SOLVED Sound Problem - Not the Usual Hum Problem, This One is Different

[DB26]

Hello all,


I’ve been having this issue with my Super Spin Sizzling Sevens ever since I got it. Basically the machine will occasionally go berserk out of one of the speakers. I’ll explain what I mean.


You’ll play the machine for a spin and all of a sudden the right hand (usually the right) speaker will explode with a loud mess of garbled noise. Sounds like a mix of white noise, droning sounds, and digital puke. (This is the most common occurrence)  Other times it will play a sound too early. For example, its supposed to make a noise when each reel stops ON A SYMBOL. (Not referring to the solenoid) Sometimes it plays that sound before the reel is even stopped. (Usually just The 3rd reel)  Sometimes it won’t play the reel symbol stop sound effect AT ALL (Again, just the 3rd reel) And another variation is that it will play the same sound effect twice in rapid succession. You’ll hear the symbol stop sound begin, it will get cut off and you’ll hear it again.


Also, the duration of the berserk white noise will vary. Sometimes it will bug out for a split second. And sometimes it lasts for a whole bonus game (haywire for example) 


Just a few minutes ago, one of the speakers started to play random sound effects from the MML board as the machine was completing its spins. I heard the usual music and sounds effects with what sounded like a hint of the ticket chashout sound in the background. It played that as well as a random sound the machine doesn’t even utilize. (It must’ve pulled it out of the unused MML files)


I have tried to fix the problem using the advice from this thread:


http://newlifegames.com/nlg/index.php?topic=23518.0


I replaced the 1 MFD ceramic caps on the MML board. I also have swapped MML boards AND the sound simm.  I have two boards and two simms and BOTH have this problem.


The board is a 504 rev A Varta battery gone and the other replaced.

[Ash100]

Wow, that sounds like it could get quite annoying at times.


I'm guessing that you are using the correct SIMM for that game, and the extra SIMM is identical?


Have you tried the basic 0042 Sound SIMM just for kicks?


Based on the part swapping you mentioned, I'd like to think it is not the MML Board or SIMM.


My guess at this point would be the sound amplifier in the top box. If you've got one you can slave in, it's worth a shot.


Otherwise it could be bad circuitry on the MPU board itself. I'm not familiar with the sound circuits or components that route it to the amplifier, but maybe someone with that type of knowledge will chime in.


Thanks for the detailed description.


Curtis ash100

[Stayouttadabunker]

Can you post photos of the two SIMMs with the labels showing?

A member here may be able to help tell you if they are real or copied ones.



However, the machine shouldn't be spitting out random event sounds from the sound files in the cards.
I'm going to guess that the SB chip or SG chips have a problem with the programming in them - these trigger the events the MPU needs to grab a sound byte from the SIMM and shoot it to the amp board to play something ( it's the DJ!  ) on the speakers.

Not only that, there sounds like the MPU has a bottleneck of getting the audio signals to the topbox audio amp for an event in time or waayy late.
Check the pins on the bottom of the Multimedia lite board.

Also, is there a lot of corrosion on the MPU?

[DB26]

Wow, that sounds like it could get quite annoying at times. I'm guessing that you are using the correct SIMM for that game, and the extra SIMM is identical? Have you tried the basic 0042 Sound SIMM just for kicks? Based on the part swapping you mentioned, I'd like to think it is not the MML Board or SIMM.My guess at this point would be the sound amplifier in the top box. If you've got one you can slave in, it's worth a shot. Otherwise it could be bad circuitry on the MPU board itself. I'm not familiar with the sound circuits or components that route it to the amplifier, but maybe someone with that type of knowledge will chime in. Thanks for the detailed description. Curtis ash100

I have posted photos of the simms. As far as I know they are correct for the game. I have not tried the 0042. Thank you for the tips and possible solutions. I’ll add these to my todo list.

Can you post photos of the two SIMMs with the labels showing?

A member here may be able to help tell you if they are real or copied ones.



