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Author Topic: Weird audio issue  (Read 1702 times)

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Offline sepulchreTopic starter

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Weird audio issue
« on: October 28, 2026, 11:17:17 PM »
Hi all,
I just revived the Amiga 500 I bought in the eighties. I user it extensively back then and into the nineties, then I had to move and it went into storage. It's been stored in various places ever since.
I had to replace the memory expansion and clean the internal disc drive thoroughly but it seems to have survived otherwise. That is, until I tried playing songs I wrote on it.

I have my old Activision Music Studio disc and it boots okay. But when I try playing songs on it only some of the notes play, mostly high notes. But after trying in a few times I discovered that the lower notes do play . . .  sometimes. Basically, it plays one or two instruments but, when there is a third in the song, it only plays when there's a gap in one of the others. So it sounds disjointed and confusing to tell what the problem is. Could it be a chip failing? A bad connection?
 
I am an electronics tech and I checked it over pretty well. Everything looked pretty good; a little rust here and there but only on the RF shield. The disc is old (30+ years) but, like I said, it boots with no issues. However, be on the safe side I ordered another copy of the disc.

So I'm wondering if anyone else has had any similar problems, and if so, what can be done about it.
I'd really appreciate any suggestion or ideas that I might try.

Thanks for reading my rambling post,
Kenneth
 

Offline modrobert

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Re: Weird audio issue
« Reply #1 on: October 30, 2026, 02:50:56 PM »
I suspect your electrolytic capacitors have gone bad, they might have leaked as well, so look closely for damaged traces or components on the board.
« Last Edit: October 30, 2026, 02:52:42 PM by modrobert »
A1200: 68EC020 @ 14 MHz (stock), 68882 @ 40 MHz, 2MB Chip + 8MB Fast RAM, RTC, 3.1 ROMs, IDE-CF+4GB, WiFi WPA2/AES, AmigaOS 3.1, LCD 23" via RGB/OSSC - Thanks fitzsteve & PorkLip!
 

Offline F0LLETT

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Re: Weird audio issue
« Reply #2 on: October 30, 2026, 03:46:41 PM »
I suspect your electrolytic capacitors have gone bad, they might have leaked as well, so look closely for damaged traces or components on the board.

Its not an A1200.

@OP, what model is it, standard A500 or an A500+. As plus has battery that trashing everything.
Best next action to re-seat all chips. Carefully lift them and push them back into place.

Despite what people say, 99% of A500 issues are caused by connection issues on chips.
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Offline sepulchreTopic starter

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Re: Weird audio issue
« Reply #3 on: October 31, 2026, 03:19:24 AM »
It's a standard Amiga 500, not a plus. I'll try resetting the chips. That's about the only thing I can imagine,  unless the Paula chip (sound, right?) Has developed some weird behavior.

Thanks for your responses!
Kenneth
 

Offline sepulchreTopic starter

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Re: Weird audio issue
« Reply #4 on: November 06, 2026, 06:46:37 PM »
I wanted to let you know of my progress. I couldn't get to it until today but I tried what you suggested, reseating the chips. I pulled them, not all; just Paula and Gary, and sprayed the sockets with Deoxit D5. After plugging them back in I loaded Music Studio and, voila! It worked like a charm!
Thank you for your response and for knowing what to do. I would probably have tried it myself before giving up but I was afraid it would require a new Paula chip.
So thanks again,
Kenneth
 

Offline F0LLETT

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Re: Weird audio issue
« Reply #5 on: November 07, 2026, 10:49:22 AM »
I wanted to let you know of my progress. I couldn't get to it until today but I tried what you suggested, reseating the chips. I pulled them, not all; just Paula and Gary, and sprayed the sockets with Deoxit D5. After plugging them back in I loaded Music Studio and, voila! It worked like a charm!
Thank you for your response and for knowing what to do. I would probably have tried it myself before giving up but I was afraid it would require a new Paula chip.
So thanks again,
Kenneth

Glad you got it all sorted.
Quote from: Hungry Horace
Resolute and Industrious Grand ruler of the yellow people and the Ultimate Amiga Empire
Ultimate Amiga Network (Home of SONY PSP Amiga Emulator and AMOS Factory)

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"Chris is that you!!!"
My all time favorite quote.
 

Offline Boing-ball

Re: Weird audio issue
« Reply #6 on: November 09, 2026, 05:28:48 PM »
Good old Deoxit D5. Works great on Zorro slots too.