New G2 - should I worry about this? (return still possible).

[Seven seas]

Hello - having postponed my "actual physical modular" scheme for the moment and having bought a new G2 (three octave keyboard version) I wonder if anyone would be kind enough to consider a couple of things I've noticed about it just in case I need to return it. (Best done as soon as possible, obviously).

Having read the various threads on the subject and thought it all through I managed to get the USB driver installed and working, the editor working -all up and running, basically.

But- first time round I hadn't got it plugged into an amp, what with concentrating on the USB aspect so I turned everything off for a bit (computer first, then G2) then left it for a while (half hour or so, while I did something else) then plugged it into the amp - set of reasonable quality powered computer speakers actually and turned the amp/ speakers on. As the power was still off at the wall at this point all I got was a little "pop" and a quick glimpse of the amp light which disappeared as you would expect.

So - I gave it a few minutes (being excessively cautious about turning things off and on again too quickly), turned on my decent quality uninterruptible power supply, into which everything is plugged, and turned the amp on followed by the G2.

So - first bit of weirdness. ALL the LEDs round the dials came on and stayed on. I think they normally just flash on like that momentarily then the routine continues. This time the routine stopped at that point, it would seem. Before long it became obvious that something was wrong so I turned the G2 off. Gave it a few more minutes, tried again - everything fine again! Great.

I've tried it a couple more times since then - still alright.

But...the displays on the G2 seem a bit low in contrast. Normally I wouldn't fret too much but being at the stage I am at with this thing, I'm thinking to myself "were they like that before the dodgy start-up business??". I think the displays were probably like that all along..... but I'm not sure. You see, the displays just seem not quite right. They're perfectly readable in bright or dim light but I can see the "blockiness" behind the characters a bit too much and there's a bit too much grey compared to green in those little green screens. Does that make sense?

I wonder, has anyone else found this? I've looked for some way to adjust the contrast - nothing so far.

As I say - they're perfectly readable but theyre' certainly less contrast-y than most of my other gear.

If anyone could help I'd be grateful, very grateful as I want to nail this down at the first possible opportunity.

Many thanks for getting this far in this long, long tale.

'bye for now.

[ian-s]

Your description of the displays matches my unit quite well.

I don't think I have ever had a lockup on power on as you described.

I sometimes get extended freezes (up to 5 seconds) when doing a patch load, specially with complex prf2 files.

cheers

[Seven seas]

Hello again - I did try to reply last night G2Ian, thanking you for your response but for some reason my post didn't appear. Not quite sure why but I was wholly exhausted so perhaps I clicked in the wrong place.

I'm reassured to a point but I'm still a little curious about the boot-up thing - if it doesn't do it again I'll let it go I think, and hope that isn't a duff decision.

If anyone else has an opinion I'd be very grateful. (Or if anyone knows how to adjust the contrast).

Thanks very much - sorry to be pushy but time is of the essence as I'm sure people can appreciate.
'bye.

[Seven seas]

And another thing........again, not earth shattering but noticeable.

The knob that you use to scroll through the modules (i.e. up and left a bit from the wooden pitch bend device thingy) has a fair bit of sideways play. It's impossible to say wether it's the plastic knob moving on the shaft (although that would be my guess) or the whole mechanism itself moving.

Not a huge problem, but it would be nice if it didn't do it. Anyone else noticed it, or able to say "mine doesn't do that"?

Thanks again. I love it apart from these minor little niggles so I'd like to get it all sorted and get on with the main event.

'bye for now.

[blue hell]

Maybe it's the same rotary encoder as the NM Classic has? If so ... that one has some sideways mobility, a few mm I'd say, that's normal.

The encoder can be easily broken BTW by pushing the knob inwards with some force, which could happen during transport. And don't worry, when this would have happened to your G2 you'd know, it would not be working anymore, or erratic at best.

[Seven seas]

Thanks very much - I'll be careful not to inflict that injury upon my new baby.

You haven't any opinion on the contrast of the displays, I suppose? I take it you are a Classic owner? I wondered if this might found in lots of Nords, not just the G2?

Thanks again.

[blue hell]

The G2 LCDs are smaller ones I think?

Anyway on the Classic it is possible to see darkish blocks as well depending on the angle of view. It will vary from device to device (and with temperature as well) as no contrast setting pot is used. I'd not worry as long as you don't see a difference between different areas of the same LCD (and as long as it's readable of course).

And on my G2s I don't have the luxury of displays

[Seven seas]

Hello again - once again I offer up a post and it doesn't appear. Ah well.... to businesss. That's reassuring, thanks. I dos ee some blockiness even when I'm looking straight at the display but that's bearable.

