Conference napalm::guitar

    
    
    	Check your output cabling.  Some units have separate outputs for
    	dry and delayed signals.  Of course then check your levels.
    
    	Set the dry/delay mix knob(s) to 12:00 and the delay levels levels
    	about the same and you should hear something.  If not, could be
    	broke.
    
    	CMD

    Mark, bring it into work, and I'll show ya how to use it. 
    
    Mark

    It does have 3 different outputs.  dry, mix, and I think phase out.
    I have tried all 3 individually with all different settings.  
    I will try again this weekend. 
    
    Mark, I will bring it in Monday and look for you...  Thanks, Mark

    If you have time over the weekend, try the following.
    
    	1. Set the input and output levels 1/2 way (12 o'clock).
           This may result in an output which is too loud. If 
    	   so, turn the input down until the output is reasonable
    	   and there is no distortion in the output signal.
    
    	2. There should be a knob on the front that controls the
    	   amount of effect. It is probably called mix, efx level
    	   or somesuch. Set this 1/2 way (12 o'clock)
    
    	3. Take the output off of the "Wet" jack.
    
    	4. Set the unit for a delay (ie: select a range, and set the
    	   delay knob 1/2 way. As an example, if you wanted a 500ms
    	   delay, you would use the range that includes 500ms and set
    	   the delay know to 500 ms. This is the time between repeats
    
    	5. If there is a "regeneration" knob, set this 1/2 way. This
    	   determines the number of repeats. The min is usually 1 on
    	   most units (1 repeat) but may in fact be zero repeats on 
    	   your unit. The max number of repeats is usually infinity
    	   which results in "runaway" echo.
    
	If this doesn't work, or you can't decipher the controls, bring
        it in on Monday and I'll have at it.
    
    	Mark
    

    
    
    		*IMPORTANT* Make sure the delay setting is
    
    		40ms or more or you may not discern any "delay"
    
    
    

    Well, the unit still produces zero effects.  I have tried everything.
    I will call Digitech later today to see what they have to say, the unit
    may need servicing.
    
    Has anyone used one of these, if so can you comment on if you like it
    or not.
    
    It's a Digitech RDS 3.6 Digital Delay System.
    
    Thanks, Mark
    

    
    Mark,
    
     I'd say it's a real possibility that you may need to switch the unit
    via foot pedal. The unit may have been switched off via footpedal and 
    may store the setting.  Just a guess, but I've seen this happen before
    with some other gear. 
    
     Lv

    Well here is an update...
    
    I tried the unit again last nite.  As soon as I hit the on switch I
    heard a continuous phasing sound which I could variate in speed and
    width using those control knobs.  I had never heard this sound before
    and this may have been a result of Mark J. pushing all the socketed
    chips down into their sockets.  One chip was noticeably listed on one
    end.  
    
    Anyways, my immediate thought was "cool, it is now working", but no.
    This phasing sound continued on its own, but never integrated with the
    guitar.  The guitar would play "dry" and the phasing would continue as
    a background noise.
    
    I tried a on/off footswitch plugged into the "delay kill" and then into
    the "bypass" plugs.  Still no effects.  I then plugged into the "echo
    hold" plug and it would turn the L.E.D. on/off under the "echo hold"
    switch on the front panel.
    
    Still zero effects.  Digitech wants $48 flat rate labor charge plus
    parts to repair the unit.  I have not decided wether I will send it out
    for repairs on not.  Finances are tough lately...
    
    Thanks, Mark

    It's a brand new unit and they want to charge that to fix it????
    
    Don't they offer any warranty?  I'd take it bac to wherever you bought
    it and demand a replacement or a refund!
    
    	Rick

    
    	Can't you just return it for a refund?
    
    

    This unit is 10 years old, and I believe Mark got it from a 
    yard sale/flea for $10.
    
    Mark

    What Mark said!  Daddy's has these listed between $150-$190.  The fix
    may just be the replacement of a $3 chip, but you need a O-scope and
    the technical knowledge to isolate the problem...
    
    Mark

    This unit is worth roughly $100-$150 depending on condition.
    
    If you paid $10, and they'll get you for less that $90 to repair it,
    then I'd say go for it...Else, contact me about my SDE1000.
    
    :=)

    Problem is I don;t know how much they will end up charging.  I know
    the minimum charge will be $48 plus shipping, plus at least one
    component.
    
    If it gets fixed, I'll let you all know what happened...  thanks, Mark

    
    Look at all the solder joints, and if one looks at all dull, clean it
    up and resolder.  Take the cover off, plug it in, tap around with a 
    non conductive item like a plastic pen sleeve and see if any components
    make noise when you tap them, if you find something, investigate
    further.  My sister-in-law gave me a Philips stereo receiver for free 
    because it would produce a popping noise through the speakers several 
    times a minute.  I noticed that even without music, it would cause the 
    speaker cones to move back and forth and emit the pops.  After poking
    around tapping things with a pencil, I found a transistor that was 
    making a bit of a pop. Examined the 3 legs of the transistor and
    noticed that one of them was bent very close to another.  Straightened
    out with a pair of needle nose pliers and solved the problem.  Point
    is, it can be relatively easy to fix.
      
      Lv

    "$90!!! How can you charge $90 to replace a 45 cent component?!?!?"
    
    	"...by knowing *which* 45 cent component to replace."
    
    I agree with Larry. Poke around and observe. I've found that a
    majority of problems can be repaired with a quick touch of a soldering
    iron.
    
    Edd Cote
    

    Actually for $50 you could probably replace alot of components ie
    opamp's  I would look for some on the front end close to the input
    jack.......
    
    							Rick
    

    I recently had to send a unit to Daddy's (actually to Boss/Roland
    because Roland doesn't release all hi-tech specs to local techs) 
    for repair. 
    
    My ME-5 (OK, you can stop laughing now...) wouldn't produce delay
    or reverb (it only does 1 of those at a time), however the parameters,
    lights, and switched all looked OK. The rest of the unit worked fine
    too (except that some buttons and the input jack were flakey).
    
    Turned out the problem was an 8Mhz oscillator chip in the delay/reverb
    section ( a $3.00 part according to the work order). Daddy's ended up
    charging about 75 bucks overall. The tech at Boss/Roland also replaced
    the input jack and several switches instead of just giving them aa quick 
    cleaning, and even replaced the lithium battery which was probably going to
    fail soon...All in all excellent service from Roland.
    
    Maybe you DOD/Digitech unit should go there...  8-] 
    
    Larry