exxos's Atari, Amiga & retro forum

Hello! This is my first post on the forums, I hope this is the correct sub forum for this topic.

I have two Falcon 030 and I'm looking for advice and opinions on the modifications carried out mostly on the Rev B to decide which one to keep as I'm looking to use a 030 in a home studio environment with Cubase Score 2r6 with a Steinberg SMP II Midi/Clock unit.

The Rev B is much faster in loading Cubase than the Rev D/C. They both have 14MB of similar memory (Centram Centek).

All non loop back tests with an exxos diag cart rev9c pass on both units, the max THD in analog audio is lower on the rev B at 92.82% versus 94.75% on the rev D/C.

The psu on the rev D/C has been recapped and sends 5v and 11.4v. The one on the rev B hasn't been recapped and sends 4.9v and 11.5, electroliticals tested good with an ESR meter.

It seems some of the mods on the rev B are inspired from the C-Lab 030 version, behind the audio inputs. No idea what U63 patch is yet.

I'm planning a recap of the motherboard too.

I'm trying to make one of the units fast and stable for use with Cubase (sequencing only but Cubase Audio maybe in the future) and trackers. The SMP II midi clock is connected to the printer port.

Thanks!


exxos edit:

RevD/C

Rev B

Two! Well that's just plain greedy :)

I just couldn't pass on them at the prices they were sold! The rev B was bought only because it came with the SMP II and many accessories :D

U63 patch is a standard Falcon clock patch. It's generally a requirement for 99% of Falcons to get crackle-free audio and scsi operability.

I would fit a more modern clock patch (Exxos sells them in his store) to your rev D and then compare the performance again. Cubase loading more slowly on the rev D might be indicative of it needing a clock patch.

Hard to tell from the photos, looks like the C/D has a Crystal CODEC, supposed to be better then others Atari used.
Very very clean boards. Impressive :)

Could you take a better picture of the B's serial number please?

@Rustynutt I thought all Falcons had the same crystal codec? I've worked on a lot of different Falcons, including Clab, and they have been the same as far as I remember.

edit: I did read once that Clab carefully 'selected' better performing crystal codecs than the usual. But I always just thought this was marketing drivel.

Yes, I've read where CLAB hand selected them. The MKX here looks to jave been a replacement job. I have a couple here with different CODECS, would have to look to see what they actually are.

More pictures of the rev B with better lighting

EDIT: I (Icky) have removed the zip and placed images in-line to aid forum users to view

Thanks! Are you sure the rev.B isn't a C-Lab MK2/MKX Falcon? The board revision and serial number would imply that.