Nord Wave 2 LED bug / error

[mattrobertson]

Hi all!
Im not sure when this started happening, but I've noticed that in 2 areas of the Wave 2, my LEDS are not behaving as I think they should.
In the LFO section, the OSC CNTRL is always on dull, even when the LFO is not routed anywhere, and then when I assign it, it comes on bright.
IN the OSC section, the ANALOG LED never comes on, even if you cycle through all the options. It makes it a little tricky to understand the status sometimes! I updated to the latest OS 1.24 and this happens on INIT patches.
Any ideas? Does this happen for anyone else?
Many thanks!

Matt

[pterm]

Hi Matt,
I believe Nord's use a matrix controller to driver their front panel LEDs. The LEDs sit at the intersections of 8 x 8 control signal lines. This allows control of up to 64 LEDs using only 16 control signals. If there's a circuit error (e.g., a failed LED), it can disrupt normal behaviour for other LEDs connected to that line.
I suspect that the LED that no longer functions failed short-circuit and shares a Line with your OSC CNTRL LED causing its misbehaviour.

It likely needs repair. If you attempt to open your Wave 2 yourself, remember it's winter in Canada making static electricity a greater hazard to electronics. Always discharge yourself (touch the metal chassis/case of the Nord) before you touch any electronics.

Good luck!

[mattrobertson]

@pterm, wow thanks thats ingenious thinking and sounds very plausible to me.

I will take it apart and see how easy it is to get to those leds.

Thank you!

[pterm]

Hi Matt,
If you need assistance diagnosing or repairing, post your questions/photos here or send me a PM.
To diagnose, I suggest you at least have a multimeter to test the LEDs diode drop, and to repair, experience soldering. If not, it's safest to leave the repair to someone experienced. It's easy to damage electronics by touch or tool contact so please only proceed yourself if confident.

-pterm

[mattrobertson]

Hi, just an update here…
I finally got my wave 2 repaired and the reason for the led errors was a dry joint on one of the “engine select” LEDs on the osc section (analog, sample, fm etc)

It turned out to be an easy repair, but it makes me slightly disappointed that in the life of this nw2, I have had four things go wrong that I file under QC:

- two of the notes on the keyboard had noticeable scraping sound resistances when I first got it. I took the key bed out and clipped off some pieces of plastic that should not have been there. Worked fine after, but makes me wonder if anyone really did “fine tune” the fatar bed as they claim to.

- power supply died after a year. Replaced

- osc screen was installed at a wonky angle. Took apart and fixed

- led dry joint causing weird led behavior in other areas of the board.

All working now, but kinda chips away at my long standing confidence in Nord ;-/