Randall RM module set up question.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Loudness250
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Loudness250

Loudness250

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Ever since I had my problem with my amp last week, I had taken out the modules before I took the amp out of the chassis. Which was stupid because you don't need to but anyway. So I put one module in just to work on the amp when I replaced the fuses and tested the amp. I put all the modules back in and the channel light is lit up on all 3 modules at the same time. So I don't want to flip the amp off standby with all the channels on at the same time. How do you reprogram them? Do you have to turn the amp off standby to program them?
 
Ok, so I brainstormed and downloaded the owners manual at Randall and read the how to set up the modules. You know what? I'm still a little confused. It sounds like the instructions say to run a 1/4 in guitar cable from the fx loop out to the fx loop input and then press the channel switch button and hold it down. I'm at home and the amp is not here it's at a practice room so I'm not messing with it now, just trying to figure this out. This process of setting up the modules does not seem complicated ,just kind of strange.
 
Is this a stupid question? How do you set up modules starting with an empty RM100 head? That's all I'm looking for. I tried joining the Randall forum and it was asking for some weird security code that you had to get from another site in order to register? I'm ready to go postal here. :doh:
 
Just got done looking at the set up in the RM100 manual again, that is the weakest description I've ever read for how to set up your amp. It says , 1. plug in your amp, 2. plug 1/4 inch instrument cable from pre or post loop output to your amp's power amp input. So, do I F'N TRANSLATE THAT INTO , plug a 1/4 inch instrument cable into the send of one of the fx loops and into the return? Is this a good translation? How about "DOES THE AMP NEED TO BE TURNED ON"? "ON STANDBY OR IN OPERATING MODE"? How many Modules should be plugged in to start with? How many should I see lit up to begin with? There are many blanks to be filled in here after reading there description of how to set up the modules. It never says on there to turn on the amp or make sure it's on standby or how many modules should be installed . It's like , "Yeah dude just plug in the amp and then put the cord from the post or pre output to the power amp input or something man, and then plug in your guitar and check it out and mess with your volumes and tones and stuff" lol, that's what I'm seeing when I read this.
 
I don't hot-swap the modules, I turn the amp off put the modules in and fire it back up. Same for the Midi Cable, never plug or unplug the cable when the amp is on as I've heard it can take out the midi board.
 
Jimmie, wait don't leave. What I'm asking is how to start from scratch. If your amp is empty and you set out installing 3 modules starting with none. I can install one with no problem but when I install the second one or all 3 at once and then turn on the amp I get all 3 channels "on" at the same time. So how do you program it?
 
Well, anyway, if someone wants a good laugh they can read this thread and download the manual for the RM100 on the Randall website to read what I'm frickin going on about here.
 
Loudness250":23fksop8 said:
Jimmie, wait don't leave. What I'm asking is how to start from scratch. If your amp is empty and you set out installing 3 modules starting with none. I can install one with no problem but when I install the second one or all 3 at once and then turn on the amp I get all 3 channels "on" at the same time. So how do you program it?
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I've never seen that happen. Try this, Turn off the amp, unplug the midi cable/foot switch, install all three modules and turn it back on without the footswitch attached. see if all three modules come on or if its just the first one, then see if you can toggle through the modules with the white selector switch. IF SO, then turn the amp off again, reconnect the footswitch/midi cable into the "return" midi port, turn it back on and see if the problem is solved or not. am only guessing if all the modules come back on, that your midi board has a problem.
 
never had this problem, i know if you plug in or unplug the foot switch while the amp is on it can and will blow the phantom power fuse inside the amp (its not a reg fuse either and is a special part that needs soldered in.) this has happend once to me ad 2x to a friend

I know that to program the foot switch to the amp you press and hold the amps channel selector for 3 sec to store it, maybe put one module in and do that and see if it works
 
also the password you need for the randall site is VIP Code: MTS12VIP
 
reilly":nc8ygqq4 said:
never had this problem, i know if you plug in or unplug the foot switch while the amp is on it can and will blow the phantom power fuse inside the amp (its not a reg fuse either and is a special part that needs soldered in.) this has happend once to me ad 2x to a friend

I know that to program the foot switch to the amp you press and hold the amps channel selector for 3 sec to store it, maybe put one module in and do that and see if it works
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Now I've had the footswitch freeze up on me and not select channels, and the remedy I provided solved my problem. I know he recently blew some fuses on this amp and was in and around the midi board, maybe the dip switches on the board got changed?
:confused:
 
Thanks for the help guys. I'm a little calmer now even though I am no closer to fixing this. Well my footswitch stopped working a while back but I assumed it was a bad midi cable because it stopped working suddenly, I don't think I ruined the midi board, the amp was switching fine just using the amps channel switch button. But now it is not. I can see now why the set up instructions made no sense to me but they still kinda don't make sense. Anyhow I realise that all I should have to do is put the modules in and turn on the amp and it is supposed to work which is what I originally thought. I didnt move the dip switches, I just carefully moved the midi board out of the way when I replace those fuses.
 
