Mysterious volume fade with S975 / Bose Compact L1 combo

[RoyceM]

Your ideas/experiences are welcome regarding this situation.

SYMPTOM: In the middle of two different programs, my volume mysteriously faded but came back again.

I need to figure out whether it was the S975, Bose Compact, or the new cable I recently purchased.

This problem is difficult to reproduce, but I am hoping it is the cable I recently bought when I realized that in most of my setups a 10-ft would work rather than wrestling with my 20-ft cable. For this new cable I opted for the kind with the L-shaped connector on one end (that would be used on some electric guitars) so it would sit nice and flush when plugged into the Compact.

I'm now using only the 20-ft cable to see if the problem reappears.

A PAST EXPERIENCE: With one of my previous keyboards and sound system, I had a situation in which connection problems happened if cable plugs didn't seat exactly right when plugged in, such as when side tension was present. However, that particular problem never manifested itself as "fade."

- Royce

[jtrue]

During long use of a Compact connected to an S910 with a 90 degree plug I have never had a similar problem.  If it returns I'd suggest immediately reaching around and giving the plug a quarter-turn to the right and to the left to see if a dirty contact or loose connection is involved.  It seems likely you have the keyboard's on-board speakers turned off when the Compact is connected.  Keeping them turned on for a while might enable you to determine if they also fade, thus isolating the problem to the keyboard.

   j.

[RoyceM]

I think I'm basically on your page, JTrue. Turning the plug is what I did. And most of my at-home playing is through the on-board speakers, which are turned off when using the Compact.

I'm thinking I will clean all my plugs with an alcohol wipe as a precautionary measure.

Thanks much!

- Royce

[RoyceM]

UPDATE:  I cleaned the plugs on both cables and haven't experienced any "fading."

- Royce

[DonM]

I had something similar happen Friday night.  My Roland EA-7 started losing the drum sound.  It would fade out, or even stop suddenly.  I could jiggle the drum volume slider and eventually get it to resume, but then it might stop again in a minute, or ten minutes, or whatever.
I changed to all new cables.  I checked it through the headphones, through the onboard speakers... same thing, so it is something in the keyboard. 
Saturday morning I initialized it to factory default, same thing.  I reloaded the Operating System, same thing.  Nothing to do for me but to take it the repair shop in Dallas.
Fortunately I have a Korg PA4X and a Yamaha PSR in the stable, so no problem there while waiting for repairs.  Too busy this time a year to deal with it until after Christmas.
I'm glad you seem to have your problem resolved.  I try to replace all cables at least once a year, and ALWAYS have backups for everything; it's cheap insurance! 

[RoyceM]

Speaking of keyboard repairs and the horrors I've read on this forum about dealing with time consuming repairs...

Here in Salem, Oregon I've been blessed to have access to a certified repair guru. With two different PSR keyboards, he has kept me in business so that I rarely missed a gig. If he didn't have the part, he would over-night it in and have me back in business...even the next day. Some parts he would order ahead because he knew it was just a matter of time until I would be needing that particular emergency repair, especially key-contact strips. I would see him at least twice a year for something.

He was the genius who kept equipment going for big road shows, so I was fortunate that my technical failures coincided with his being here in Salem between the shows. My life would have been much different without him. I can understand why some players have backup keyboards...my venues are generally low paying and not at risk for breech of contract.

- Royce

[travlin-easy]

Until this past year, we had a similar guru here, Royce. He had a serious heart attack, quit the business and there are a lot of local musicians that are buying backup systems - just to be on the safe side.

Gary