VCI-400 EGE Left pitchfader only responding at top and bottom
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  1. #1
    Tech Mentor bascurtiz's Avatar
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    Question VCI-400 EGE Left pitchfader only responding at top and bottom

    I wanted to sell my VCI-400 Ean Golden Edition, so I checked if everything was still working okish.
    I had a Decksaver for the Vestax VCI 400 on top, so it should've be ok.

    Hooked up Traktor 3.1 together with https://maps.djtechtools.com/mappings/911 mapping.
    Made sure Firmware v1 was loaded, so far so good.

    All was actually working as it should, except....
    The left pitchfader.

    When I move it all the way up to the top MIDI is coming thru (MIDI indicator in Traktor lights up).
    When I move it all the way down to the bottom MIDI is coming thru aswell.
    But in the middle... no response.
    The result is that the pitchfader will move a tiny bit down software-wise, or when holding SHIFT and moving the fader it goes straight up to the max value.

    So I opened it to clean the fader, following the in-depth guide here http://www.kevinchant.com/uploads/7/...sm-vci-400.pdf

    There was no real gunk inside the fader, though, I've cleaned it with (car) brake cleaner, sliding the middle part up & down, let it dry for a bit, removed the redundants, sprayed a bit of Vaseline spray inside to make it glide a bit more easy, but still same end result.

    What else can I try?
    Did someone replaced a fader succesfully?
    It shows ALPHA on the side of the faders, which is a pretty known brand in spare parts.

    UPDATE:
    I went along with this video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5HIjyTW94g
    According to a client of mine who worked in cleaning organs as a daily job, brake cleaner is too aggressive so he suggested contact cleaner with oil from Philips.
    I'm gonna order that in a bit.

    Meanwhile, the teardown pictures for reference:






    Last edited by bascurtiz; 03-19-2019 at 12:29 PM.
    Current DJ Gear: Kontrol S8 | Denon DN-SC2000 | V-Moda XS / Logitech Z5500
    Past:
    Numark 4TRAK / Kontrol X1 + Z1 + F1 / Novation Twitch / Denon MC3000
    Reloop Jockey 3 Remix / M-Audio Xponent / V-Moda Crossfade LP

  2. #2
    Tech Mentor bascurtiz's Avatar
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    I already had some Contact spray standing in the garage, so decided to clean it once again with this.

    Nevertheless, same end result.
    I think the fader is just End Of Life.

    So I googled for the part, and ordered it: https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/8-8-c...808291160.html

    Damage: 10 bucks incl. shipping.
    Will take 14 days before it arrives, but I'll update this topic by then.
    Seems a not too difficult job; 6 solder points.
    Current DJ Gear: Kontrol S8 | Denon DN-SC2000 | V-Moda XS / Logitech Z5500
    Past:
    Numark 4TRAK / Kontrol X1 + Z1 + F1 / Novation Twitch / Denon MC3000
    Reloop Jockey 3 Remix / M-Audio Xponent / V-Moda Crossfade LP

  3. #3
    Tech Mentor bascurtiz's Avatar
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    Package arrived at 9-4-2019 (roughly 3 weeks) and started desoldering the old print of the pitchfader.
    While doing this, I accidentally desoldered a copper ring in the hole aswell, see picture:



    As you can see, this one is crucial since there are lanes in the PCB ending up there.

    Nevertheless I tried to solder the new pitchfader into its place, but end result was random +1 -1 +3 -3 midi values constantly.

    So I desoldered the fader, scraped off the green coating layer a bit on the lanes & dropped a piece of solder between pin/hole of fader & lanes. This time around, when pushing the board a bit down, it worked as it should. So I knew it was a matter of creating a better contact.

    Finally I used a piece of copper wire and soldered it between the pin/hole & lanes, see picture:



    Works!

    Live demo of the new replaced pitchfader in action:
    Current DJ Gear: Kontrol S8 | Denon DN-SC2000 | V-Moda XS / Logitech Z5500
    Past:
    Numark 4TRAK / Kontrol X1 + Z1 + F1 / Novation Twitch / Denon MC3000
    Reloop Jockey 3 Remix / M-Audio Xponent / V-Moda Crossfade LP

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