bankStick x4 brd., keeps formatting... help to debug it

[sineSurfer]

Hi, I built a 4 banksticks pcb (A0, A1,A2,A7) and been trying to make it work with the mbSid V2, when I plug the pcb the core detects it and formats every patch and ensemble, or at least it think it does as I can select all the banks from A to G, obviously this is wrong as it's only 3 regular banksticks plus the ensemble bankstick. And it does the format thing each time I turn the box on.

Already tried any possible combination on the wiring from the core to the pcb without any luck(only the correct wiring makes the core to "format" the banksticks) and it seems like there is no bridge or cold solder to blame so my guess is that I have some pins wrong on the pcb layout but I've failed to find if this is the case,  can anyone help me to verify it?, it's driving me crazy already ;D

thanks!

some hints:

-When this pcb is connected the sound on the default patch is 4 octaves below the correct pitch, so weird :(

-If I plug another pcb(2x, A0-A1) everything works fine again, I can select only 2 banks, the pitch is correct, etc.

i'll post the .sch and .brd files if necessary, here is a screenshot of the pcb:

[stryd_one]

PCB looks good to me mate..

When you tried the other board, where was the wiring change? Did you use sockets there too, or re-solder?

I don't suppose you've tried those two known-good IC's in this new PCB? I assume you used sockets, so it should be quick to swap them over. If that works, add one chip at a time until it breaks, and you've found a dead chip.

[Sebo]

Hi:

I had a similar problem with my MB64, check this post:

http://www.midibox.org/forum/index.php/topic,8663.msg60795.html#msg60795

not exactly the same problem, but may be put you in the right direction.

[sineSurfer]

Hi s1 and Sebo!

PCB looks good to me mate..

ok, so far: good pcb 3 votes(4 including me :D), bad pcb 0 votes.

When you tried the other board, where was the wiring change? Did you use sockets there too, or re-solder?

for both boards I'm using sockets on the chips and pin headers with dil connectors for the cable, but different cables. As the first board its made on veroboard it ended up with a funny wiring so I had to build a new one for the last pcb.

I don't suppose you've tried those two known-good IC's in this new PCB? I assume you used sockets, so it should be quick to swap them over. If that works, add one chip at a time until it breaks, and you've found a dead chip.

forgot to tell but that's the first thing I did, plugging the 2 good chips on the new pcb 1 as A0 and the other as A7... also each one on A0, then on A7(just 1 chip at a time on the board) the 2 good chips keep working just fine on the older board and aren't formatted as the core says, old presets are still there and I can modify and save them, etc..

after a lot of chip swaps from one board to the other I tried too with another set of chips, this time every socket is populated... same results and so far I have made 3 different cables just to rule out a bad wire:(

Sebo: i'll check that too but it's long shot as the older pcb works just fine :(

a picture of the pcb:

[stryd_one]

*stumped*

Board looks good, known-good IC's working OK... Now, I would put the IC's (the good ones) in the sockets, disconnect the board from the core, and test all the points on the board with your meter to check for bad or shorted joints, measuring from the pins on the IC to the copper trace... soldering looks OK from here, so I'm wondering if the sockets are to blame.

[TK.]

Are you using Atmel or Microchip EEPROMs?

Best Regards, Thorsten.

[sineSurfer]

Hi TK!, microchip eeproms. all of them.