However, the machine shouldn't be spitting out random event sounds from the sound files in the cards.
I'm going to guess that the SB chip or SG chips have a problem with the programming in them - these trigger the events the MPU needs to grab a sound byte from the SIMM and shoot it to the amp board to play something ( it's the DJ!  ) on the speakers.

Not only that, there sounds like the MPU has a bottleneck of getting the audio signals to the topbox audio amp for an event in time or waayy late.
Check the pins on the bottom of the Multimedia lite board.

Also, is there a lot of corrosion on the MPU?

I will check the MPU pins over and report back. As far as corrosion goes, I haven’t seen any. But I’ll look again more closely when I check the pins.


Would it be worth a shot to replace the SB and SG chips with new ones? Currently installed are:


SB100715 and SG000172 1&2

[Stayouttadabunker]

The corrosion eats the tiniest traces on the MPU circuit board....it will look darkened like black, greasy perhaps, but usually different shades of blue-ish coloring around the legs of small IC chips.

When that happens, the game starts acting erratic.Weird things start happening or begin to fail due to the "bottlenecks" of traces eaten away and now even smaller!!
Imagine trying to feed data thru a half-eaten wire? The data "spits" thru too late usually if at all.

That's like trying to stick a 10lb sausage into a 5lb tube. 
Here's a picture of one of my bad MPU's with corrosion damage from a leaking green Varta battery.
I paid like $80 bucks for THAT MPU board at one time...showed this picture to the vendor with the serial number of it in another picture....he gave me a new one which I still have today!

Click on  photo to enlarge if you want.....>>>

[Ken]

Simms are originals.

[DB26]

Okay, a few updates (Happy Thanksgiving Everyone)


First of all. It appears my board is a 504 Rev. A. All this time I thought it was a B, but I was wrong. Does this change anything?


Second, I checked all the pins and for signs of corrosion and I can’t find any defects. The board looks clean and tidy.


Third, there are jumpers that have been added to the part of the board that controls the reels. Is that common? See attached photo:


And thank you Ken!

[Stayouttadabunker]

The 504 REV A. or B MPU's were considered the best boards to get rid of the humming noise.

I believe IGT did some re-design to the way the audio traces were routed on the circuit board...I could be wrong.



Those little green wires you see in your photo was a modified repair jumper to triac reel chips.

I don't know why that was done but it shouldn't affect your sound problems and it looks like it was done well.



I wish you could of shown us more of the MPU board than just that little particular area though.

Maybe one of our members will spot something on the MPU concerning your audio problems.

[DB26]

The 504 REV A. or B MPU's were considered the best boards to get rid of the humming noise.

IGT did some re-design to the way the audio traces were routed.



Those little green wires you see in your photo was a modified repair jumper to triac reel chips.

I don't know why that was done but it shouldn't affect your sound problems and it looks like it was done well.



I wish you could of shown us more of the MPU board than just that little particular area though.

Maybe one of our members will spot something on the MPU concerning your audio problems.

I’m sorry, here are more photos. I have uploaded them offsite due to size restrictions:

NOTE: Photos RESIZED AND ADDED by moderator. Offsite images WILL DISAPPEAR over time. I guarantee it. Then they become useless for other members that may have the same or similar issues in the future.


https://ibb.co/VBbtMVq



https://ibb.co/PGDTpMy


https://ibb.co/7R1HcQ7

[Stayouttadabunker]

That's okay...all I do is re-size the larger side of  photo to 1000kb using MS Paint.
Hopefully someone will have a better idea to get your sound working better.

But wow! Your pictures are pretty clear on that website and your board really looks nicer than mine! haha

Whoever did the green wiring work knew what they were doing...I'm impressed with their work.
I'd have a few questions for him! 

[DB26]

That's okay...all I do is re-size the larger side of  photo to 1000kb using MS Paint.
Hopefully someone will have a better idea to get your sound working better.

Ah, I do most of my posting from my phone. The phone will resize, but it will rarely be under 1000kb. I should start using my actual computer again. Good tip on MSpaint.


