No sound output from LAPC-I

[Cloudschatze]

It would now truly appear that I am the owner of a non-working LAPC-I...

Did you try anything I'd mentioned above? If you want to send the LAPC-I my way, I can troubleshoot it for you.

[Death Adder]

Can you go into your PC's BIOS and reserve IRQs? You could set 2 and/or 9 to "LEGACY/ISA"-- at least, that's how it often works.

No, I can't do that through either of my ISA-compatible systems.

I am very sorry to hear that, yours is a cool site too.  Keep on the lookout for a replacement of some kind.

Thanks, I appreciate that. Is a replacement really so necessary, if I never get the LAPC-I working? As I said before, my MT-32 works like a charm, and I only really got the LAPC-I out of laziness. Funny thing is, the whole process trying to get the LAPC-I working consisted of anything but idleness! How ironic.

I basically wish to make good-quality recordings of some of my favorite MT-32 soundtracks, for later listening. From what I've read here, it seems that either the CM-32L or the MT-32 itself are the most often recommended, as far as recording goes - but it seems the LAPC-I is boo'd just because it's an ISA card, which I don't mind (and actually prefer - if I'm going to use retro hardware for retro games I'm most comfortable using it in a retro system).

Did you try anything I'd mentioned above?

I ran the commands in debug, as you know, and I also tried to remove & re-seat the one socketed EPROM. As for the tests with a multimeter, I'm not comfortable doing those because I'm generally not confident around hardware and electronics.

If you want to send the LAPC-I my way, I can troubleshoot it for you.

I'm (understandably) a bit nervous to do that, but at this point I don't have the possibility of a refund from the guy I bought it from, and I am not comfortable attempting to re-sell the card knowing that it may be malfunctioning or broken. That's certainly a nice offer - but if you don't mind, what assurances do I have?

[Great Hierophant]

I'm (understandably) a bit nervous to do that, but at this point I don't have the possibility of a refund from the guy I bought it from, and I am not comfortable attempting to re-sell the card knowing that it may be malfunctioning or broken. That's certainly a nice offer - but if you don't mind, what assurances do I have?

You can have mine that Cloud will not try to steal your LAPC-I.  He and I have had dealings with an LAPC-I before and we was a great help and has been an asset to the community, going above and beyond for years.

[mace]

I basically wish to make good-quality recordings of some of my favorite MT-32 soundtracks, for later listening. From what I've read here, it seems that either the CM-32L or the MT-32 itself are the most often recommended, as far as recording goes - but it seems the LAPC-I is boo'd just because it's an ISA card, which I don't mind (and actually prefer - if I'm going to use retro hardware for retro games I'm most comfortable using it in a retro system).

The reason for this is interference. Alot of noise is picked up inside a computer, either through the ISA bus or by direct interference.
Harddrives, power supplies and other cards are usually a source of interference.

Oftentimes you can hear the little beeps and boops of a mouse when you are moving it around.

A external unit is much better because it's electrically shielded by itself, reducing interference.
Also, a MIDI device has optoisolated inputs, meaning that there is no galvanic connection with the computer, and this greatly reduces the chances of interference and ground loops (hum) occurring.

[Caliburn]

I'm (understandably) a bit nervous to do that, but at this point I don't have the possibility of a refund from the guy I bought it from, and I am not comfortable attempting to re-sell the card knowing that it may be malfunctioning or broken. That's certainly a nice offer - but if you don't mind, what assurances do I have?

Cloud is pretty much the patron saint of Quest Studios.*  He has done this kind of thing before**, as Great Hierophant attests, and to the best of my knowledge, has always returned everything.  As for assurances, well, I guess he'd lose his patron saint status if he ever went crazy and diverged from this trend of returning items...  He has also done things like donated rare Roland CM-500s to Quest Studios for contest prizes, so although I'm pretty sure he does this out of an unusual generosity rather than extraordinary wealth, I still don't imagine that he needs to swipe LAPC-Is away from unsuspecting forum members.

It's an understandable question, though, and kudos to you for asking it as politely as possible.

* What about Tom, our benevolent provider, you ask?  Well, he's God, obviously.

**Another long-time member, Laust, has done something similar, trading his own working MT-32 for another member's non-working one so that he could repair it.  We just have cool members like that.  I've run out of nifty titles for Laust though.  Hmm . . . the Bishop of Daventry?