does the foot switch work with a power supply? if so you may have blown the midi fuse which look more like a capacitor. hope you fiqure it out, i no longer have the randall so im not sure i can give you much more help
 
I don't know if the footswitch works with the power supply but I do know that the channel switching on the amp was working fine before I took the modules "all 3" out and then when I put them back in all of them look as if they are on at the same time, and that is my main problem. I was using the amp without the footswitch for a couple months before this and it was fine. I assumed the footswitch problem was with the midi cable because it was not caused by plugging it in with the amp on, it just stopped working one day, with no light on the footswitch so I assumed it wasn't getting connection to the amp because of a bad cable.
 
Loudness250":3ojtuizk said:
I don't know if the footswitch works with the power supply but I do know that the channel switching on the amp was working fine before I took the modules "all 3" out and then when I put them back in all of them look as if they are on at the same time, and that is my main problem. I was using the amp without the footswitch for a couple months before this and it was fine. I assumed the footswitch problem was with the midi cable because it was not caused by plugging it in with the amp on, it just stopped working one day, with no light on the footswitch so I assumed it wasn't getting connection to the amp because of a bad cable.
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From the Connector CN9B on the Midi Board, the Module Switch triggers U1B, an H11F1 optoisolated FET, from there it connects across Pins 1 and Pins M & N on the Blade Connector of Module Slot 1 and Pins 2 and N on Slot three. Maybe a spike took out U1B when the boards were removed and returned to the circuit? Its that or the Midi Board as stated earlier. Perhaps Jeff Hilligan could help or you could call Randall Support with what you've gathered here thus far.

Sorry I couldn't help more than this,
Jimmie
 
Your guess is probably better than mine since I have no idea. After the initial power tube blew and took out the fuses I replaced the tube fuses and fired it back up with known good tubes, then I got no sound but I do remember the channel switch still working at that point. Then I turned the amp off and started with figuring out about the internal fuses. After I replaced the internal fuses the amp worked with one module in, but then when I put all the other modules back in, that's when I discovered all 3 leds , 1 per channel were lit up at the same time so I never hit standby with it like that, I took module 2 and 3 back out. When I removed the midi board to get at the fuses it was very simple, just remove the screws and gently set the midi board to the side, I don't see what could have gotten screwed up there. There was plenty of wire so no need to disconnect anything. I have contacted Randall so hopefully they will know exactly what the problems are.
 
Loudness250":2cif5x04 said:
Your guess is probably better than mine since I have no idea. After the initial power tube blew and took out the fuses I replaced the tube fuses and fired it back up with known good tubes, then I got no sound but I do remember the channel switch still working at that point. Then I turned the amp off and started with figuring out about the internal fuses. After I replaced the internal fuses the amp worked with one module in, but then when I put all the other modules back in, that's when I discovered all 3 leds , 1 per channel were lit up at the same time so I never hit standby with it like that, I took module 2 and 3 back out. When I removed the midi board to get at the fuses it was very simple, just remove the screws and gently set the midi board to the side, I don't see what could have gotten screwed up there. There was plenty of wire so no need to disconnect anything. I have contacted Randall so hopefully they will know exactly what the problems are.
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PM me your regular email address and I'll send you the schematics in PDF if you'd like them.
 
Have you tried holding in the channel select button in when you power on? Do it with the modules inserted. That resets the MIDI board in the head. If it clears then you will need to reprogram the channels by selecting the channel on the footswitch, select the module you want and then hold in the channel button on the head until it clicks and light flashes once. Repeat for the other 2 channels. Honestly though, this sounds like your midi board is done. If the reset doesn't work, might as well call Randall for a new MIDI board. Also, are you sure you didn't move any of the dip switches on the midi board when you were in the chassis dealing with the fuses?
 
muudrock":29dqm61q said:
Have you tried holding in the channel select button in when you power on? Do it with the modules inserted. That resets the MIDI board in the head. If it clears then you will need to reprogram the channels by selecting the channel on the footswitch, select the module you want and then hold in the channel button on the head until it clicks and light flashes once. Repeat for the other 2 channels. Honestly though, this sounds like your midi board is done. If the reset doesn't work, might as well call Randall for a new MIDI board. Also, are you sure you didn't move any of the dip switches on the midi board when you were in the chassis dealing with the fuses?
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That sounds like a good idea except when the amp is on standby all 3 channels appear to be ON! So if I "power up" with the amp like that I'm afraid of some bad consequences, If I'm wrong let me know but it seems like the channels should still operate on standby, is this wrong? And No I did not hit any of the dipswitches all I did was move the midi board and put it back, I saw the dipswitches but there is no way I touched them. I was fully aware that they were switches and should probably be left alone since I know nothing about those.
 
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