Novanex R12000 service manual (translated)

The Novanex R12000 is a BBD reverb unit, not known to be especially good.

This unit uses 4 of the very rare NE503 BBD chip produced by Phillips.

The datasheet of the NE503 is not easy to find and the service manual of the R12000 is in Dutch.

If one of the NE503 dies, you won’t be able to find a properly working replacement. In that case, just bypass the faulty one with a short wire connected between pins 3 and 6. The reverb duration will be limited.

So here is the translation of the unit adjustment procedure:

Buttons:

  • Delay = 10
  • Volume = 10
  • Tone = 10
  • Repeat = 0

V – in = 30 mV 500 Hz

  1. Adjust trimmer 7 so that the notches are aligned. Last NE 503 should be flat. (i.e., not to be skipped over)
  2. V – in = 30 mV 500 Hz. Adjust wheel trimmer 1 so that the VU meter = 0 dB.
  3. Turn the noise trimmer, scope on output, and adjust V – in = 50 mV. Use trimmer 2 to ensure the sine wave remains undistorted. (Check symmetry here.)
  4. Scope at measurement point, V – in = 30 mV. Adjust trimmer 3 so that the signal remains straight up to 4500 Hz.
  5. Scope at output. Adjust trimmers 4 and 5 to keep the signal straight up to 5000 Hz.
  6. Fine-tune trimmers 4 and 5 by ear.
  7. Adjust the noise trimmer by ear.
  8. Adjust repeat by ear.

Note:

  • The delay setting may vary for auditory tuning.
  • For steps 6–7–8, first adjust the delay so that it matches the reference model from the test room.

Upgrading a TC M6000

This is a short article on how to update the Firmware of a M6000 (Mk1) to the latest version.

Prerequisite:

  • a fully working M6000 Mk1 unit
  • running on a older firmware version (for example « Frame SW Version 4.00 », « DSP SW Version: 4.02 », « Ethernet SW Version: 6.00 »)
  • a floppy disk or an USB stick if you’ve upgraded to a GoTek drive

You can upgrade to the following versions:

  • Frame SW Version 6.50
  • DSP SW Version: 6.50
  • Ethernet SW Version: 8.10

Download the following archive and uncompress it:

Start by updating the Frame and Ethernet firmwares:

  • Copy the contents of the « Boot » folder to a blank floppy disk (or USB stick)
  • Turn your M6000 off
  • Insert the floppy
  • Turn the M6000 on
  • The floppy disk drive LED will turn on. The M6000 LED will blink from green to orange/red
  • After a few minutes (5-10) it will turn back to green and your M6000 will boot

Now repeat the process with the « DSP » folder (copy to a blank disk, turn off, turn on, etc.).