Last update 2018-06-19
There is now a separate DX FAQ for questions specific to the Oberheim DX.
Can I tune the pitch of DMX sounds?
Yes, all DMX voices have a pitch adjustment pot inside the case, on the voice card.
Remove two screws on the lower front edge of the DMX case and raise the hinged lid to access the
inside of the DMX. Look for the trim pots near the back of the case, on the top corner of each voice card.
Can I add MIDI capability to my DMX?
Yes! The original factory MIDI upgrade is no longer manufactured but a new MIDI upgrade is now available for the DMX. More
details can be found here.
When I turn on my DMX I get a message that says "Data May Be Bad". What does this mean?
This message usually means that the battery in the DMX is in need of charging or replacement.
This battery powers the memory when the main power is turned off. It is normally charged slowly while the AC power to the DMX
is on. Older batteries lose the ability to hold a charge and must be replaced.
Until you get the battery replaced, you can reset the DMX memory by
holding down the ERASE button while turning on the power.
How do I replace the battery in my DMX?
Any 3.6 volt nickel-cadmium (NiCd) battery of the same approximate physical size should work.
Allied
Electronics part number 621-1100
is essentially identical to the factory stock
part.
When installing this battery, be sure to clip the leads short enough
that they won't
touch the bottom of the chassis and short-circuit.
Or, you can take your old battery to Batteries
Plus and they should be able to
make you a replacement.
The battery is soldered to the main circuit board.
Be sure to disconnect all power and audio cables from your DMX before
soldering or unsoldering the battery, especially if your soldering iron is grounded!
If you're not confident about replacing the battery yourself, a local electronic
repair shop should be able to do it for you.
Some of the buttons are intermittent or don't work right. Do I need to replace them?
You may be able to fix this problem by cleaning the switches. See this link
for more information.
The display is starting to look weird. Can it be repaired?
Yes. For more information see this page.
My DMX is broken. Where can I go to get it repaired?
Electrongate is currently offering repair service for Oberheim DMX and DX drum machines. The basic cost for a new battery,
switch cleaning and any other minor repairs required is $99.00 plus the cost of return shipment.
Some repairs may cost
extra if additional parts are required. Please e-mail Paul
White for an estimate, and shipping instructions.
What's the difference between the Oberheim DMX and the DX?
See this chart for reference.
How are sounds stored on the DMX/DX?
Sounds are stored as sampled PCM (Pulse Code Modulated) audio on individual EPROMs. Sound length
depends on the capacity of the EPROM. Sample sizes range from 2048 (2k) bytes for some percussion sounds to
32768 (32k) bytes for cymbals. The playback time can be calculated by dividing the number of samples in the EPROM by the
sample rate (playback seconds = number of samples / samples per second).
The data format is raw a-law companded. There are no headers or other non-audio data stored on the EPROM.
The sample rate varies from about 16000 to 32000 samples per second, depending on the voice.
Where can I get those cool easy-access thumbscrews for the front cover of the DMX?
These are now available from Electrongate! A set of two is $5.00,
including postage. Send an email for more info.
What are EPROMs?
Eraseable Programmable Read-Only Memory. This is a form of Integrated Circuit (IC) that is packaged
in a ceramic Dual-Inline Package (DIP).
EPROMs are programmed on a special device called a device programmer, or PROM burner1.
EPROMs are erased by shining an ultraviolet light through a
transparent window in the part. This flips all the bits back to "1".
EPROMs are programmed at the factory, or after erasure using a device
programmer. Once programmed, they will hold their data for 5--10 years before data loss may start to occur.
One type of "EPROM" is the OTP (One-Time Programmable). These are electrically identical to EPROMs, but
have no window through which to erase the chip. So, they can only be programmed once.
You can also use EEPROM (Electrically Eraseable PROM) parts such as 28C64 in place of 2764 EPROMs, and erase them
in just a few seconds using your device programmer.
Where do I get EPROMs?
The DMX and DX drum machines use 2732
and 2764 EPROMs. These are getting harder to find these days, as
larger capacity devices such as 27256 EPROMs are more common. But, they can still be found at many major
electronic distributors and surplus houses. Search the web. Typical part numbers are similar to 27C32, 27C64,
2732A, etc.
How do I program EPROMs? What hardware do I need?
A blank EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) can be programmed with the aid of
a computer peripheral called a "burner", "EPROM programmer", or
"device programmer". Get yourself one of these, connect it to your computer, and follow the
instructions that come with it. To convert a WAV file into a format that can be programmed onto an EPROM
for use in the DMX or other companded format machine, use the WAV2DMX program on an appropriate WAV file. Then,
program the resulting binary file onto the EPROM.
How do I erase EPROMs?
With an EPROM eraser. This is a device that exposes the EPROM chip to ultraviolet light, which will erase
it and make it able to accept a new sound. Note that "OTP" EPROMs are packaged in a solid
plastic package, rather than the ceramic package with a window, and cannot be erased and reprogrammed.
Notes:
FAQ maintained by Paul J. White. Feel free to submit corrections and other DMX-related questions.
