Damaged buttons on Evolver Desktop after attempt at repair

[F_Lopo]

Hi everyone,

I've had an Evolver for about 9 years and I love it dearly.
I bought it used from the UK (I'm from Lisbon - Portugal) and it came with slightly unresposive buttons but still usable.
A few months ago it started to become impossible to use to I decided to replace all the switches.
I thought it would be simple so I didn't bother to research anything online.
If I had, I'd have read the excellent advice given elsewhere on this forum about pressing the buttons harder a few times until they work correctly again, and wouldn't have attempted to replace them.
I dessoldered the old switches and soldered new ones.
Some work, some don't.
Sequencer - 2 - 3 - Shift - Start/Stop and Reset work.
Main - 1 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 don't.
On top of that, after a few seconds of operation, something is triggered and the LCD displays the number 4 and then starts a countdown to 1. Then it loops to 4-3-2-1 again. Pressing the buttons that are still working doesn't do anything.
I'm not sure if it's an error/diagnostics message or some other mode I haven't used before.
I'm afraid I might have damaged something irreparably like the board.
I'd please like some advice or info.
Thanks in advance

Frederico

[Soundquest]

I wonder if the soundtower PEK editor could be used to control your unit in a pinch? (that is if its truly just a switch defect).  Though, it sounds like enough bad stuff is happening on it now that its probably the board.

[F_Lopo]

I wonder if the soundtower PEK editor could be used to control your unit in a pinch? (that is if its truly just a switch defect).  Though, it sounds like enough bad stuff is happening on it now that its probably the board.

Hi @Soundcloud

Thanks for your input. It's actually a very good idea.
I thought that I could program it via SySex.

The only problem is that the synth is kind of unusable right now.
I can get it to respond to MIDI and make sound, but after a few seconds it crashes / resets to that 4-3-2-1 counter.
I tested with a sequence and it responds to notes and CC, but then there's an audible crack and the 'clip' LED lights up after the first 4-3-2-1 sequence. Then it keeps looping forever.

If it wasn't for that, using an editor instead of buttons would be fine and not mess with my workflow too much.

Thanks again

[Soundquest]

Sorry to hear that happened.  I have one of the PEK's with the faulty encoders, so I replace two of the bad acting ones myself with a soldering iron.  It wasn't a pretty job by me, but the replacement pots worked fine when I got done.   Talk to service department and see if this is worth fixing.  Unlike the racks and keyboard ones, there still a lot of table models out there.   

[gus]

Hi everyone,

I've had an Evolver for about 9 years and I love it dearly.
I bought it used from the UK (I'm from Lisbon - Portugal) and it came with slightly unresposive buttons but still usable.
A few months ago it started to become impossible to use to I decided to replace all the switches.
I thought it would be simple so I didn't bother to research anything online.
If I had, I'd have read the excellent advice given elsewhere on this forum about pressing the buttons harder a few times until they work correctly again, and wouldn't have attempted to replace them.
I dessoldered the old switches and soldered new ones.
Some work, some don't.
Sequencer - 2 - 3 - Shift - Start/Stop and Reset work.
Main - 1 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 don't.
On top of that, after a few seconds of operation, something is triggered and the LCD displays the number 4 and then starts a countdown to 1. Then it loops to 4-3-2-1 again. Pressing the buttons that are still working doesn't do anything.
I'm not sure if it's an error/diagnostics message or some other mode I haven't used before.
I'm afraid I might have damaged something irreparably like the board.
I'd please like some advice or info.
Thanks in advance

Frederico

Sorry to hear about this! I would strongly recommend bringing the synth in to a qualified local technician (a synth tech, ideally). They can remove all of the replaced switches and clean the areas then assess any damage. The part for the replacement switch is TL1105SP-F160Q. The countdown sounds like calibration, which is run by holding Row 1 button, then pressing Row 5 button.