Yes, hopefully someone has a solution. If all else fails, I’ll probably upgrade to an enhanced board.

[Stayouttadabunker]

For now you can try to single out if one of the speaker wires are bad too.
There are 3 pairs coming out of the audio amp board in the topbox.
Two pairs for the topbox ear speakers and one pair that runs down to the coin tray speaker.


Unplug two of them and listen if you get bad sound listening to one speaker at a time....check all three speakers one at a time doing it like this.
At least you can rule out the speakers and the wiring to them if you perform this check.

[DB26]

For now you can try to single out if one of the speaker wires are bad too.
There are 3 pairs coming out of the audio amp board in the topbox.
Two pairs for the topbox ear speakers and one pair that runs down to the coin tray speaker.


Unplug two of them and listen if you get bad sound listening to one speaker at a time....check all three speakers one at a time doing it like this.
At least you can rule out the speakers and the wiring to them if you perform this check.

Good idea!

[Stayouttadabunker]

I'm not going to say checking the green/white speaker wires is going to fix your problem but you might get lucky.
If you have some sort of De-Oxit spray, it helps form better contact between the pins inside of the Molex housings too.
Oxidation of metal connections is always a problem with older machines.

What year was yours built?

[DB26]

I'm not going to say checking the green/white speaker wires is going to fix your problem but you might get lucky.
If you have some sort of De-Oxit spray, it helps form better contact between the pins inside of the Molex housings too.
Oxidation of metal connections is always a problem with older machines.

What year was yours built?

I know, but I’m glad I have a few avenues to travel. Keeps me busy. This fix isn’t driving me insane at this point. I enjoy the hunt. Haha.


I do actually have a can of deoxit sitting on my shelf right now.

[shortrackskater]

That's okay...all I do is re-size the larger side of  photo to 1000kb using MS Paint.

I resized and added the photos, using the generic photo view program on my MacBook. Most all regular computers (remember those things?) have basic programs that easily can change size. 

[DB26]

That's okay...all I do is re-size the larger side of  photo to 1000kb using MS Paint.

I resized and added the photos, using the generic photo view program on my MacBook. Most all regular computers (remember those things?) have basic programs that easily can change size. 

Thank you for doing that!

[Tilt]

That's okay...all I do is re-size the larger side of  photo to 1000kb using MS Paint.

I resized and added the photos, using the generic photo view program on my MacBook. Most all regular computers (remember those things?) have basic programs that easily can change size. 

Thank you for doing that!

Glad he did, now I see what your problem is.  You've got a old SB chip that has known bugs and are using old SG's too.  You should be using SB101122 with SG000399.  Bet ya a six pack that fixes your problem.

[DB26]

That's okay...all I do is re-size the larger side of  photo to 1000kb using MS Paint.

I resized and added the photos, using the generic photo view program on my MacBook. Most all regular computers (remember those things?) have basic programs that easily can change size. 

Thank you for doing that!

Glad he did, now I see what your problem is.  You've got a old SB chip that has known bugs and are using old SG's too.  You should be using SB102122 with SG000399.  Bet ya a six pack that fixes your problem.

Well that just made My Thanksgiving a little more thankful! I guess I’ll be purchasing those new chips and trying them out. Thank you so much for your help!

[Tilt]

That's okay...all I do is re-size the larger side of  photo to 1000kb using MS Paint.

I resized and added the photos, using the generic photo view program on my MacBook. Most all regular computers (remember those things?) have basic programs that easily can change size. 

Thank you for doing that!

Glad he did, now I see what your problem is.  You've got a old SB chip that has known bugs and are using old SG's too.  You should be using SB102122 with SG000399.  Bet ya a six pack that fixes your problem.

Well that just made My Thanksgiving a little more thankful! I guess I’ll be purchasing those new chips and trying them out. Thank you so much for your help!

Glad to help, and I made a typo in my post, it's SB101122 and SG000399 that you need.  Not 102122.   I modified my post to correct it.