Service for PC Audio Peripherals?

[Sloom]

Hi. Well, I dropped my Terratec EWS88MT breakout box a few months ago. I haven't had a PC to do any work on for all that time, and I just recently borrowed a PC to edit a funeral service I'd recorded into a Tascam 788 (for family members who couldn't make it to pay their respects. I'm not particularly into funerals, per se). Upon hooking up the EWS, I began to find I was getting no playback from the card. I spent a good hour configuring audio settings in Sonar HS4, n-Track, and Cool Edit Pro2 with no results. I've tried all the standard scenarios concerning the Phase88 Control Panel, as well as correct procedure in the software apps.

I could record into the PC via the analogue outs of the 788 > inputs of the EWS88MT. But no output back from the EWS... I ended up using a handy Audigy SE for playback to do the editing chores. That did the job okay.

My conclusion is that I injured the connections, or the ICB, in the EWS88MT breakout box when I dropped it (a distance of about 30" to a concrete floor). Doh! Just don't call me late for dinner...

Is there knowledge among us of what type of geek/techie shop I should bring this sucker into for a looking over? I've never actually heard of this happening- as far as I know I'm the first blockhed in my neighborhood to pull this move. Thanks for your time...

[jmail]

Perhaps the manufacturer can direct you somewhere?

[Sloom]

I wrote them a few days ago, and am waiting to hear back, thanks for the good thought.

I'll post what I find...

[jmail]

Ever since I saw that old Aamco Transmission commercial a few years back, where the fellow at the neighborhood backyard-mechanic's shop goes "Let me work on it, boss! I've *never* worked on a trans-miss-shee-uhn a-fore!!!" and the customer runs out screaming, presumably to go to "the experts" at Aamco, I've always had nightmares of taking my electronic gear anywhere. I always see a fellow opening the case and going "drat, there's no schematic glued to the top of the inside of the case, what am I gonna do now?"...

[TimOBrien]

A) Most modern electronics, filled with microscopic surface-mounted wave-soldered custom-built devices, are just NOT repairable; it's not worth the time and money. 90% of the time a "repair" on electronics these days is a replacement, especially when a unit is under warranty. (We used to use the term "dixie-cup technology" meaning that you toss the old one in a trashbin and pull out a new one...)

B) High-end audio equipment has only a few tens of thousands of users and no one except the manufacturer is going to know what's going on inside. It's excessively rare that you would be able to get your hands on a schematic or parts manual on any electronic item these days.


Unless you're looking at something very simple like resoldering a wire on a connector, the good money is on a bet that you'll be contacting the manufacturer for a replacement or buying something new.

[Sloom]

Well I'm having another run at it, then going out to find an M-Audio device, or something. I'm doing this on a totally frayed shoestring.

Thanks for the words, guys.