go out for the first time..

Update :

#2 is on the shelf --- it lost its ability to record properly on ch#4, the levels jump around like random hot static.  I have to look for a cold-solder joint, very suspect because it's near the multi-knob that gets a lot of use and I have had experience with this kind of problem before on #1, before it was murdered by a hellish rainstorm

#3 has lost its ability to take a digital input ------ #3 will now forever be a 4-channel analog slave to #4

#4 stepped up and became master about a year ago, and is running a bit on the cool side



Eyes out for a fetching Oade Concert Mod sibling, to hang out on the shelf.....anyone in the market to sell theirs?  Send pics

[Laurent]

In this kind of case, if I have a chance to send it back, I do

Depends on the price, maintenance possibility and more important in this case the feeling that all decks will leave me the same issues. I mean, it's a toll for the battery but I am used to metering at all time, all the buttons feel cheapish rubbery rather than straight plastic clicking ones. I might as well cut the chase and invest my time better. I believe the deck will do

Can someone confirm the specs for the ocm power plug? I have a generic 12v/1.25A that does the job but I want to replace it by a cleaner choice (Mine was reversed in polarity by recabling).

[EDIT]
I found Roland's support page to suggest a PSB-1U and its successors, so a 9V/2A.
R-44 User Manual suggests a 9-16V/1.2A.
There must be internal regulation for higher amperages and voltages. For EU, there are nice generic 9V/2A (Brand TKDY) on Amazon and the more expensive but branded and recommended PSB-230 EU on Thomann.de available if I want to replace the power plug I got. Thomann NT 1215 doesn't do the job as its polarity is reversed.

Not sure if I can go up to 3A intensity, then I'd pick an external TalentCell NB7102 battery pack and run the R-44 on it for longer sessions.
I still haven't tested yet the internal AA powering time with quad phantoms...

[Gutbucket]

The buttons are rubbery, but I've never had a problem with them on mine.  Has been a very reliable recorder for the past 15 years.  If you hold onto it, maybe try a squirt of deoxit (which contains some lubricant as well as cleaner) along with some mechanical exercising of the record button to free it.

I always use an external battery and the internals as backup, so not sure of runtime on internals alone, but find the recorder quite accommodating to external power and various voltages. Main thing when using an external power supply or battery is to MAKE SURE THE POWER INPUT CABLE PROVIDES INVERTED POLARITY AT THE RECORDER SIDE.  Center conductor is ground/negative into the R44, the opposite of most gear.  If not you'll blow an internal fuse.