Hello Matt, I succeed the changing of the MCU Pro phosphor back light strip following your instructions, although you showed on the extension and not the MCU Pro unit itself. The principles are the same and I made it the first time. I will also suggest BackLight 4 You to mention your video on their instruction paper because without it, I would not have succeed ever. You are a true blessing for all MCU Pro owners and I thanks you deeply for that.
@@MattOttewill Most welcome. I enjoy my MCU Pro again after one year of dark screen!! Would have not tried changing the back-light without your video. Thanks again. 🙏
Well done and thanks for some info here. I really only needed to repair a couple of rotary knobs that had broken off. A little super glue may do the job. Cheers!
5 лет назад
Thanks for a great video. Just replaced my MCU Pro backlight. Glad I did not mess with the twist tabs as described in an earlier comment.
For anyone here who wants to fix the dreaded backlight problem, you should know this - it's doable , but it can turn into a nightmare. Ive done it twice now. If you've never done it - read on: First off, if you're fixing the MCU pro (not the extender as shown here) you cannot do this 'flip up the LCD on it's back' trick, the power cable is too short. You will have to remove the entire unit. Those little screws that hold it on are a bitch. But once you've got it out, I STRONGLY recommend you do not wiggle or bend the tabs that hold the screen to the board - they make electrical contact as well as physically squeeze the board together. If your old backlight refuses to come out, find a way! Get a tool thin enough to grip it and pull it out, it is not glued in even though it may feel like it. Here's what can go wrong - I couldn't get the old backlight out, so I went ahead and loosened the tabs - yes, the backlight came out easily but if the board is not properly aligned with the tabs THE SCREEN WILL NOT DISPLAY THE CHARACTERS! (yeah I'm shouting 'cos it drove me nuts.) I had to tweak the tabs, plug it in, 50%work, take it out and tweak tabs again, 70% works, tweak it again, now back to 50% working etc. It's trial and error, I lost +hours+ of my life. If you do have the problem with characters not displaying on your screen because you messed with the tabs like I did, you will have to find a way to test the screen until it's working properly. It is +very+ awkward, but you have to find a way to test the LCD without assembling it in place with those tiny screws - unless you want to lose your mind. Remove the MIDI board for the time being, just hold the backplate and PSU board in with one or two screws (enough to take the weight) then you can tip the thing on it's side and connect/disconnect the power and data cables to the screen for testing. It is tedious. BE CAREFUL not to touch anything on either side of the PSU board - AC line voltage is present, and that hurts or even worse. Just be aware at all times, and remember to remove the power cord (not just power off) when connecting/disconnecting power/data cables. Assuming you get to the point where it's working again, I would suggest putting the LCD back in place with one or two of the top fiddly screws, then the back board, power board, and fire it up to test again. If all good, go back and reassemble. By the way, be careful to separate the four screws from the top panel from the ones that hold the sides on - they look very similar but are not interchangeable. There's loads of screws keep them all separate, label them in an order that makes sense to you and TAKE PHOTOS! Lastly, I discovered that backlights can also fail suddenly, besides their well known problem of dimming then failing. I had a new backlight from the German online company that sells them, after about six months of average use one day it stopped working upon power up. I assumed either the power connector or solder connections to the board were bad - they weren't, as proven after I bought yet another one from Germany. You will know if your LCD is not connected to the PSU board - the unit will emit a high pitched whine. A great controller blighted with a terrible LCD screen design, something more like the early 90s synth LCD screens only they seem to fail even faster in the MCU pro. I can't believe they never addressed this issue, but for anyone wondering if your firmware will make a difference it won't. These screens are (albeit unintentionally) designed to fail.
@@MattOttewillI should have thanked you for your video first - it was a big help and everything you did is sound, I just hope that sharing my woes may help someone else down the line from making the mistakes that I did - every one of these controllers has the same backlight problem after all..
LIFE SAVER - Both you guys taking the time to come here and share this is monumental , thak youboth I was killing myself and didn't realize those black tabs need to be turned back or not messed with you saved me $200 I was about to break down and buy two new LCD panels , at the rip off price Mackie charges for them
John Morales M+M Mix great news! I’m really glad to hear this - this is why I spent time to write my long comment for other users facing the same headaches. I was unable to find any other useful information on the internet, so everything I wrote was just my trial and error based on the original poster’s video.
