My MT-32 is (very) noisy, and that's not hiss!

[Tom]

I tried recording with bass/treble on my Audigy 2 set to zero, and it sounded really bad- everything sounded flat and lifeless. Maybe I'm used to it..

Yes, it is flat and lifeless...until you play back the recordings through a system with EQ.  But for me, having the flat sound helps create a good instrument balance.  Then, when I play it back with EQ, I'll make adjustments if necessary.  Another 'fly in the ointment', though is that everybody prefers different EQ settings -- so one never really knows for sure what the end product will sound like to each listener.  (Though, it'll never have 'too much' EQ.)  

Here's a question. If I record a MIDI digitally, with bass and treble, and then play it back as a digital WAV/OGG with the same bass/treble settings (all on the one PC with Audigy 2) does it mean the track gets two lots of bass/treble processings? That's what I'm interested in.

That's been my experience with the Audigy.  I don't have that problem with the AWE32, but then maybe the AWE32 doesn't apply any EQ to recordings.  I think Zemus is right about the "What You Hear" settings.  I've pretty much ignored all the Audigy settings because I don't usually use the card for anything important.  When I tried to record my guitar yesterday, I must have had the "What You Hear" thingie enabled or something, but the recording sounded like it was really over processed when I listened to it back -- so I quite and just used my Santa Cruz.  I'm not a very knowledgeable 'Audigy' user; I just needed another sound card for a PC, which is why I have one.  Heck -- I'm still using an AWE32 in one of my PC's.  But for my general recording needs, I think the Santa Cruz rules.

[Maxime]

Hmm... Thanks, I'll try that.
Yes, the noise is constant. Turning the volume knob doesn't change it. Just to make sure, I tried connecting a set of ear phones to the unit, and I still get the same constant buzzing sound.

Same with me. Changing the volume does not affect the volume of that noise I can hear with my MT-32. Again, if your friend finds anything, let us know.

[HondaSiR]

Same with me. Changing the volume does not affect the volume of that noise I can hear with my MT-32. Again, if your friend finds anything, let us know.

If you know someone who has knowledge about electronics, and who has the   equipment, then have him (or her) take a look. It appears that your module (and Ari's) share the same problem. Since both your units still play MIDI files beneath the noise (as mentioned by Laust), chances are good that Roland's proprietary IC chips inside are still OK. Some minor component such as a capacitor may be at fault and they are pretty easy to replace. These are good news if you ask me.  

[Maxime]

Same with me. Changing the volume does not affect the volume of that noise I can hear with my MT-32. Again, if your friend finds anything, let us know.

If you know someone who has knowledge about electronics, and who has the   equipment, then have him (or her) take a look. It appears that your module (and Ari's) share the same problem. Since both your units still play MIDI files beneath the noise (as mentioned by Laust), chances are good that Roland's proprietary IC chips inside are still OK. Some minor component such as a capacitor may be at fault and they are pretty easy to replace. These are good news if you ask me.  

The problem is that I don't know anybody who has the knowledge to see what is wrong with my MT-32  

Otherwise, I'd already have fixed the problem... That's why I'm waiting for some information from Ari

[HondaSiR]

The problem is that I don't know anybody who has the knowledge to see what is wrong with my MT-32  

Otherwise, I'd already have fixed the problem... That's why I'm waiting for some information from Ari

Hmmm, I don't see how you can fix the unit by yourself if you don't have the knowhow and the tools. There are no user serviceable parts inside the MT32. Chances are you will have to use a soldering gun to remove/replace a vital component.  

[Maxime]

Actually, I have the tools, but not the knowledge :wink:
Anyway, any bunch of information is welcome  :lol:

[Ari]

Hmm... That's weird. The MT-32 forum claims this topic hasn't been adressed in the last week, but all the post are here.

Anyway, GOOD NEWS!!! My unit is alive and kicking, and works great.
It was a transformer problem after all. I didn't use a filtered and regulated transformer, so that's where the noise originated from. Now there's no noise whatsoever!!

Yay for me!  

[Tom]

Wonderful news!

[Maxime]

Hmmm... I wonder if it's the same problem for me...
A friend suggested that my noise could come from it, anyway...

By "transformer" you mean the power supply?
I have the original one (ACB-220), what was yours (the noisy one)?
Which model did you use in replacement?

I would not be happy to buy another power adapter if my problem isn't the same as you... I actually tried to switch on the unit for a few seconds with other power supplies ("standard" models anyway, those which came with my other equipment, such as speakers) and the noise was still here...

[Ari]

Yes, I meant the power supply. (We call it a transformer over here, for some odd reason  :wink: )
I'm using a pretty standard one. It's called "EURO power". It's a 500ma 9v AC-DC adaptor which is 100% stabilized and regulated.

[HondaSiR]

It's a 500ma 9v AC-DC adaptor which is 100% stabilized and regulated.

Don't you think you should look for a higher output power supply? The MT32 is set to 650mA input, wouldn't your 500mA be insufficient to power it?

