i am getting a jitter when adjusting the gains on the channel EQs when using the dedicated rotary encoders. especially noticeable when trying to cut or boost quickly. the display shows the boost/cut happening (trying to happen) but keeps jittering back to the previous value. slow adjustment seems to be the only way to actually achieve the cut/boost required-however its often the case that i am trying to adjust the gains quickly in a live situation and its getting quite frustrating. i have resorted to adjusting EQs on ipad mixer as a work around to working quickly (does not replicate the problem) but would be nice to focus on either the desk or the app at once. anyone else experiencing the same problem?
I Stylos,
as Alex says it’s very likely and unfortunately a hardware problem, I’m also concerned by this issue (for now on 2 knobs : main parameters rotary and EQ gain knob) and I know at least one other person involved by this issue and issue was solved by a parts remplacement.
Today my SQ is going back in repair.
thanks for the responses, it does appear to be specific to the EQ gain knob - if i select the gain for use with the main parameters rotary it functions as expected.
Alex @ A&H - i have taken a short video to demonstrate and will email the link to video once i have uploaded to youtube
This does seem to be what I thought it was and I’m sorry to say it is almost definitely a hardware issue. Please contact your local distributor so that this can be fixed as soon as possible for you. You can find their details here: https://www.allen-heath.com/where-to-buy/
While reading you I think there is a defective batch of knobs and that it appears on those which are handled often such as the Gain eq, main parameters…
Let’s hope that all knobs on the same SQ will not fail as they are used. Otherwise it promises several returns for the same issue.
Let’s stay tuned.
Interesting. I’m having the same problem with about a half dozen knobs… Just hit them with some deoxit and will reassemble tomorrow. I’ll report back if cleaning the encoders works.
So, FYI:
Cleaning out the encoders, and cleaning the contacts for the soft switches did fix my problem. However, I will warn, this is not an endeavor for the faint of heart. It is not just one or two boards that have to come out, its almost the entire board assemblies. Everything but the input board comes out, and then there are two “add on” boards (for what Im assuming is the 24, and the add ons are for the 32). The cleaning process is simple however, and after reassembling, the board works great!
“Interesting. I’m having the same problem with about a half dozen knobs… Just hit them with some deoxit and will reassemble tomorrow. I’ll report back if cleaning the encoders works. ?”
I notice that the majority of people have problems with the knobs on the right side of the screen. These are probably the most used with the preamp knob but…
If what Dizzy-Dale said remains valid in time (only cleaning needed), would the forced cooling airflow not bring dust in these potentiometers ?
Personally my mixer is gone to be repaired (exchange of 2 knobs) to maintain the warranty…
Themaxx: Standard Deoxit gold
Flo84: Mine were all on the left side of the screen, eq knobs, etc. Personally, I’ve never had a product that lasted in a live/production environment that DIDNT need the faders or pots cleaned at least once in its life cycle. I think more manufacturers need to remember this when designing, honestly Cooling will force more air over components, yes, but it doesnt necessarily add dust… If anything, if the airflow is directly across them, then the airflow actually inhibits dust growth.
Maxdrums: I am confident at least that my board was not a firmware update. I should have taken pictures, but there was lots of oxidation on the contacts for the soft buttons, and I could “feel” the dirt and buildup inside the encoders.
I would have thought that you would have used the F5 Fader version, the only one to the best of my knowledge that is to be used on non-metallic contacts. Unless you know that the Pots are metal contact surfaces. I thought most pots nowadays are plastic contact surfaces. Are the pots almost sealed? I say almost because most have a little hole that one can spray into directly. On some the spray will seep down the shaft of the pot.
Dizzy-Dale : I agree, we should not need to do this especially quickly. It was just a reflection
I also think this isn’t due to an firmware update (it was my first thought too) : I know someone who has tested to re-install a previous version without changing the failure. I also that the breakdown was progressive.
Attached picture is knob remplacement part for my SQ.
We’re very sorry some of you have experienced an issue with the rotary encoders, it is something we picked up on in production (as every unit is thoroughly tested before being shipped), so whilst we have already made the changes to correct this, there are a few units which passed test, but developed this ‘jitter’ behaviour later.
If you do have a problem with your SQ, please contact your local distributor or ourselves immediately. When it comes to a hardware issue like this, your distributor will be able to sort everything out, without affecting your warranty.
As Flo84 suggests, any servicing or repair that is carried out by anyone other than a distributor or authorised service engineer will void the warranty.
Thanks
concerning my issue: knobs was replaced and issue is solved
For give a feeback, I don’t know what’s the problem you have noticed in production but for my mixer technician sayed me when he opened it he realized that the grease of many potentiometers had flowed on the cards.
Of course it has always been used in normal conditions (and not touring condition)