Hi, I'm from Brazil and I'm having the same problem, your work is wonderful, can you please tell me the reference for this component? and where can I buy it? Thank you very much.
Just found this Video and want to try to fix my Mackie Pro but when I went to backlight 4 you to purchase the EL panel it does not seem they have it in stock - noting this video was posted 5 years ago. Am I correct in thinking the dimensions are 19.5 x 222m? is it 12V? Could I get a bigger panel and cut it down to size? Any suggestions gratefully accepted.
I'm new to this znd trying to put a low cost home studio together. I bought a machine mcu Pro today from Cash Converters. When I turned it on the top screen was blank but a lot of lights are lit up. I looked at the manual znd it says the screen should prompt me. I've no idea what lights should be lit. I messaged Mickie on twitter but no reply. Should all the lights on the controls be lit up?
Hi Matt, thanks for the video, i replaced the backlight but i still cant get it working. I think is a tension problem from inside. Do you have the service manual? Can you share it? Thanks
Hi, I have a "waiting for midi upgrade" message at startup on my Control C4, if anyone knows how to fix it, I heard it may be the eeprom, but I didn't find the image. If someone can help thanks a lot.
This may be because the MIDI file is not getting to the C4 correctly either because the C4 doesn't like the MIDI interface (I couldn't make it work using USB) or because other MIDI messages such as MTC are being transmitted with the update file. I think my video has a section highlighting this issue.
We have several C4 Pro units (3 of the 9 we own) that freeze up (stop responding to MIDI) after a certain period of time. A quick power cycle will bring it back, but then they fail again. Have you seen this before? I'm thinking maybe a power regulation issue, possible heat related. I can replace the unit with a different one and use the same external power supply and it will work fine, so it's not the 7.5v supply. Let me know if you have any suggestions. Thanks.
Great Video! The older Extenders appear to have some sort of rivet-like device to hold the meta LCD housing in place. Are you able to offer any advice on how these can best be removed to reveal the LCDs? Thanks AGAIN!
Great video thank you for sharing! I very much appreciate your detailed explanations. I just recently acquired my first Mackie Logic Control & XT, they are still in good condition and working fine for now. But I will definitely come back to your video once replacing of party will become necessary. Thanks a lot and all the best to you! ;D
Excellent video. I have a C4 PRO (the silver one ) but it says firmware version 1.02.... there is now firmware update for the C4 PRO.. I see you have 3.0
My C4 Pro came with version 3.0.0 which is the latest version, but I can't see a download for it on Mackie's site. However, I don't think there is going to be much difference. The functionality is identical and I never had problems with version 1 on my old non-pro C4. Are you having any issues with yours? If not, I'd probably leave it at version 1.0. I wonder why the version 3 firmware isn't available?
nop, don't have any issues. It seems like the first C4 PRO they made, had the same internals as the Original C4. The 3.0 might have some updated internals. Just like the mackie control v3.0 to version 4.0 has updated faders. Thanks! You know what I would really like? a black backlight or at least kind of dark, like the SSL Nucleus and the M-AUDIO Projectmix IO.... could that be possible by changing the backlight?
Someone was trying to produce something bespoke to replace the LCD on his device a few years back. Can't remember which forum he was posting on though.
Hi there, I'm about to buy a C4, and just saw this listed on ebay, in case you are still interested. Cheers. www.ebay.com/itm/Mackie-Control-Universal-MCU-Pro-XT-C4-Super-Enhanced-Black-PMVA-LED-Display/223511501703?hash=item340a52db87:g:8sUAAOSwxJJdHVCW
Thank you so much for this! My C4 has been sitting on its own since my store bought MCU pro (firmware 3) died and as it's the original the parts were not available. I managed to pick up a replacement via ebay for a good price and after updating the firmware to 4.03 and cleaning all the parts, the only niggle was that it was significantly duller than the displays on the C4. Took your advice and bought the replacement via your link and managed to successfully complete this with my meagre soldering skills! Really brilliant result - thank you so much! I do have one question though, I can't seem to get the dimmer time in Logic X to change?
Yeah, just tried again under the control surface setup in logic and I can highlight the default 15min on both and change it to 5min but when I press enter or click away it reverts to 15min again??
@@craigduncan8666 This is a weird behaviour but normal. I think the solution is to hold down a key and drag up or down. I thinks it’s Control. Try a few.