-Luke

[Laust]

I think my contributions here pale compared to the likes of Cloudschatze

The unit I swapped with Maxime had working, but distorted sound, which is why I gambled it was fixable (and indeed it turned out to be). The total lack of sound on the LAPC-I in this thread is somewhat disconcerting. Any futher diagnosing really requires a more hands on approach, and some electronics equipment.

In any case, I can also vouch for Cloudschatze, he's one of the most generous and selfless people I have met online.

[glendower]

And his avatar is awesome!

[Cloudschatze]

Thanks, guys...  I think.

[mace]

I guess you're pretty poplular Eric.

Don't let it get to your head. 

[Cloudschatze]

(I'm making this public in case anyone else is interested.)

Brandon's card arrived today. Sure enough, there was no audio output. A physical inspection of the card revealed that the pins for the LA32 chip had been "mooshed," in two places, causing shorts. I separated the pins, tested again, et voila ~ beautiful music!

I'm actually kind-of disappointed. Not only did I not really have to diagnose anything, but I'd been all ready to rig something up, MIDI-wise, in order to receive a version check from the LA32. Ah, well... 

[mace]

Another one saved from a life in the thrash!

[Death Adder]

Thanks again, Eric - and thanks to the rest of you, too!

It's actually very stunning to find a modern-day internet forum where people are actually positive, upbeat and generally open and interested to helping each other out, even if they are 'new'. I guess I'm just so used to the usual scene, wherein everyone's got an agenda, an unrelated comment or, just plain simply, a big mouth and an ego to match.

Seeing my LAPC-I returned to me in working shape will be a great feeling, especially considering the hideous price I paid for it - and it will be a worthy companion to my all-time favorite: the AdLib card. But it's also great to know that a community like this exists, so if I have some recordings to share or some questions to ask, they'll be treated with interest and respect.

[BlueMax]

I'm awed by your skills in electronics....   wow.

Repairing electronics is a seriously lost art in our day of "just toss and replace."

nice job!

[Nagra]

I'm awed by your skills in electronics....   wow.

Repairing electronics is a seriously lost art in our day of "just toss and replace."

nice job!

Um, now I feel really really ashamed, that I tossed my LAPC-I back in 1996 or so, when it had a short circuit due to contact with the metal wall of the pc midi tower while turning the rig to the side. Somehow I did not use the cards "plastic holding" at the end of it, so it was unfortunately able to swing down and get in contact with the pc housing. Hope you can understand what I mean.
Somehow in those times it was absolutely clear to me, that no one could fix it. To me the card was just gone, so I put it in the electronic trash. How sad. Today I use a cm-32 L instead of it.

joe

[Death Adder]

Received back in the mail and... working properly!!

The wonderous sounds of MT-32 are mine again, and this time, without the whole hassle of the box!

[Caliburn]

Glad to hear it!

[Salient]

Seeing my LAPC-I returned to me in working shape will be a great feeling, especially considering the hideous price I paid for it

What will be a normal (read: mainstream) price for an LAPC-I, i'm still looking for one too for the same reasons

[Rhizome]

What will be a normal (read: mainstream) price for an LAPC-I, i'm still looking for one too for the same reasons

Here in the UK, they're usually sold on eBay for around £150-200 - yes, that ridiculously high. It's cheaper (and probably better in the long-run) to purchase the external Roland CM-32L, which usually end up at around £30-40.

[Salient]

What will be a normal (read: mainstream) price for an LAPC-I, i'm still looking for one too for the same reasons

Here in the UK, they're usually sold on eBay for around £150-200 - yes, that ridiculously high. It's cheaper (and probably better in the long-run) to purchase the external Roland CM-32L, which usually end up at around £30-40.

True, but it's the feeling of having an old ISA card in your possession And ofcourse without the 'hassle' of external boxes, power supplies and cables (although i modded my mt-32's so they have internal power supplies now).

[mace]

True, but it's the feeling of having an old ISA card in your possession And ofcourse without the 'hassle' of external boxes, power supplies and cables (although i modded my mt-32's so they have internal power supplies now).

I prefer external modules because:
A) They are easily reset, whereas with a LAPC-I you have to reset the PC or load a sysex.
B) An external module has less tendency to get interference, whereas a ISA card is easily interfered, just think of the infamous mouse chirps.

Also, an internal power supply sounds cool, but I prefer external ones since it is a source of magnetic and electrical interference.