Cartridge port shenanigans

[richard.faulkner]

IMG_20200430_201949[1].jpg

IMG_20200430_202014[1].jpg

No Smoke!!!! :D

[rubber_jonnie]

Splendid

[richard.faulkner]

Well got the cartridge port seeing this...

IMG_20200501_2654.jpg

Next we try this ( very difficult to get working on the stfm... Very intermittent..

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[richard.faulkner]

No luck with the midex - it has power and cycles through it's cartridge slots, but claims to find no key in cubase. It has worked a few times on the stfm, so looks likely the connector is really finnicky on the midex.

To my mind the easy solution would be a short extension cable that plus into the cartridge port . Is anything like this available?

Thanks,

Rich

[exxos]

Have you just tried lifting the cartridge up at a angle and seeing if it improves matters or not ? If things have been constantly plugged and unplugged from the cartridge port, other than bad contacts, it may be worth re-soldering the cartridge port and see if that helps.

[JezC]

To my mind the easy solution would be a short extension cable that plus into the cartridge port . Is anything like this available?

There certainly used to be - and I bought one (probably in the late 80s/early 90s).

I will try and find an excuse to escape into the garage at some point over the weekend & see if I can find the details.

Of course, putting an IDC cable in there will probably add quite a lot of capacitance & may make it not work for that reason alone!

Will report back when I find it - but don't hold your breath!

[rubber_jonnie]

The other thing here is that the springs in the cartridge port may just be dirty and lacking springiness.

I'd suggest tweaking the contacts on the ST a bit so they are more grippy, and possibly spray with electrolube or deoxit. Clean the midiex contacts with IPA or wipe with electroloube or deoxit.

I'd check the cart port socket soldering too.

[richard.faulkner]

Have you just tried lifting the cartridge up at a angle and seeing if it improves matters or not ? If things have been constantly plugged and unplugged from the cartridge port, other than bad contacts, it may be worth re-soldering the cartridge port and see if that helps.

Hi yes I've tried every angle I can. The unitor responds to this but the midex doesn't seem to.

[richard.faulkner]

There certainly used to be - and I bought one (probably in the late 80s/early 90s).

I will try and find an excuse to escape into the garage at some point over the weekend & see if I can find the details.

Of course, putting an IDC cable in there will probably add quite a lot of capacitance & may make it not work for that reason alone!

Will report back when I find it - but don't hold your breath!

That would be great! Even if I know what it was called so I could put a watch on eBay that would be great. The midex has a few extra ports which will come in handy.

[richard.faulkner]

The other thing here is that the springs in the cartridge port may just be dirty and lacking springiness.

I'd suggest tweaking the contacts on the ST a bit so they are more grippy, and possibly spray with electrolube or deoxit. Clean the midiex contacts with IPA or wipe with electroloube or deoxit.

I'd check the cart port socket soldering too.

I've been using a piece of card with IPA on it (not the beer).

I could try the springing of the pins. I'm assuming on the solder front that is the unitor works then the pins must all have a reasonable connection?