Hi Matt. I also have C4 that is "waiting for midi upgrade" but I didn't upgrade it. I just turned int on one day and it had this message. It's on screen message says" CSCON LOADER Ver 1.32". I've tried to find to sysex file but there is nothing on Mackie other than C4c commander software. Where can I find the sysex file for a Mac or can this only be done on a PC?
Bad luck. I've not updated a C4 because as far as I know the original software has never been updated, its the same for standard and pro versions. I don't know of anyone who has or has seen a downloadable .mid file for it. It sounds like your device may have an issue with its ROM. I would contact Loud Audio and see if they can help.
@@MattOttewill Hey Matt. Thanks for getting back to me. I contacted Loud when this first happened (a couple of years ago...it's be sitting in a box ever since) and they said that it was probably an e-prom issue. I was told that Loud doesn't have anything C4 related (parts) and suggested that I find a replacement unit.
Wow thank you for this video. i have a mcu pro with version 3.0. with p&g faders. Now i will buy an xt with alps faders. Now i must update to version 4? Can i buy alpsfaders and change this with the p&gs?
Great imformative video.Had to change my LE strip last year however a few days ago i powered up the Mackie didnt see the clutter lying on top of the desk.On start up as you know the faders callibrate ,Disaster the whole machine went tits up.Cleared away the clutter switched back on No Backlight.Here we go again,ordered an LE strip and prepared my self for the task. I use Sonar,Since the demise of Calkwalk etc decided to do a clean up of the sonar soft ware.Got that sorted,powered up the Mackie and had a backlight.So maybe check calibration and Mackie control dll etc just in case.When backlight times out you have to press any key to light it up again.Hope this helps you guys with no backlights.
Great, practical advice. I have a C4 Pro where all the back lights went out at the same time. I suspect the internal power board had a component go bad. Have any thoughts/ideas? Thanks.
I expect so. The spec accommodates backward compatibility and the Mackie’s use the pretty universal HUI and Mackie control protocols which shouldn’t be affected.
Hi Matt! I just bought a second hand mcu pro which has the old P+G fader and firmware V3. Is it possible (and safe) to replace the PG faders with the Alps and update the firmware to V4 ? My faders now are kind of vibrating a little bit before reaching their final position when switching banks. I'm not sure if this is normal for the PG faders. Is it normal ? Thanks in advance !
The short answer is I don’t know. I think you should ask Mackie. If the vibrating fader thing is happening on all faders it suggests a communication or firmware issue. You could try replacing one fader with the Alps version, but I wouldn’t recommend updating firmware until you have some definitive advice. It may not install anyway. Hope this helps.
Thank you Matt! Do you know if there's a way to (when using Logic Pro X) change/flip through different EQ bands on the controller? This way you could adjust the mids, low, high, etc just on the controller.
Not sure this is possible on the XT devices, but definitely possible on the C4, and on the MCU Pro. It may be possible to map XT device faders and knob to other parameters but not sure how.
Hi my man, i have recently inherited one of these and it is in a right mess, i need to sort out the faders as one seems to not be stringed any more, but the biggest thing i need to do is replace the USB port, as the one thats in there is missing the plastic block and the pins are all over the place, any idea if this is replaceable? cheers
Should all be fixable providing you are good with a soldering iron and can get the parts. A Mackie Service centre should be able to help. You will need to be certain you’ve diagnosed the problem correctly though, the hardest part sometimes! Good luck.
For anyone who is doing this on the original MCU, I have just replaced the LED display on mine (the time display)....... Getting to the display boards including the LCD is a little different to shown here. Once you have the bottom off, remove power board as shown here. To get to the display boards you need to remove the display facia from the top of the unit. To do that there are 5 phillips screws along the backside of the display "ridge". Remove those. Opposite each of those at the front of the "ridge" (between it and the main circuit board) are 5 x 8mm "nuts" which you need to remove as they attach to 5 screw studs that are fixed to the inside of the facia (as I discovered when attempting to prise the facia off and broke one ;-) ). Remove those and the facia will then lift off allowing access to the boards. To completely remove them there is an extra ribbon cable that needs to be unplugged from the main circuit board. Just grip the black plastic connector and tease it off the pins. Hope that helps anyone else doing repairs on MCUs. Information is sketchy online to say the least. Thanks for the excellent video Matt!!
