Anyone have a *Carvin mx2488* main outs NG, all else ok

[detroitdiesel]

Any info would be helpful:

I picked this up in November for short money. Seemed in good cond. Decided to roll the dice. The seller said that one day it just stopped outputting to his power amp at band practice.

I can pass signal through everything except the main outs and CR outs. Had a tech (who works on larger consoles) come play with it and he declared the output side of the subgroup PC board "fried". The unit looks VERY clean and the pots and switches

Now, I'm not an electronics person, I'm a thunderous kick-drum person, but I used to stuff and solder PC boards for work way back in the day (electromechanical timers). If a COMPONENT is fried it can be fixed. I'm not sure the guy was really 100% accurate. He talked a good game but I don't know.

2 simple questions:

Are these know for having output connections that fail (or other problems)

Anyone own one of these that digs the sound?

This was a whim purchase to see it it had a different/better sonic fingerprint that my Mackie 32*8 (the Ford Taurus of consumer mixers) I'm certain it does..

Thanks, DD

http://www.carvinmuseum.com/vintageads/87sept-guitarplayer-mx2488.html

[Snarl 12/8]

Have you called, emailed or written Carvin about the issue? I don't really know, but they give me a "made in america" vibe, which might mean that you get a human if you call who actually has the power to mail you replacement parts, etc.

I've had dealings with Ashly (completely different company, I'm pretty sure) but even though I'm a nobody they sent me spare parts and an engineer even called me on the phone to make sure I knew what I was ordering (tranny input module for half the mic pres on a mixer).

Worth a shot, right? Especially if you think you could install whatever they might send you yourself. On that page you linked they tout its "modular" design/construction, to my mind that = servicable. But they might just be talking about all the channel strips and the output/mixing section could be monolithic design.

I bet they could at least send you a schemo.

Please call them.

ck
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Carl Keil

[nag hammadi]

I have a 1644 with the same problem. I will dig into it soon and post my findings. These are pretty damn cool boards. I love the eq's.[/url]
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i can't really hear my solo, man

[The Scum]

If the thing has insert points on the 2-mix, doublecheck that the normaling jacks are clean and making good contact.

Is there a chance that the thing is a MX1688 with 8 more inputs?
http://www.carvinservice.com/crg/schematics/mx1688.pdf

From looking those over (nice block diagram on the last page), it seems like the output routing is a little interesting...the 2 mix goes directly to the 2-track output, but you have to select it in the listen matrix to hear it in the CR and studio outputs.
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"What fer?"
"Cat fur, to make kitten britches."

[nag hammadi]

if i recall, those are actually modular boards, with a separate card for the master section.

you might be able to find one of the small 8 channel versions on the ebay for cheap - and since it is the smaller version, shipping would be less. then you could replace your main board and have a few channel boards to spare.

just a thought.
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i can't really hear my solo, man

[Scodiddly]

Did your tech say anything more useful than "fried"?

You might look inside yourself, see if there's anything obviously scorched or damaged. Obviously if the relevant circuit board(s) have a lot of black soot then it's a bit beyond normal DIY, but maybe it's just something a bit more simple.

If there are inserts, can you get a signal from the insert jack?

[Scodiddly]

Did your tech say anything more useful than "fried"?

You might look inside yourself, see if there's anything obviously scorched or damaged. Obviously if the relevant circuit board(s) have a lot of black soot then it's a bit beyond normal DIY, but maybe it's just something a bit more simple.

If there are inserts, can you get a signal from the insert jack?

[detroitdiesel]

Got it fixed but the jury is still out. A little too crunchy. The mackie is not a stellar mixer but it may find it's way back to being my primary mixer. (32*

has anyone had carvins sound crunchy? The manual and specs would have you believe otherwise.

DD

[nag hammadi]

i actually got rid of mine for a soundcraft spirit lx-7 (the older one not the II).

i felt like i was missing the sweetnes on the eq - particularly on the lows and highs. i figured i was just romanticizing it.

i actually swapped it back in for a mix and LOVED it. i'm keeping it.
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i can't really hear my solo, man

[nag hammadi]

mine was actually the 1644. it seems that the 2488 has different eq. i know the 1644 has inductrrs in the eq section of each strip. im thinking thats the sweetness.

how do you feel about the q on the 2488?
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i can't really hear my solo, man

[detroitdiesel]

The EQ on the 2488 wasnt bad but the headroom wasnt there. I'm thinking about a spirit lx7 like yours. I sold the carvin but found a spirit on craigs.

You like the spirit?

DD