Digitech Vocalist Workstation EX stays on "authenticating" screen at startup

[cufito]

Hello, I recently purchased this unit used from ebay. When I finally found a power cable with the same ratings as the unit and managed to make it turn on, this message popped up as seen in the attachment. I have dug around the really limited information online and the manual, and I saw somewhere that this was to do with the 2032 coin battery inside needing replacement. I have now replaced it having someone solder it onto the PCB, yet the error message persists and I can't get past this screen (the polarity is right and the voltage level across the battery was too). I also tried to input a key combo that someone online said would reset it, but to no avail. If anyone knows the solution to this, it's here, I hope this post is in the right forum (please let me now if not hahaha).
Thank you!

[cryophonik]

When you say you tried a “key combo”, did you mean factory reset? See this link:

https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/ar ... ory-reset/

[cufito]

When you say you tried a “key combo”, did you mean factory reset? See this link:

https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/ar ... ory-reset/

Hi, yes, I tried that and it displayed no sign of it doing anything

[cryophonik]

Bummer

[cufito]

I'm contacting digitech support though I doubt they'll help because of the recent changes in the company, plus the age of the unit. Smh, the manual mentions nothing about the error

[CapnLockheed]

Yeah, Digitech is almost certainly not going to be of any help. Since the factory reset failed, I would say your best bet would be to scour the net and see if you can't find a version of the unit's firmware and re-flash it. But it's looking like you've got yourself a boat anchor there. Worst case, you could list it on eBay for parts.

[cufito]

I would say your best bet would be to scour the net and see if you can't find a version of the unit's firmware and re-flash it.

Thanks for the advice, though there's no usb port on the thing so I don't think that would be possible. I'll try out more things but I'm sure it's got to represent a known issue, it's so frustating that there's not much info on the thing online

[cufito]

I just realized I'm using a dc power adapter and this thing needs AC, i feel so dumb lol (well tbf i dont think i had ever seen any similar device use ac). It also didn't have high enough amperage rating. I'll try to get my hands on an AC/AC power adapter with the right ratings and update this whenever I do. I hope I didn't damage the thing, though I doubt it and my research online suggests it should be fine (if you know about this please tell me lol)

[Uncle E]

Be very careful with power. Easy to destroy things by using the wrong power. DC into AC has a higher likelihood of surviving than AC into DC but could still do damage. Too low amperage would damage the power adapter itself, not the Digitech.

[Dr_Jezz]

Hey Cufito,

Did you ever get this sorted - I have the same issue? I was surprised by the ac power requirement also, but I have the correct supply but the “user memory errors! if you continue , you may have problems” message. If it’s just a battery then I’ll take a look, but otherwise this has to go back to where I bought it from

[Dr_Jezz]

I just realized I'm using a dc power adapter and this thing needs AC, i feel so dumb lol (well tbf i dont think i had ever seen any similar device use ac). It also didn't have high enough amperage rating. I'll try to get my hands on an AC/AC power adapter with the right ratings and update this whenever I do. I hope I didn't damage the thing, though I doubt it and my research online suggests it should be fine (if you know about this please tell me lol)

Should have quoted you - same question

[BertKoor]

Looks like these devices are beyond easy diy repair. Something inside has failed, maybe due to old age. Too bad.

Regarding requiring AC vs DC: electronics work internally on a low DC voltage. But it comes into our houses as AC and different voltages are used around the globe. Lowering the voltage is easy with a transformer. Turning AC into proper flat DC is more difficult: first a rectifier plus some filtering. Bad decent current can be the cause of humm heard in the output.

So this is a cunning design: do the voltage change outside but ac-dc conversion inside the box, so you know it's done properly. A byproduct is that the design also works on DC at any polarity. But that is too confusing to put in the manual.

[Dr_Jezz]

Hey Cufito,

Did you ever get this sorted - I have the same issue? I was surprised by the ac power requirement also, but I have the correct supply but the “user memory errors! if you continue , you may have problems” message. If it’s just a battery then I’ll take a look, but otherwise this has to go back to where I bought it from

Well I can answer for myself today - it’s an easy DIY repair … not actually a repair - just needed a new CR2032. The original was still in it … and for some unbelievable reason Digitech decided to solder it in place and suggest in the manual that you need to contact a tech every few years to replace it Anyway - £5.00 for a pack of ten battery holders delivered by Amazon the next day, and I have a battery holder soldered In place as an ‘upgrade’ and after a reset at start up, everything works perfectly. Nor sure what the OP did - but this is a simple fix. Now here for posterity This box is amazing -can’t believe this was available over 20 years ago and you can’t something similar in software now. Loving this thing.