I have also just replaced the back light strip on an original Mackie Control. However, I discovered that the strip would not slide out as it was held in place with 3 pieces of double sided tape and I had to completely disassemble the display (by VERY carefully using a pair of needle nosed pliers to move all the black metal tabs to their release position) to then gently prising up the strip. The 3 pieces of tape remained on the backlight strip, so I removed them and was able to re-use them when re-assembling with the new strip. It was all successful and I can now read the strip again. Thanks Matt, for your original ' How To' video.
What are the dimensions of the EL strip needed for an MCU pro stand-alone unit? Also, a part number would be useful? If anyone could help out, that would be great, thanks.
Excellent Video - I have a Mackie C4 (original/grey) and the bottom display has failed. The text is just visible but no backlight display.......Any advice on where to purchase a replacement backlight?
Hi Matt. I own the Mackie C4 pro. i actually have 2 of them. My BIG CONCERN is getting the backlights for the mackie C4 pro and finding someone who can repair them. Do you handle that?
If you're talking about the horizontal strips the replacement process should be pretty identical to the process shown in the video. If you can use a soldering iron and are careful with the assembly/disassembly it shouldn't be too hard. And no, I don't run a repair service but any Mackie service centre should be able to do it for a price. Good luck.
I really don’t know! I would assume that there are potentially more differences between the original controls units and pro ones but maybe not? Anyone know?
Hi Matt. Do you know if these instructions for changing the backlight are valid for the old MCU ( not pro) also, as well as the actual replacement part?
Hi, Matt. I am grateful for this info re potential budget repair of MCU display. I think I followed your instructions but I'm afraid once I replaced the EL strip I can't get the LCD to display properly again. I'm wishing I hadn't loosened even a few of the black metal posts underneath the LCD board. Even with varying pressure, wiggling, fiddling with the alignment etc with the board held in a vice, it isn't reading properly. Sure, it's nice and bright and it's obviously trying to show the info from Logic Pro, but only in small parts of the screen. I'm going to get a replacement board and never touch those posts again. Have you encountered this issue and, if so, can you suggest how to overcome it? Thanks. Greg
Sorry to hear you're having problems with your repair. Although possible it's unlikely that the posts you refer to are causing the problem. However, if memory serves, some of them have an electrical purpose and must be bent back to be in contact with the circuit board. I may be wrong but check them. If the EL panel is consistently lit it is possible that there is a problem with the data getting to the screen itself in which case you might want to re-check the multi pin connectors to ensure none of them are bent. If all this fails, you may need to buy a new screen unit but it least you only wasted a little money and some of your time. Good luck.
Been there done that. Tabs have to bend back in at something like 45 degrees to exert sufficient pressure on the LCD / make contact. It's a bit late now probably, but I doubt your LCD was faulty.
hi there , this video is very informative thank you for uploading it, i have a logic control xt that doesn't seem to want to work, when turned on it basically just lights up but doesn't display anything on the screen but the lcd does light up.. any idea what could be causing this issue as i have attempted to look this problem up but haven't had any luck i have opened it up and the 3 chips seem to be in place, any help would be appreciated , thank you
If you have nothing on the display and it is correctly connected the fault will most likely either be with the screen (not the backlight) or the logic board that drives it. You could order a new screen and fit it yourself, but that does not guarantee a repair. Best advice is Take it to a Mackie repair service centre. Bad luck.
would a dopey display cause all the lights on the unit to come on and stay on ? .. literally every single light all rec/rdy , solo , mute & select and the panning led strip literally all the lights stay on .. the faders done calibrate when turned on .. completely confused
Hard to say. A service engineer will know. Digital systems are integrated and isolated problems can have strange knock-on effects. It could be a firmware corruption.
hello! thanx for the infos. I repaired the display thank to you. I have a question. how can one reduce the backlight saver timeout, with another software? let's say Sonar. there is a way? or some midi controller to switch? thanks
Miguel Cano Sorry no. But you should find the panel you need at the website mentioned in the video. It’s been a few years since I made this video! Good luck.
I have one of these controllers and I an't stand it. I get a slight humming noise from it which I can't understand because it's only a midi controller. I'm ready to sell this and the extender for $900
I really don't know. I'm not an electrician but I wish that I was. I've changed the USB cords and used it on another computer and continue to have the same problem. I really do want to get rid of it
Put your ear to the wall wart power supply box. The transformer is inside it. Is the humming sound coming from it? If yes, you can order a replacement from a Mackie service centre. If not, and the humming sound is coming from your loudspeakers, the problem is probably not with the Mackie because it passes no audio, only MIDI data.