[Maxime]

Yes, I meant the power supply. (We call it a transformer over here, for some odd reason  :wink: )
I'm using a pretty standard one. It's called "EURO power". It's a 500ma 9v AC-DC adaptor which is 100% stabilized and regulated.

I've searched for such adaptor on the internet and I don't know which one to take. I found some 9V / 500ma universal adaptors to be around $5 or $10. Where did you get yours?

Mine is the original Roland ACB-220, which is 9V / 1200ma (according to the sticker?), does it really matters if I take a lower power supply, such as yours which is 500ma, instead of 1200ma?

I suppose that I must not take higher to avoid damaging the unit, but what are the consequences of taking a lower power supply for the MT-32?

And, as I'm French, how to be sure to get a power adaptor which will work with my unit, in my country?

[Kaminari]

What really matters is the exact voltage (9V). The amperage can be anything providing that it meets the minimum requirements: 650 mA for an MT-32, 1200 mA for a CM-500. Underpowering a device makes it prone to strange behaviours like audio/video distorsions (happens a lot with inadequate power supplies used with game consoles), or the device could simply refuse to power on.

Maxime, chances are you're not going to find a real good stabilized PS in your local supermarket. Try Conrad instead and search for "sng 1500" (without the quotes). Great PS, just be very careful with the polarity!

[Ari]

I tried for a 650ma power unit at the electronics shop, but the only other one they had was a humongous 1200ma one, which was overkill IMO. The 500ma seemed to work fine, and I haven't noticed any glitches or anything so far. If it starts misbehaving, I'll get something better.

The name on the unit means nothing special. It's a simple universal power supply and it cost about 11$.

[Maxime]

What really matters is the exact voltage (9V). The amperage can be anything providing that it meets the minimum requirements: 650 mA for an MT-32, 1200 mA for a CM-500. Underpowering a device makes it prone to strange behaviours like audio/video distorsions (happens a lot with inadequate power supplies used with game consoles), or the device could simply refuse to power on.

Thanks for the info. And what if I choose an OVERpowered device for my MT-32? I don't think it really matters because, if you are right, my MT-32 only needs 650 mA, and it was actually shipped with an ACB-220 which seems to be a 1200 mA power adaptor! So...

Maxime, chances are you're not going to find a real good stabilized PS in your local supermarket. Try Conrad instead and search for "sng 1500" (without the quotes). Great PS, just be very careful with the polarity!

Thanks again. If I understood correctly, it's a power supply which adapts itself to the voltage and power requirements of the machine it's connected to? At 1500 mA, It seems to be a "too good" adaptor for my "little" MT-32, and thus, a little more expensive than most "standard" ones.

I don't even know if the noise that produces my MT-32 actually comes from its power adaptor... I suppose that this model is, like Ari said, " filtered and regulated"? So if my noise effectively comes from my damaged power adaptor, it will solve the problem?

Well, even if it doesn't solve it, I think I could reuse it for another device, such as my old Game Gear console which has a dysfunctional power supply

Anyway, I'm waiting to your answer to decide if I buy this adapter

[Alistair]

The adaptor that came with my Roland MT-32 is a Roland AC adaptor, which has a power spec of 9V/500 mA also. Surely it's not 'underpowered'? I've not noticed any problems.

- Alistair

[HondaSiR]

Well for the record, the MT32 originally came with an exact 650mA power supply. Since most of us bought the module second hand, its pretty common for it to come with a different spec adaptor, the original power supply was probably lost by the original owner.

As previously mentioned by Kaminari, what is important is that the adaptor is set to 9V and the correct polarity (which is negative IIRC) and that the mA rating is exact to or higher than 650. If it is lower, the adaptor will run a little hotter than usual and perhaps become a fire hazzard. If the adaptor is higher than 650mA, it is ok because the MT32 will only use the amount that it needs. (learned all this from the other members here in QS when I was a new MT32 owner some years back).

[Tom]

the MT32 originally came with an exact 650mA power supply

Yep.  Both of mine did; one module was purchased directly from Roland, and the other through Sierra.  And both were bundled with "Ease" sequencing software (really sucked), and a MPU-IPC MIDI interface.  Coming up on 20 years, and both modules still work beautifully.

[Maxime]

Well for the record, the MT32 originally came with an exact 650mA power supply. Since most of us bought the module second hand, its pretty common for it to come with a different spec adaptor, the original power supply was probably lost by the original owner.

As previously mentioned by Kaminari, what is important is that the adaptor is set to 9V and the correct polarity (which is negative IIRC) and that the mA rating is exact to or higher than 650. If it is lower, the adaptor will run a little hotter than usual and perhaps become a fire hazzard. If the adaptor is higher than 650mA, it is ok because the MT32 will only use the amount that it needs. (learned all this from the other members here in QS when I was a new MT32 owner some years back).

Thanks a lot for all this info!
Thanks also to Alistair and Tom.
Can somebody confirm me that the polarity is negative?

[HondaSiR]

I just checked my unit, its set at negative polarity.