• Registered: 2010-01-07
  • Posts: 54

Topic: Fireface UC main knob missing notches while moving - how to clean up?

Hello,

I am a really proud owner of a Fireface UC, since 2009 IIRC.

It is still working great, the only issue is that the main knob has some issues: it kind of misses some notch while changing values; I can "sense" the notches but the value doesn't change.

By softly pressing it towards the interface while I drag it it seems better so I suspect there must be some dirt or dust preventing it from working best, like the contacts are loose or with not enough grip.

Is it possible to pull the knob and use some product to clean up electric contacts?
Are there instructions for that somewhere?

Thanks,
   Mario

i7700k@4.2GHz/16GB RAM/RME FFUC/1.25TB SSD/4TB HD/Win10x64
http://www.reverbnation.com/errepici

2 Reply by vinark (edited by vinark 2020-10-05 10:59:05)

  • vinark
  • DAW Mastermind
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  • Registered: 2009-06-05
  • Posts: 2,738

Re: Fireface UC main knob missing notches while moving - how to clean up?

I have had good results with spraying some contact spray of a good brand along the shaft of the encoder (while still in the device) and keeping the shaft pointing up. It takes quite some spray and patience, while rotating the bare shaft until you see improvement. I had to do this on the 6 rotary encoders of my yamaha sampler which are notorious for this behaviour. The official advice is replacement which was doable on the yamaha even for me, a non technician who can handle a soldering iron. I am not sure if this will work and or is doable on your device. If you only use the encoder occasionally I would maybe leave it as is or if money is no object send it in for repair.
Cheers
Vincent

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
BFpro fs, 2X HDSP9652 ADI-8AE, 2X HDSP9632
  • Registered: 2010-01-07
  • Posts: 54

Re: Fireface UC main knob missing notches while moving - how to clean up?

Hi vinark,

thank you for your reply.

The problem is that I don't dare to pull too strong the cap of the encoder because I don't know if it's supposed to be extracted that way and I'm afraid of damaging it.

I use the encoder daily to tweak my headphones level, so it's a bit annoying as it is now.

- Mario

i7700k@4.2GHz/16GB RAM/RME FFUC/1.25TB SSD/4TB HD/Win10x64
http://www.reverbnation.com/errepici
  • Registered: 2010-01-07
  • Posts: 54

Re: Fireface UC main knob missing notches while moving - how to clean up?

Never mind, I tried to pull a little and the knob cap went out.

I tried using the contact cleaner spray, seems much better already but I'll check again later.

I was wondering because I was seeing the cap available for purchase in the RME part shop, so I thought there would be an easy way to pull it off...

- Mario

i7700k@4.2GHz/16GB RAM/RME FFUC/1.25TB SSD/4TB HD/Win10x64
http://www.reverbnation.com/errepici