Command 8 Grounding Issues

[mudnoc]

Okay...I just got back from Guitar Center where I got my C8 at... I had problems with my faders moving using just the C8...they worked when I would use the mouse but would lock when I tried to use the faders on the control surface.... I tried everything you guys suggested and had no luck... A friend of mine came over to test it and couldn't find the problem either... Then he sat the C8 in his lap and it worked perfectly...set it back on the top of the desk and the faders locked... We were completely speechless as to what was happening... He suggested it might be the USB cable...I said "to hell with it" and took it back to Guitar... The guy at the counter said he had the same problem with his HUI and it's a grounding issue...told me that I need to go to Home Depot and buy a grounding rod and ground the Command 8.... Has anybody else experienced this problem... Oh yeah, he then went to power my C8 on and show me that it would work in the store and that it had to be the grounding thing... What he didn't know is that since the last time I updated my firmware my C8 had been giving me this wierd message when it was power on...something about CHECK IMAGE: BAD. So when the guy at Guitar Center called in to Digidesign they told him that somehow I fried the C8 when I did my update...wtf!!!! They did replace the C8 but I'm guessing I'm going to have the same problem when I get home... But that is a scary thought that you can fry your $1200 control surface by doing a firmware update... Be careful...but if anybody has had grounding issues like the ones I'm having I would love to hear some advice on it....

[Vaphoron]

Make sure that the power cable is inserted all the way and the ring is tightened. I had the same problem and that solved it for me.

[mudnoc]

I actually did make sure the cable and ring were secure...alright but get this.... after taking the new one home and powering it up it seemed to work fine for a couple of hours...then, out of the blue it started doing the exact same thing (faders locking when you try to move them on the C8)...alright, so I get some speaker wire and tie it to the back ventilation ports of the C8's chassis... I then hold the other end of the speaker wire between my fingers...and sure enough the faders moved without a problem...I let go of the speaker wire and the faders lock up again... I tried tying the speaker wire to the ground pole on the back of my DJ mixer and it didn't work...tried all kinds of things to see if anything in my room was "grounded"..but the only time it would work was when I held the speaker wire between my fingers...This is very frustrating and I'm dumbfounded that I'm the only one who has had this problem... I can only believe that it has something to do with the building I am in (which is a 100 year old former slaughter house that now houses a bunch of loft apartments)....If anybody knows or has a suggestion of how I can ground my C8 it would greatly be appreciated...Only thing I can think of is maybe there is a ground wire somewhere in my fuse-box...but I'm also scared of dealing with such things... At any rate, I am stuck with a C8 that half way works and to spend $1200 on it and not get the results is really irritating me right now... OK...I'm finished venting..

[A2D D2A]

Go and get yourself an anti-static kit (wrist strap kit) and ground yourself to the C8 when using it.
Sounds more like you are not grounded moreso than the C8 not being grounded.

[needledown]

Hmmm My faders lock up as well
Il look into the grounding thing
My C8 is plugged into a powerstrip
thats plugged into a 2 prong outlet with one of those 3 to 2 adaptor

aa

[tele_player]

Go and get yourself an anti-static kit (wrist strap kit) and ground yourself to the C8 when using it.
Sounds more like you are not grounded moreso than the C8 not being grounded.



The user should definitely not need to be grounded.

[A2D D2A]

The touch sensitive faders require human contact, the carpet in a room, lotion on your hands, cheap shoes etc reduce your conductive aspect which makes the faders not know you are there.
Simple test, if you faders aren't responding put one hand on the fader and hold the chasis, the faders will respond because you are now more conductive to the unit.
Attaching the gnd strap makes you common to the unit without losing the other hand and keeps you from hitting you devices with static if you have a high static enviroment.

[mudnoc]

I don't even know anymore...I tried holding the chassis and moving the fader when I did my initial test with the speaker wire and to my ammazement it didn't work either... I do appreciate everything that has been written here as I have no idea of what to do.... I thought the anti-static wrist strap was a little much myself but then again I've seen wierder things... My Command 8 sits right on top of a rack desk..there is no carpet in my loft (completely concrete) and I have it connected to a Furman Power Conditioner... I really hope I can figure how to get around this problem as I would like to mix on the faders and not a mouse... If anybody else has a suggest (especially any Digi tech out there) I would love to hear it... and I'm glad to know that I'm not the only person experiencing this problem...it at least lets me know I'm not going crazy (lol)

[Carl Fuehrer]

Also, only the top indented part of the fader knob is touch sensative. I have a problem with my 002. I am used to the P&G faders where the entire knob (top and sides) are conductive and get annoyed with not being able to push from behind or pull from the to forward edge as I want. Aparently the solution is to spend $55 from Digi and buy the Control 24 knobs to replace them.

[tele_player]

I have an 002, and on mine at least, this is definitely not the case. Touch sensitivity works on the entire fader knob.



Also, only the top indented part of the fader knob is touch sensative. I have a problem with my 002. I am used to the P&G faders where the entire knob (top and sides) are conductive and get annoyed with not being able to push from behind or pull from the to forward edge as I want. Aparently the solution is to spend $55 from Digi and buy the Control 24 knobs to replace them.

[Vaphoron]

Aparently the solution is to spend $55 from Digi and buy the Control 24 knobs to replace them.



Did you call Digidesign or did you hear about that from somewhere else? I'm just looking for a confirmation that they are the same fader caps as the Control 24 because I really liked those and I will order them if its true. I guess I have to call customer service to order them.

[macr0w]

Also, only the top indented part of the fader knob is touch sensative. I have a problem with my 002. I am used to the P&G faders where the entire knob (top and sides) are conductive and get annoyed with not being able to push from behind or pull from the to forward edge as I want. Aparently the solution is to spend $55 from Digi and buy the Control 24 knobs to replace them.

I can push the faders on my C/8 from the bottom with my finger nail. I works no matter where I touch the fader.