They look pretty consistent - meaning each LCD is pretty uniform in it's contrast, apart from the ends being brighter, of course, due to being lit from there! (Seems like sense, doesn't it??)

'Bye for now then. (Let's see if this message gets through)

[blue hell]

[Seven seas]

Hello again

I think that due to tiredness and stressed-ness the last few days it is more likely to be me doing something wrong that is causing me problems with getting my messages through.

I'll try to be a bit more scientific about it - taking care to remember just what happened, starting with this very message!

'bye.

[dasz]

both of my expanded g2 keybaords exhibit the same behavior on the LCD corners, but that is not an issue for me.

I have no problem booting up my twins.

The Nord be with you, and also with you.
/Dasz

[Seven seas]

Hello Dasz - when you refer to the LCD corners do you mean they are lighter there than the rest of the LCD? I mean - mine ARE like that but I'd expect that, you know. It's the fact the rest of the LCD is quite grey in comparison to those on other pieces of equipment that I have owned and used which concerns me a little. Is that something that you find familiar at all?

Usually I find that the writing is grey, the background is green and that's that. This time there's too much grey IN the background green!

It's quite usable for me but I want to get a unit in the best shape possible, as they're intended to be.

Thanks a lot.

[mother misty]

Hi seven seas.

A photograph might be handy?
(see attachment, this is how my display looks like)

I had a similar problem like yours when i bought my G2
The main LCD looked pretty gray, after 1 houre it looked even more gray with a (almost) black spot! I opened my G2 and there was a cable hitting the LCD causing overheating the LCD screen)

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[Seven seas]

Hello Mother Misty and anyone else still here!

Actually, worryingly, my screens are quite like your picture. It's ALL the screens on mine.

You're right about the picture of course - I'll get onto it but for the time being I'll just say that:-

a) I don't find that anything changes with the passing of time - they're like that from turning the G2 on until I turn it off. The temperature in this room is fairly constant. No black spots I'm very glad to say.

b) yours looks a bit lighter around 10% of the way along (starting at the left, of course). I think mine are consistent, not patchy.

Having said that - yours does look pretty close to what I'm talking about. Particularly the grey blocks.

What did you do with yours? Did you fix it just by moving the wire?

I don't want to open mine up, because of the warranty. Then again, I really don't want to send it back because it's a big hassle at a bad time.

I'm a bit concerned that my screens are like that - if it was related to excess temperature then that would kind of imply that the heat problem was in quite a large area of the G2. It does get a bit warm at the back - all the way along, not just by the power supply, but I wouldn't think it at all excessive.

I'll try to get the photo done, but it's trickier than you might imagine.

Any help gratefully received as always.

Good night, good people.

[Seven seas]

Mother Misty - one more thing, please.

When, exactly, was that picture taken? Before mending the G2 or after? How long after it had been turned on?

Thanks again.

[Fozzie]

Seven seas: I think MM's photograph shows a normal G2 display, not the problematic one he had. At least on my G2 it is normal that the gray blocks are (very slightly) visible. It also depends a little on the viewing angle. I think you're fine as long as you don't have any dark spots (what MM described).

[mother misty]

[mother misty]

[Seven seas]

Hello - I don't really know if this picture is worth the effort but I'll give it a go. The camera is too good for me - it needs a competent operator but there's no-one around today so I've given it a try. Also, it looks very different on different computer monitors and not very realistic really - but it might be useful, so here goes....

If you look at the screen on the left you'll get something approaching an idea of what's going on. The picture makes the background look a little closer to the colour of the characters but it's something like. Also, the picture is very washed out as a result of my feeble efforts to get it looking a bit more like the real thing. All my screens have a similar look - I'll try again in the next couple of days - see if I can get a decent picture but for the time being that'll have to do. It is - just - better than nothing!

Any comments much appreciated.

Good night, very tired, I'll be back..............

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[Ivity]

One of my LCDs on new G2 is slightly darker than other. No black spots.
What do you think?

[mosc]

Seven, sounds and looks like you have a perfectly normal looking G2. The wobble in the knob is normal too, IMHO.

Sometimes after mine has been on for 3 or 4 days, it stops making sounds. I have to power cycle it. Not a big deal.

Ivity, sounds like you might have a bad LCD display on your new G2, or something isn't plugged in all the way.

[Seven seas]

Thanksvery much Howard, that's good to know.

Commiserations Ivity, if something is amiss.

Goodnight

[Ivity]

[kara]

No, it is certainly not normal for Clavia synth's.
I have a G2X, it came in perfect shape and after a year it still is.
No problem what so ever with LCD displays, knobs or anything...

k

[Ivity]

Well, here is the photo of my G2 with a bit darker LCD, what do you say?

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