RDS 8000 vs. RDS 7.6 (Digitech timemachines)

[Garry Wasyliw <was@dlcwest.com>]

Hello!  Long time looper, first time poster.
I just got on the list and was going through some of the archives and
thought I'd offer a bit on a post from earlier in the month.

>From: Pratt Winkle <prattwink2@yahoo.com> 
>Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2000 08:47:08
>....They sound quite
>different! Almost to the point of being bad vs. good.
I've now owned them both and agree.  The 7.6 is 8 bit and the 8000, 12 bit.
 The 7.6 was noisy and distorted and as such caused me to trade it off for
the 8000.  The 7.6 might be tolerable in front of a distortion device, but
for clean sounds, it is not very good. The 8000 sounds quite good to me.
I'm using keyboards and I kept thinking  that there was some sort of level
problem with the 7.6.  I finally concluded that that was the way it 
sounded.

>The 7.6 has a hum that comes from the unit (not
>through the amp but actually inside the unit)
I experienced this as well.  The hum turns out to be coming from the power
transformer inside the unit.  I had another device at that time doing the
same thing.  I was told by an electronics guy that a smaller, cheaper
transformer like the one used here will vibrate internally at 60 cycles.  I
tried a fix with about 80% sucess.  It may be of use to someone, but of
course, don't try this if you're not comfortable with going inside an
electronic device and I can't be responsible for anything that may go wrong
if you try it.

1- Unplug the device and open it to access the transformer. 
2- Unbolt the transformer and pull it clear of the unit; no need to unhook
its wiring.
3- The transformer is comprised of a metal band wrapped around several
layers of metal plates.  Bend the tabs of the bottom of the band back and
bend the band away from the transformer body until you can remove the band.
4- Mix up a batch of two part epoxy.  Smear the epoxy over the ends of the
metal plates.  Put the band back on and bend the tabs back into place to
secure the band.  The epoxy should be all around under the band and can
squirt out around as well.
5- Let the epoxy set.
6- Bolt the transformer back in. You can try putting a layer of rubber
material under the mounting surface.
7- Reassemble the unit.

Basically this trys to prevent the vibration between the plates within the
transformer and may help from a little to a lot.

>Some button presses on the 7.6 sends a small
>pop or thud to the amp.
I heard this too.

>Do you think my 7.6 could be worn out yet still working, or did they
>just perfect the idea on the 8000?
I think your 7.6 is probably working fine.  I thought there was quite a
difference between it and the 8000.

Garry