Yet another fuse problem. Two in one day.

Problem: Not all drivers are speaking in a Genelec 1037C loudspeaker.

Solution: I decide to check the built in amplifier first.  A check of all the fuses turns up a bad one.  The good thing about fuses is that before any over-current badness happens to the electronics, the fuse says “no more” and blows.  Its a cheap and easy fix.  It just so happens that the last two pieces of gear that went through the shop are protection fuse problems.  Fuses melt for other reasons, like blown output transistors, but in these two cases, I lucked into easy fixes and not major damage to the gear.

Tascam M2600mkII Console Not passing a signal

Problem:  Tascam M2600 MKII console is not passing a signal.  When I hook a noise generator to the input, nothing happens.  I do get 48V (or just under) out of the mic inputs as expected.  I’m thinking it might be a power supply problem.

Troubleshooting Steps:

1. Check the integrity of the cable from power supply to console.  Result: Its electrically good.  Plug it back in. The end going into the power supply is a little loose when connected to the box.
2. 
3. Check voltage output of the power supply.  This is a 15 pin cable.  Thankfully, the user manual has the output pin assignments.  Result: +5, +48 are fine, +-20 is not.  I don’t have an elegant way to measure the voltage.  The Multimeter probes are too big for the 15-pin cable. I have to improvise with paper clips, being extremely careful not to short out the supply and blow something else!
4. 
5. Open the hood. The W2 Fuse looks suspicious.  Continuity test: Fuse fails.
6. 
7. Replace fuse.  I don’t have a 4A 250 volt 5×20mm package, slow-blow fuse so I insert a 2A fuse for a quick test. It works.
8. 

Time to order the correct fuse. I suspect the power supply cable was stressed enough to almost break it, and in the process, the 20V supply shorted out and blew the fuse. The evidence does point in that direction with a partially broken connector.  Either that or Pruis Hall was really rockin’.

Spool-Area-Full-Error

Problem: Printing error from 10.5.8 to HP LaserJet 5200dtn

Solution: I don’t know what spool area the error message is referring. Is this the computer /var/spool area?  Or, does the HP have a spool area?  I’m thinking it might be an HP problem since it is happening from multiple computers. But, then again, most of our computers have similar setups.

What I tried: Update HP LaserJet 5200dtn firmware from 08.060.1 to 08.061.2 (had to use terminal–read the readme).  This seems to be doing the trick.  I’m going to keep an eye on it.

Finale Lost Authorization.

Problem: Finale 2008 lost its authorization. If you tried to re-authorize, the MakeMusic server would not allow because we already allocated all seats of our site license.

Solution: Evidently a known problem with the Mac 10.5.7 update. Finale has a patch fix. http://makemusic.custhelp.com/app/answers/preview_detail/a_id/1679

Run the patch. Restart. Problem solved on some machines. I’m contacting customer support for the others.

Now if I could get Finale to not crash every time you quit the program.  Not a huge problem as you are trying to close it out anyway, but it just seems wrong.  Applications should quit without crash issues.

Not all Kontakt samples available to student user

Problem: Some instruments load, some are missing samples.  If you navigate to computer folder using Kontakt database, the samples aren’t shown.

Solution: It works fine in admin account. Turns out some samples do not grant read and execute for “everyone”. I went ahead and changed permission for the entire loops and samples folder. chmod -R o+rx /Loops\ and\ Samples/

Kontakt Effects not working

Problem: Kontakt convolution effect not working (grayed out) in student user account.  Plus, presets in other effects not loading.

Solution: Both situations work in the admin account. Must be a permission conflict. Set Library/Application Support/Native Instruments to student as the group and read and execute permissions (recursive).  Or, I could just set “everyone” to have read and execute permissions for the entire folder.

Complete Production Toolkit added to Studio 9 computers

Digidesign’s Complete Production Toolkit is now on the studio 9 computers. This adds the following to Pro Tools 8 LE:

Features

• Edit and mix up to 128 simultaneous audio tracks
• Mix in up to 7.1 surround sound
• Double your Instrument tracks from 32 to up to 64 simultaneous tracks
• Comes with over $2,650 worth of groundbreaking virtual instruments and professional plug-ins, including:
  • Digidesign Eleven™ LE hyper-realistic, vintage guitar amp emulator
  • Digidesign Hybrid™ 1.5 high-definition synthesizer
  • Digidesign Smack!™ LE foolproof compressor and limiter
  • Digidesign Structure® LE advanced sample player
  • Digidesign DINR™ LE intelligent noise reduction
  • Digidesign TL Space™ — Native Edition convolution reverb
  • Digidesign X-Form® time compression/expansion and pitch shifter
  • Neyrinck SoundCode Stereo surround-to-stereo down-mixer
• Multitrack Beat Detective™ rhythm analysis, extraction, and correction tool
• DigiBase™ Pro full-featured file management tool
• DigiTranslator™ 2.0 for import/export of OMF, AAF, and MXF files
• Time Code and Feet + Frames functions
• Powerful editing and session management features
• Pro Tools® MP3 Option for exporting MP3 files

Check out the website for more. http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?langid=100&navid=115&itemid=6282

VueScan Software installed in Studio 8

VueScan software in now in Studio 8. This tames the HP ScanJet and makes scanning possible again. If you own a scanner, check out this software. http://www.hamrick.com/ Thank Kyle Snyder for the tip.

DVI extended to SHA and SHB

If you look closely, Trevor and I installed DVI connectors in Soundhouse A (SHA) and SHB. The second DVI output of the Mac goes to a DVI distribution amplifier. From there the video is split to go out to the LCD display in studio 1 and the two DVI connectors in SHA and SHB.

What’s the big deal, right? This allows anything displayed on the secondary monitor in the control room to also be broadcast to the soundhouses. One good application would be for audio post production. Put the Pro Tools movie window on the secondary display and now the musicians can follow along in the soundhouse as the music is scored to picture. Or actors can do dialog replacement. Or foley can be recorded to picture. Or, …you get it.  Just don’t plug in a DVI display while the computer is running.

Our only trouble with the installation was being careful not to get the high resolution DVI cable stuck in the conduit. The DVI connector barely fit inside the 2 inch rigid conduit. Trevor gently pulled while I feed the cable into the conduit. When we hit a snag, I would pull back the cable a little,  gently twist it and Trevor would continue the pull.  For the record, the picture below is Trevor pulling cat5 cable for a USB extension system in studio 1.  We pulled the DVI cables later that day.

Trevor Frohberg using fish tape to pull cable in the North Machine Room

Final Result. Plasma in Soundhouse A

ScoringSessions.com

If you ever wanted to see behind the scenes of a hollywood-type scoring session, check out this website. Amazing.

http://www.scoringsessions.com/