Cables and Backups

Information supplied by Wilson Brown

Here are some simple troubleshooting techniques that can help you at the gig when you're supposed to go on in 2 minutes, and you can't get any sounds.

Know your system, run through your mind how to "divide and conquer".

Try to have the Zendrum power supply and merge box are secured and easily accessible. Keep a spare power supply, merge box and a couple of spare Midi cables in your bag.

Every week or so, check cables and connections, etc. and keep a bag of spare cables; different lengths, with an assortment of quarter inch phone, RCA, xlr jacks and plugs.

When you encounter a performance problem, "Work your way back" from Zendrum to the rack:

1. Check Midi channel assignments at Zendrum and Modules. Verify connections are secure, recycle power from rack.

2. Swap Midi cable between merge box and Zendrum.

3. Check or swap midi cable from merge box to Tone Module.

4. Swap Merge Box and Power supply.

Some thoughts:

Always factor in the weather: If it's been freezing, cables kept in the car can be brittle, extreme cold will affect your electronics, give your equipment time to warm up.

Make sure the "House Power" is good. Yeah I know, you should have a power conditioner or surge protector. Make sure when you buy your midi cables, they are active on "all pins". I recommend a backup merge box and power supply.

If you have a tone module with trigger inputs, like Alesis and Roland, bring spare triggers...Either the pads or acoustic "Stick On" triggers. I have a couple of the cheap pin tech triggers in my bag; I can stick them anywhere with double back tape, and get a minimum "Kick-Snare-Hat" in a pinch.

Bring a tambourine, egg shakers, or maracas. If all else fails, you can go "no techno". Recently, a midi cable went bad during the solo section of "Not Fade Away". I finished the song with a Tambourine, and acted like it was no big deal. I replaced the cable, then I gave the tambourine to a stunning young lady on the dance floor. Know your Options!!!

To test MIDI cables, there are multi cable testers like the HCT-BD Big Detective, from Horizon that is marketed as "The Ultimate Cable Tester". I've seen it for $100 and that's a pretty good deal, when you realize that it can test all sorts of cables and combinations, including MIDI.

I have a nice Fluke multi meter, but from Radio Shack you can get a cheap multi meter that can test ohms, AC and DC voltage, and amps. When you set a meter to Ohms metering, you can test for opens and shorts in a cable. Set the meter to ohms, in the X's 10 range. The meter will display a 1.00 or infinite resistance. Touch the test leads together, to create a "short", and the meter goes to Zero. (Zero resistance)

Hold both ends of the cable, orient the pins so they are facing you, and one at a time, touch each pin (at each end) with the test leads. I.E. Pin 1 to pin 1, pin 2 to pin2, etc. This can be a little clumsy, but you'll get the hang of it. When you successfully touch pin 1 at the "A" end with the black lead, to pin 1 of the "B" end with the red lead, the meter should display a 0.000 (if it's a digital meter) or the VU meter will go to Zero if it's an analog meter.

If you touch pin to pin, and there is no change, in other words, the meter remains at 1.00, you've got an "open", or no signal. What's great about cable testers is that it frees up your hands to shake a cable and see where the weakness is. With a meter using test leads, it is difficult, so you might want someone else to "Shake your cable".

Molded ends are impossible to repair. When you deal with Midi "data" cable, it is difficult to justify spending time repairing a midi cable when you can pick up another one (or two) for reasonably short money.